The Leonardtown Lions Club hosts the 28th Annual Crab Festival at St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds, Saturday June 8, 2013. Gates are open at 11am until 8pm.

In addition to plentiful steamed local crabs, there will be several new things at this year’s CrabFest, including the first ever Crab Picking contest, children’s and educational activities for families, music throughout the day, and the 2013 Miss Maryland Teen will pay a visit.

 Commissioner President Jack Russell will give his informative and entertaining “fins and claws” demonstration about the blue crab. Also, the always popular car show of over 60 classic cars will be on hand.  Reggie Rice, the comedic magician, will be there with his entertaining show of illusions and magic tricks.

Steamed hard crabs are provided by Wayne Copsey of Copsey’s Seafood. Other food vendors are Anita’s Cake Shop, Bailey’s Catering, Bear Creek BBQ, Bells of St. Mary’s Ice Cream, Kevin’s Corner Cafe, Scrumptious Entrees Catering and Sissy Buckler and team from Sandgates Inn. The Lexington Park Lions will be selling snow cones, the Ridge Lions Club will be twirling up cotton candy and will run the dunking booth.

Country music is provided by The Southbound Band, from noon to 3:45, and the 25th Hour Band brings rock and roll from 4:15 to closing time at 8 PM. For the kids there’s a moon bounce, face painting, petting zoo, pony rides, and hands-on activities. There will be a building of arts and crafts vendors. The Crab Festival is a pet-friendly event.

The Leonardtown Lions Club offers thanks in advance to the dozens of sponsors supporting the Crab Festival. The proceeds earned at the CrabFest enable Leonardtown Lions to serve community needs in vision and hearing, other health services, fire and rescue emergency services, scholarships in the trades, and other worthy causes.

Indoor seating is available and the Crab Festival will happen on Saturday even if there is light rain.  Heavy rain will move the Festival to Sunday, June 9.

For more information see www.stmaryscrabfestival.com or contact Lion Gil at 301 904-6679.