Enjoy the Annual Blue Crab Festival in Little River, SC

Held along the historic Little River waterfront, the ‘World Famous’ Blue Crab Festival is one of the largest festivals held along the Grand Strand each year. What started as a small gathering along the banks of the Intracoastal Waterway is now a premier festival that is projected to draw over 50,000 attendees to the area this May. The festival features live music; a kids’ zone; and around 200 arts, crafts, specialty food and business vendors.

Beyond festival food, music and vendors, attendees can enjoy amazing local seafood from one of the waterfront restaurants. (Our personal favorite might be the soft-shell crab sandwich at Crab Catchers, if you’re wondering.) The festival takes place on both Saturday, May 18, 2024 and Sunday, May 19, 2024, from 9:00 am-5:00 pm.  And every year, we find it pretty easy to spend an entire day at the festival... there is just so much to do and see!

It’s not a bad idea to make a parking plan in advance, however. With such a large crowd expected to attend, having a parking plan will make the day much less stressful. Below are a few of the satellite lots that festival organizers have designated. Shuttle buses will run continually from all lots to the festival from 9:00 am to 4:45 pm on Saturday and Sunday. 

Parking is available in the following lots for $5/car and includes shuttle ride to and from festival gates. Buses will be circulating between the festival and all lots from about 9:00 am to 4:45 pm. *Note that motorcycles will not be able to drive through the festival; they must utilize the parking areas provided below.

Hope Willard

701 Highway 17
Little River, SC 29566
Click HERE for Map & Driving Directions

Pizzeli’s – Handicap & Staff

Handicap Parking for Patrons and Festival Volunteers and Vendor Staff ONLY. Golf cart shuttle will be available. Look for the open grass lot behind Pizzeli’s Italian Oven – no pavement parking. Area will be marked.
1698 US-17
Little River, SC 29566
Click HERE for Map & Driving Directions

Southwest Brunswick Branch Library

9400 Ocean Hwy W
Calabash, NC 28467
Click HERE for Map & Driving Directions

Water Taxi will leave via Harbourgate Marina

2100 Sea Mountain Highway. North Myrtle Beach, SC 29582

There is also the option of taking a water taxi into the festival! The water taxi leaves from Harbourgate Marina and drops off at the festival along the water. The cost is $20 per person for a round trip ticket on the Sea Screamer and includes your festival admission. The water taxi runs 9:00 am. - 5:00 pm. with the last pick up at 5:00 pm.

For those not water taxiing in, regular admission to the festival is $7 for those over the age of 12, and tickets can be purchased at the gate or on their website. Thousands of hours, hundreds of volunteers and immense planning and organization go into this event every year, and it really is one worth checking out. 

For more information on the Blue Crab Festival and their related events, check out their website at www.bluecrabfestival.org. Little River Chamber of Commerce: (843) 249-6604, [email protected]