The only thing boiling on Saturday was Mandurah’s iconic blue swimmer crabs, with crowds scuttling down to the waterfront to enjoy the temperate weather and the return of a beloved festival.
The Channel 7 Mandurah Crab Fest returned after a three-year hiatus on Friday night, bigger and better than ever with colourful street performers, dance troupes and musical acts setting the event off with a bang.
A City of Mandurah spokesperson said more than 80,000 people were expected to descend on the foreshore, but by the second day that number had been blown out of the water.
On Saturday families took in the first full day of the fest, clawing at the local delicacy and they watched celebrity cooking demonstrations from the likes of WA’s spud King Tony Galati, Better Homes and Gardens Fast Ed and Home and Away stars Juliet Godwin and Kirsty Marillier.
Ms Godwin, who stars as Bree Cameron, said her first Crab Fest was a great opportunity to swap the Summer Bay sand for her native Perth.
“The community in Perth is so welcoming, and they’ve got so much energy,” she said.
But the crab wasn’t the food on offer making her mouth water.
“It was actually so much fun being on stage making the pork loin with bean and carrot salad.
“I’m always looking for new recipes so I’ll definitely try and recreate that one.
“I have to go try the ice cream, Fast Ed said it was the best he’s every had, the vegan crème brule gelato.
“But I actually haven’t had any crab yet, I’m going to have to go fight everyone in the crowds for it!”
Elsea Coles, 8 and her brother Royce, 5, were all smiles as they took in the thrills of sideshow alley before feasting on a crab claw each.
Their mother Marie Coles said it was wonderful to see the Mandurah Crab Fest return with such a large turnout of support.
“I must say so far so good, we were lucky to find a parking spot,” she said.
“We sat down and had a feed, enjoying the weather and there’s a lot of offer.
“We’ve been to the festival before years ago, this is probably much bigger.
“I could eat crab all day long.”
Another punter Farica Lee said the festival was a great opportunity to see what the region had to offer after her and her mother moved to Perth from Hong Kong to join their family recently.
“I’ve never been to a crab fest before, so it’s nice to see,” she said.
“I haven’t seen so many people together before in Perth, since I got here.”
Mandurah local Hayden Cooper said despite the crowds, his family didn’t have to wait too long to get their hands on their crab lunch.
“It didn’t take too long which was quite good, and we’re going to have a look at the rides and listen to the music this afternoon, relax and enjoy the vibe,” he said.
“Its great fun for the kids, it’s a bit of a shame it hasn’t been on for the last couple of years so they’ve really been looking forward to it this year.
“We love it and it’s good for Mandurah – I can’t wait to tuck in!”
The evening saw electronic music duo Electric Fields and singer-songwriter Gretta Ray take to the stage, while fan favourite Vanessa Amorosi it set to entertain absolutely everybody on Sunday night.
If you missed out Saturday, there is just as much fun to be had all day today.
Attendees are advised that the only critters welcome at the fest were the crabs, and to leave their fury friends at home.
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