World's Biggest Crab Feast Set To Feed 2,500 People Friday

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- If you like steamed crabs, Annapolis will be the place to be tomorrow. Preparations are now underway for an event that's been around for more than 70 years.

More than 30,000 steam crabs will be devoured by more than 2,000 people at Navy Marine Corps Memorial Stadium.

The world's biggest crab feast is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Annapolis, and benefits 30 charities in Anne Arundel County.

"It's huge," says Sue Weber, Rotary Club chairman.

"It's considered the largest crab feast in the world because we'll be having over 2,500 people who will attend and help us consume over 340 bushels of crabs, close to 4,000 sweet ears of corn, 150 gallons of Maryland crab soup... Adam's Taphouse supplies 150 pounds of their beef barbecue and almost 2,000 hot dogs."

Though the event starts at 5 p.m. Friday, people start lining up around 11:30 a.m., Weber says. The event typically raises between $50,000 and $70,000.

Amazingly, the event is environmentally friendly, as well.

"A couple of years ago we partnered with Annapolis Green to try and eliminate what goes into the landfills," says Dave Lunden, assistant chair of the event. "Basically, this is a zero waste event. Last year, 28,000 pounds of crab and trash went into composting and about 8,000 pounds of recycling got recycled.

Ron Baradel, president of the Rotary Club, says none of it could happen without the volunteers.

There's about 100 volunteers in addition to the 140 Rotary Club members helping to make sure things go smoothly.

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