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Jun 03, 2023

The Little River Blue Crab Festival of SC is nearly here. Dates, parking, what to know

Ready for some seafood? Check out the World Famous Blue Crab Festival this

Ready for some seafood? Check out the World Famous Blue Crab Festival this weekend in Little River, South Carolina.

Up to 40,000 visitors are expected to come to the event, which takes place on Saturday and Sunday.

"It's just a fun-filled family festival with lots of entertainment, great vendors and everyone having a good time," festival director Hubert Bullard said of the event.

The festival will feature six restaurants steaming up the famed blue crab. Almost 300 vendors will travel from as far away as Minnesota and Texas to sell their wares.

Bullard said the festival is a draw for out of town visitors.

"We get calls from early in the spring, winter, asking questions about when are the dates of the Blue Crab Festival," he said.

Between the Blue Crab Festival in the spring and the ShrimpFest in the fall, festivals bring an estimated $4.25 million to Little River, according to the event's website.

Don't get crabby. Instead, read up on everything you need to know about the 2023 Little River Blue Crab Festival.

The 41st World Famous Blue Crab Festival will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday at the Historic Little River Waterfront, close to the North Carolina border.

You can purchase tickets at the gate or in advance on Eventbrite. They are $7 per person per day and (food not included). Kids 12 and under get in free.

Paid parking lots near the waterfront typically fill up fast, so Bullard recommended parking at a satellite lot. Half a dozen buses will shuttle visitors from the free parking lots to the festival gates at no charge.

For the full nautical experience, take a water taxi from the Grande Harbour Marina to the festival. $20 gets you parking at the marina, water taxi and entrance to the festival. The water taxi is first come-first served.

Satellite parking lot locations

Pizzeli's back field (wheelchair and golf cart parking)

1698 Highway 17, Little River

Hope Willard

701 Highway 17, Little River

Southwest Brunswick Branch Library

9400 Ocean Highway West, Calabash

Bring your folding chair to enjoy the Blue Crab Festival's live music. Six bands will perform starting at 10:30 a.m. both days, including Jim Quick and Coastline, Tokyo Joe and the Paul Grimshaw Band.

Young seafood fans can blow off steam in the children's area, with bouncy houses, rides, stuffed animal making and face painting.