Sunday, July 6, 2025, under clear blue skies at False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf, Vancouver’s much-loved False Creek Crab Fest returned for its third annual celebration. Chefs’ Table Society of BC took on the planning of the festival this year in support of BC Crab Fishermen’s Association and turned the waterfront into a festive hub of community, crab, and culinary delight.
🦀 The Star of the Show: BC Dungeness Crab
The heart of the False Creek Crab Fest was a live Dungeness crab boil, masterfully orchestrated by chefs Vish Mayekar and Johnny Bridge, along with Chefs’ Table Society volunteers and Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts student volunteers, who cooked the BC Dungeness crabs fresh right on the dock.
Thanks to the hardworking crab fishers for harvesting and donating the iconic BC Dungeness Crab for everyone to enjoy: Doug Tufnail and Duncan Cameron, Area A Crab Association, Coldfish Seafood and The Lobster Man.
With over 400 crab lovers in attendance, festival guests cracked into their full-crab plates, inclusive of one whole crab, roasted potatoes, corn on the cob, organic greens from UBC Farms and a bun armed with the essential bibs and crab crackers (thanks to WD Colledge for the Table Craft Crab Crackers!)
🍻 Drinks & Good Vibes
Each ticket granted access to a savoury crab feast and two drink vouchers, redeemable for local craft beverages. Selections included Okanagan wines from Revelry Imports, cider from Sea Cider, beer from Main Street Brewing Co., and non-alcoholic cocktails from Edna’s.
Live music from Tumblin’ Crew added a festive backdrop, while lawn games and shaded seating areas made the afternoon perfect for families and friends to relax and mingle.
🌱 Community & Sustainability
More than just a delicious outing, the False Creek Crab Fest carried a mission: to raise awareness for the sustainable management of British Columbia’s crab fishery and other local seafoods. In addition to the BC Crab Fishermen’s Association, partners such as TBuck Suzuki Foundation, Dive Fisheries of BC and Trish Talks Fish offered interactive educational stations for guests to learn and Eatfish and Holy Duck Chili were selling their delicious seafood and sauces.
The event also raised funds for Chefs’ Table Society initiatives supporting culinary profession such as CTS’s culinary scholarships, mentorships, sustainability initiatives, and the development of the CTS Culinary Centre —a future hub for BC’s food and hospitality community. Attendees left not just full—but fulfilled, knowing they were contributing to local coastal communities and future generations of culinary talent.
Special thanks to the crew at False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf for your continued support with the event!
🌊 Final Take: A Vibrant Blend of Taste & Purpose
False Creek Crab Fest 2025 delivered a vibrant celebration of BC’s coastal heritage—melded with culinary craft, community spirit, and environmental stewardship. Whether guests cracked every leg or just checked out the educational activations, the fest was a win for taste, culture, and local cause.
This project is supported by the BC Government’s Buy BC Partnership Program; delivered by MNP LLP with funding from the Government of British Columbia.