CaRa-pAcE
yOuRsElF
on the cover
There’s plenty of time for fun
at the Garibaldi Crab Races
By GRETCHEN AMMERMAN
For the TODAY
L
et’s just go ahead and talk about the
elephant in the room. Crabs are not
naturally athletic. There never has been
nor is there likely to be a crab in the Summer
Olympics. With their front heavy claws and
silly lack of symmetry, a scuttle is all you can
really ask of these crusty crustaceans.
And yet, the Garibaldi Crab Races will be
celebrating 35 years on Saturday and Sunday,
March 14 and 15. Every year, the prizes are
just the icing on the carapace for the human
competitors, who can do anything short of
actually touching the Dungeness crabs to
encourage them down a short, slightly tilted
ramp.
“People usually just yell at them and bang
on the ramps,” said Garibaldi Mayor Judi
Riggs. “There aren’t many rules, although
you need to make sure your crab is sideways
otherwise they don’t move.”
Championship heats are scheduled on
both days, but there are also spontaneous
races where people scurry to compete with a
moment’s notice.
“We usually have about 75 races but we
can always have more,” Riggs said. “We buy
extra prizes and also get donations from
everywhere in Tillamook County, so we give
every opportunity to win something. When a
spontaneous race is announced, the first few
people with a dollar who find the person in
the crab hat get to compete.”
A pub game turned public fundraiser,
the races support disadvantaged community
members in many ways.
“It all started out in a bar on a cold dark
rainy night when the patrons had nothing
else to do,” Riggs said. “Then the Lions club
got involved and helped build it up; now it’s
our biggest annual fundraiser.”
Proceeds from admission and race entries,
food and beverages and logo gear go to help
local residents in need.
“Last year we were able to donate about
$12,000 to different programs,” Riggs said.
“Garibaldi has seniors and disabled residents
that don’t have money for glasses and health
care; the grade school has a pantry for
students and we also help them get coats
or shoes. We help fund the senior sewer
discount program, the local food bank and
the Christmas basket program. This event
really goes a long way.”
Proceeds also come from the pick-your-
prize raffle, where participants toss tickets in
a jar to compete for the thing they really have
their eyes on.
“We have great donations like a fishing
trip for two,” Riggs said. “There’s a big
Tillamook Cheese basket and lots of gift
certificates from local restaurants. The hot
ticket though is the stainless steel wind
spinner from a local artist. We had one last
year that was the most popular item so we’re
excited to have another one.”
Prizes for backing the winning crab in the
adult heats include cold hard cash; and kids
can earn bikes with helmets and pint-sized
fishing poles.
The now-legendary tale of a sports-related
injury shows why the races are as fun to
watch as to participate in.
“One year we had someone break their
hand when they were banging on the track,”
Riggs said. “He needed medical attention
because of his passion for the races. People
can see races from previous years on YouTube
if they want to get some idea of what it’s like.”
The races can be see on other screens too.
“Drew Carney’s Out and About on KGW
has filmed a mock crab race here, and this
year we are going to have Joe Vithayathil
from On the Go with Joe on Fox 12
broadcast before the event.”
Winners or losers, the competing crabs’
fate is on a plate.
“We always have lots of really good food
with and without crab meat,” Riggs said.
“Crab salads, crab melts with Tillamook
cheese, hot dogs and sausage dogs. We have a
master chef who’ll make triple berry cobbler,
chocolate cake and brownies. We also will
have beer and wine. We didn’t have them one
year and it was a dud.”
If you want to race, there is no worry
about showing up empty handed, as this is
not a BYOC event.
“The crabs are donated by the crab fleets,”
Riggs said. “We’ve had to skip some years
because of low crab amounts but this year we
are fine and are ready for a good crowd.”
Races are run from 11 am to 5 pm on
Saturday and 11 am to 4 pm on Sunday, at
the Old Mill Event Center, 210 Third Street
in Garibaldi.
Two-day admission is $5 for adults, $2 for
kids aged six to 12, and free for children five
and under. Race entry fees vary from $1 to $10
depending on the heat.
For more information go to http://
visitgaribaldi.com/garibaldi-crab-races/
oregoncoastTODAY.com • facebook.com/oregoncoasttoday • March 13, 2020 • 9