POPULAR DEMAND: Crabfest returns to waterfront Washington

Published 6:04 pm Thursday, August 6, 2015

GARLEEN WOOLARD PAMLICO FEAST: The fare of Pickin’ on the Pamlico — steamed crab and shrimp, corn, potatoes and more — makes for a night of good eating on the waterfront in downtown Washington.

GARLEEN WOOLARD
PAMLICO FEAST: The fare of Pickin’ on the Pamlico — steamed crab and shrimp, corn, potatoes and more — makes for a night of good eating on the waterfront in downtown Washington.

Pickin’ on the Pamlico is back by popular demand.

After the waterfront Washington crab-and-shrimp fest, hosted by the Washington Harbor District Alliance, took a two-year hiatus, crab lovers spoke out.

“Folks around the area — they called us and said they wanted it to come back,” said Garleen Woolard, co-chair for the event, along with Rebecca Clark.

The fundraiser for the downtown economic development organization has a menu of crab and shrimp, corn and potatoes, with fried chicken for the non-seafood fans — and offers entertainment under the stars with past Pickin’ favorite, the Ginger Thompson Band.

But it’s the local aspect of the event that kept people coming back for more each year—the crabs come straight from the river to the table, through Washington Crab Company, according to Woolard.

“They are from the Pamlico—they are local and we buy them local,” Woolard said.

The all-you-can-eat aspect of Pickin’ on the Pamlico is another draw—people know they’re getting good seafood and a lot of it, Woolard said.

GARLEEN WOOLARD: CRABILICIOUS DÉCOR: A table-decorating contest is part of the Pickin’ on the Pamlico festivities. Each reserved table of 10 is encouraged to decorate with a theme, like this “Crab Olympics” them from a past Pickin’.

GARLEEN WOOLARD:
CRABILICIOUS DÉCOR: A table-decorating contest is part of the Pickin’ on the Pamlico festivities. Each reserved table of 10 is encouraged to decorate with a theme, like this “Crab Olympics” them from a past Pickin’.

“That’s my most fun, is watching people try to eat all the crab and shrimp they can and have to push themselves away from the table,” Woolard said with a laugh.

Proceeds from the event are used for WHDA projects, in the past those have included helping with the move of the weather tower to the North Carolina Estuarium property, along with buying its weather-forecasting flags, and helping to supply decoration and signage for the waterfront lighthouse that serves as the City of Washington’s dock master’s station.

“We have two projects right now: one is the People’s Pier — and people are starting to see the pilings put down now — and also the Underground Railroad (Museum). We had that painted,” Woolard said, referring to the waterfront pier currently under construction and the museum that will make its home in the Seaboard Coastline caboose on Washington Civic Center grounds at the corner of West Main and Gladden streets. “We do put the money right back into downtown.”

Tickets for Pickin’ on the Pamlico sell for $45 and can be purchased up until Aug. 15. There will be some tickets sold at the gate, but not many, Woolard said.

Table reservations for 10 people can be made for an additional $100, and those who have tables are encouraged to decorate their tables for judging — prizes include gift baskets from Little Shoppes of Washington, Blue Crab Monogramming and Washington Crab Company.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.whda.org or visit Little Shoppes of Washington at 127 W. Main St., Washington.