By Jeffra Wise DeViney

The 2026 Crab Festival of Holly Beach was held Friday and Saturday, June 12-13 at 2412 Heron St. at The Sunset Stage.

Thousands of attendees enjoyed the activities which included: Beat Rusty’s Cookoff and the Annual Crab Fest Cookoff, Crab Bingo, Crab Pie Eating Contest, Dance Contest, and a Zydeco Pancake Breakfast.

There was a fantastic line-up of live music featured by the following entertainers: The Fifth Edition, Nik-L-Beer Band, Gerard Delafose & the Zydeco Gators, Richard LeBouef, Lukus Meaux & Cajun Beat and Jamie Bergeron & The Kickin Cajuns.

Rusty Noel, a native of Holly Beach and big supporter of the Crab Festival was presented the 2026 Key to Holly Beach by festival co-promoter Steve Faul. Noel was quoted as saying ‘I absolutely love my little home town! To be awarded the key to the city means the world to me!’

On Friday night, the Crab Festival Cookoff was held There was a Mystery Box Cooking Challenge which was entertaining.

Two cooks competed against Rusty’s team, but there was a catch; they had no idea what ingredient they would be cooking until each mystery box was unsealed. Each contestant was allowed to bring five ingredients of their own, unknown to mystery items in their individual boxes.

Once the boxes were revealed, they had only 10 minutes to prep and one hour to create a dish for the judges.

Some of the mystery ingredients included vienna sausages, spam and ramen noodles. What creativity came from thinking outside what was in ‘da box’ to turn those random ingredients into an entree’.

Final results gave Troy Noel the win over Rusty’s Seasoning.

Ryder Shaver was the winner of the Crab Pie Eating Contest.

The annual Crab Cookoff Festival held on Saturday had five catergories: Crab Appetizer, Crab Side Dish, Crab Entree, Bayou Dish (anything from the bayou) and Dessert.

The following are the winners:

Crab Appetizer

1st, Bayou Babes, Crab Shrimp Eggroll

2nd, Rusty’s Seasoning, Blooody Mary with Soft Shell Crabs

3rd, Jab’s Seafood, Crab Dip

Crab Side Dish

1st, Salty Sistas, T-Buds Lump Crab w/Fried Rice

2nd, Bayou Babes, Stuffed BBQ Crab

3rd, Rusty’s Seasoning, Crab Meat Maque Shoux

Crab Entree

1st, Rusty’s Seasoning, Crab Cake with Cream Sauce

2nd, Bayou Babes, Crab Enchiladas

3rd, Salty Sistas, La Blue Crab Fettuccine

Bayou Dish

1st, Rusty’s Seasoning, Seafood Etouffee

2nd, Salty Sistas, Seafood Frenzy Etouffee

3rd, Bayou Babes, Gar Roast

Dessert

1st, Love at First Bite, Cajun Bouillie Cake

2nd, Rusty’s Seasoning, Bread Pudding

3rd Salty Sistas, Lemon Delight

Charlee Bell, Miss Cameron Parish 2026, was on hand at the festival as an ambassador for Cameron Parish.

The 2027 Crab Festival of Holly Beach has been set for June 11-13, 2027. Save the date!