17th Annual Soft Shell Crab Festival in Port Royal

It’s finally here. After a 2 year COVID-19 hiatus the annual Soft Shell Crab Festival is back on the streets of Port Royal this Saturday.

It sure has been missed.

The mega-popular local annual festival celebrates the short soft shell crab season and incorporates lots of fun activities for all ages. The festivities always includes concerts, arts & crafts, educational activities and a fun day of several local restaurants lining the street offering their own soft shell crab recipes for you to enjoy, along with lots of other food and treats.

The event is put on by the Old Village Association of Port Royal, and they work pretty hard planning and pulling it all off.

One of Beaufort’s most popular festivals, the excitement kicks off at 11am on Saturday and includes live music by popular local musicians Campfire Tyler and Chris Jones. Campfire Tyler will perform on the main stage from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Tyler is a Beaufort acoustic guitar storyteller with an astounding ability to put the listener right in his shoes. Guitar man Chris Jones will perform from 2-5 p.m. Jones has a large local following as well having

The festival is free and open to all ages and includes a kids’ zone for children, a craft/artisan fair and a car show by Beaufort’s Classic Car & Truck Club.

Also, be sure to swing by and check out the motorcycles brought by Biker’s Against Bullies.

Two ATMs will be on site for those who do not bring cash with them, and as always, no pets are permitted at Port Royal’s festivals; only service dogs are allowed.

There is no designated parking area for the event. Parking is typically hosted along the streets of Port Royal. Just expect a short 3 minute walk from your car. (Follow the smell of some good food.)

Get on down to Paris Avenue on Saturday and spend the afternoon having some fun and remembering exactly why you’re happy to call the Beaufort area home. Bring the kids, bring friends. Bring them all!

Oh, and make darn sure that you come hungry.