Saturday May 14th, 2011
& Sunday May 15th, 2011
in Little River, South Carolina!

How the Blue Crab Festival & Little River have Grown!

What began in 1981 as a small waterfront festival has grown into a premier event that draws visitors from all over the region. When the Little River Blue Crab Festival began, its main goal was to bring visitors to the waterfront and support the local restaurants and accommodations. A few vendors set up under the live oak and a festival was born. Music, more food and arts & crafts were added and here we are, more than twenty five years later. Organizers expect over 50,000 people to attend this year's festivities.

The Festival's growth is mirrored by Little River's growth ... one has influenced the other ... and continues to do so. Movers and shakers in the community have come together over the last several years to expand the festival and make sure the 29th anniversary celebration reflects the Festival's proud history. We have an annual Beauty Pageant that boasts over 50 contestants. Runners line up for the Annual 5-k run held on the waterfront. This year the run will be held on May 8. 2010 will feature an Antique and Classic Car and Motorcycle show on Main Street in North Myrtle Beach on May 1. This will be part of the many car and motorcycle events hosted by North Myrtle Beach this year. All these events and others, were designed to expand the audience exposed to Little River and all it has to offer. Its second goal is to connect the community and its residents to each other by reaching them on many different levels. By exposing members of the community to the festival and its unique goals, the volunteer pool continues to grow and business and organizations continue to increase their support and sponsorships.

Everyone enjoys the weekend festivities and locals and visitors alike show up in waves to experience the fun. The goal is certainly for folks to have a good time, but the Blue Crab Festival Committee has another goal too. The Little River Blue Crab Festival is unique because its purpose is to raise money to help support the community and its residents. Leaders of the community have come together year after year and identified needs in the community. By pooling their resources, they can make things happen. When the Volunteer Fire Department needed additional equipment, a bar-b-que was organized and thousands of dollars were raised. When national disasters strike, it's easy for coastal residents to feel the pain of others struggling with damage caused by hurricanes. So, locals and visitors alike come together to support fundraisers and help others.

The Festival itself is the most visible event but events are held throughout the year to supplement funds raised by the Festival. In addition to a substantial contribution to our community, The Blue Crab Festival participates in a variety of other activities to promote Little River.

The Annual Intracoastal Christmas Regatta, parades and other festivals, as well as continuous souvenir sales, limited edition tee shirts and press releases throughout the year keep Little River, The Blue Crab Festival and our sponsors in the public eye all year round. It takes hundreds of man hours and people to put the Festival together and many people are involved year after year. It's very rewarding to give back to the community and have a great time in the process. We're proud of what we've done in the last 29 years and are looking forward to continuing to expand The Little River Blue Crab Festival.