The Tribune

By JEFFARAH GIBSON

Tribune Features Writer

jgibson@tribunemedia.net

HUNDREDS of crabs will be released from their habitat to mark the opening of the annual All Andros Crab Fest next week.

The festivities take place at the Queens Park in Central Andros on June 14 and 15. The event celebrates the Crab-catching ways of Andros Island, which is referred to as “The Land of Crabs.”

Yearly hundreds of Bahamians from various islands flock to Andros to engage in the myriad of events including the crab clipping contest, crab preparation demonstrations, the crab culinary contest, the crab dance contest, the crab song contest, and the crab race contest. Additionally there will be entertainment from Bahamian musicians such as Ira Storr & the Spank Band, KB and others.

The Crab Fest site in Fresh Creek is approximately two acres in size with about 40 stalls making a ‘U’ shape around the perimeter of the grounds. There is also a stage at one end and a live crab habitat at the base of the U.

The site has been re-built three times over the past ten years and is refurbished every year before the event.

“The event is a 24 hour non-stop party. There is so much for people to do when they come to Andros for the festival. This is the only place where people can actually participate in crab catching lessons and be taught how to take care of the crabs they catch. Additionally the stalls will feature just about 101 ways to eat crab. All of the settlements in Andros will have some kind of activity going on, said Peter Douglas chairman of Crab Festival committee.
In addition to offering fun filled family activities, Mr Douglas said the festival has done much to bring Androsians back to the island.

“There are so many Androsians who come back home every year for the Crab Fest. And that is one of the main things we want to do. We want people back to the islands to reinvest and help develop Andros.

“There is also great community spirit during events like this. So for people who are used to the fast pace life in Nassau, can experience peace and tranquillity on the island,” he said.

The All Andros Crab Fest was started in 1997 to boost the economy of Andros Island. The committee is a voluntary one that organises the event, which operates on donations, sponsors, funds derived from the stalls and entrance fees. Over the years the committee has been elected by the community to manage the event.

“Pulling off a successful event takes a lot of hard work and dedication from the committee and the community.

The event is a non-profit one so we raise just enough money to pull the event off and make it a success. If funds are left over after the festival they go right back into building the community,” he said.

The Ministry of Tourism has been a major sponsor of the event over the past years and promotes the festival as a signature cultural event.