Crab is one of the most popular seafood dishes in the United States. Many restaurants offer crab dishes on their menus, but none are as well known for crab as Red Lobster. Red Lobster’s annual Crabfest promotion has become a highly anticipated event for seafood lovers across the country.
When is Crabfest at Red Lobster?
Red Lobster hosts their Crabfest promotion every year in early summer, typically starting in late May or early June. The exact start and end dates vary slightly each year, but Crabfest always runs for around 4-6 weeks during the summer months.
Here are the specific dates for Crabfest at Red Lobster over the past several years:
| Year | Crabfest Start Date | Crabfest End Date |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | May 30 | July 3 |
| 2021 | May 24 | July 4 |
| 2020 | June 1 | July 12 |
| 2019 | May 27 | July 7 |
As you can see, Crabfest usually runs from late May through early July each summer at Red Lobster restaurants nationwide.
What deals are offered during Crabfest?
The main draw of Crabfest is the special menu of crab dishes offered. Red Lobster really goes all out in featuring crab during the promotion. Some of the most popular crab dishes available during Crabfest include:
- Crab Lover’s Dream – A dish with snow crab legs, king crab legs, crab linguini alfredo, and seasoned grilled shrimp.
- Ultimate Feast – Snow crab legs, lobster tail, garlic shrimp scampi, and fried shrimp.
- Snow Crab Baked Stuffed Shrimp – Shrimp stuffed with crab stuffing and roasted snow crab legs.
- King Crab Ultimate Feast – King crab legs paired with lobster tails and shrimp.
- Crab Linguini Alfredo – A classic Red Lobster favorite with linguini tossed in creamy alfredo sauce with crab meat.
In addition to special crab entrées, Red Lobster also offers Crabfest appetizer options like crab-stuffed mushrooms, crab rangoon dip, and crab bruschetta.
There are often discounted prices and crab add-on options available during Crabfest as well. For example, you may be able to add a half or full order of snow crab legs to an entrée at a discounted rate. Red Lobster also offers All You Can Eat crab deals select nights during Crabfest.
History of Crabfest at Red Lobster
Red Lobster first launched their Crabfest promotion in 1974. It was billed as the “World’s Largest Crab Festival” and was designed to celebrate fresh crab during peak season. TV commercials showing mountains of snow crab legs put Red Lobster on the map as a destination for crab.
In the early years, Crabfest was held in March and April during crab season. Over the years it extended into summer months. By the 1990s, Crabfest as we know it today was established as a summer promotion from May-July.
Now Crabfest has become one of Red Lobster’s biggest annual promotions. Over 200 million pounds of crab are served at Red Lobster restaurants during an average Crabfest season!
Crabfest Marketing
Red Lobster pulls out all the stops with their marketing for Crabfest. Their advertising usually starts 1-2 weeks before Crabfest featuring fun TV commercials highlighting the deliciously indulgent crab dishes on the special menu.
Red Lobster also decorates their restaurants with Crabfest signage and decor. Staff wear Crabfest t-shirts and managers are usually equipped with crab costumes for special events and kids interactions.
In recent years, Red Lobster has expanded their Crabfest marketing to social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok as well. User-generated content features prominently, with customers encouraged to share their Crabfest experiences online using a designated hashtag.
Crabfest’s Popularity
So what makes Crabfest so popular? Here are some of the reasons it’s become such a big event for Red Lobster fans:
- Crab is already a customer favorite, so a celebration of crab is an easy sell.
- The special menu allows diners to splurge on king crab, snow crab, and lobster in indulgent surf and turf combinations.
- Crabfest brings friends and family together for a shared specialty dining experience.
- Limited time availability creates urgency to visit Red Lobster during Crabfest.
- Perfect timing during peak summer season with nice weather and school breaks.
- Buzz-worthy marketing campaign builds awareness and excitement.
Crabfest has become a tradition for many Red Lobster devotees. The restaurants are always packed during the promotion with long wait times common. It’s clear crab lovers look forward to Crabfest every year and see it as the prime time to indulge at Red Lobster.
Crabfest Preparation at Red Lobster
Running a successful Crabfest takes a lot of preparation and extra staffing at Red Lobster restaurants. With heightened demand, restaurants stock up on tons of extra crab and seafood supplies. Additional staff are brought in to handle the customer volume. Here are some of the ways Red Lobster prepares their restaurants for the Crabfest rush:
Increased Staff
Red Lobster restaurants often hire temporary seasonal staff to help during Crabfest. Extra cooks, chefs, servers, bussers, hosts, and runners are brought on board. This ensures the kitchen can keep up with all of the complex crab dish preparations and servers can handle the larger crowds and meal volumes. The temporary summer staff helps manage the busier than normal Crabfest shifts.
Crab Supply Management
Procurement and supply chain teams go into overdrive before and during Crabfest sourcing all of the crab and seafood needed. Millions of pounds of fresh crab meat, crab legs, and lobster tails have to be secured ahead of time. Special attention is paid to snow crab inventory, since this is always the most popular item. Ongoing supply replenishment and impromptu orders help Red Lobster react to any stronger than expected crab demand during Crabfest.
Restaurant Preparations
In the weeks leading up to Crabfest, Red Lobster restaurants prepare for the crowds. Special menus are printed. The kitchen staff starts recipe practice for efficient cooking and plating of the Crabfest menu items. Managers plan for ensuring top notch service standards are met during the high volume summer weeks. Things like managing waiting lists, table turnovers, prep schedules, and staff rotations require Crabfest-specific plans.
Crabfest Inventory
Each restaurant stocks up on supplies needed for Crabfest beyond just seafood. Things like plates, cups, utensils, fryer oil, napkins, wet naps, and to-go boxes need to be topped up. Bars ensure they are stocked up on beer, wine, and spirits, since alcohol sales are always higher during Crabfest. The purchasing or restaurant managers carefully plan the necessary inventory build-up ahead of the promotion.
Manager Training
Red Lobster provides training programs to help restaurant managers execute a flawless Crabfest. Training focuses on efficient kitchen operations, managing extended wait times, handling crowds, and consistent service standards. Managers learn key metrics to watch and contingencies if restaurants get overwhelmed by crowds. Setting restaurants up for Crabfest success relies heavily on thorough training for the management team.
Crabfest Menus at Red Lobster
Here is an overview of what a typical Crabfest menu looks like at Red Lobster:
Appetizers
Crabfest appetizers often include:
- Crab-stuffed mushrooms
- Crab rangoon dip with wonton chips
- Crab bruschetta
- Crab nachos
- Crab cakes
- Crab shrimp cocktail
Soups and Salads
Specialty salads like:
- Crab lump salad
- Summer crab salad
Bisques:
- Snow crab bisque
- Creamy lobster bisque
Entrees
The main event of Crabfest, with dishes like:
- Snow crab legs
- King crab legs
- Dungeness crab cakes
- Stuffed flounder with crab
- Surf n turf combos
- Crab linguini
- Crab stuffed shrimp
- Roasted crab legs
- Boiled shrimp and crab legs
- Seafood stuffed mushrooms with crab
- Baked tilapia with crabmeat crust
Sides
Typical Crabfest sides include:
- Cole slaw
- Rice pilaf
- Roasted potatoes
- Corn on the cob
- Corn fritters
- Shrimp scampi
- Garlic linguini alfredo
The full menus have lots of variety to please every crab lover! Red Lobster gets very creative in developing the Crabfest menus each year.
Crabfest Drinks at Red Lobster
In addition to food, Red Lobster also offers special Crabfest drinks. Creative cocktails featuring vodka and rum provide crab-themed options beyond the usual beer and wine.
Some examples of Crabfest drink specials include:
- Crabtini – A sweet martini with vodka, raspberry liqueur, and white cranberry juice.
- Red Tide – Fruity rum punch with mango and raspberry flavors.
- Crabby Rita – Spicy margarita with blue curacao liqueur.
- Shark Bite – Rum, pineapple juice, blue curacao, and coconut.
The colorful and tropical Crabfest cocktails add to the whole seaside theme and give adults a fun way to enhance their dining experience.
Crabfest for Kids
Crabfest isn’t just fun for adults, kids love it too! The Crabfest menu always includes crab dishes that are sure to please less adventurous eaters:
- Fried shrimp
- Popcorn shrimp
- Fish sticks
- Mac and cheese
- Cheese pizza
However, many kids enjoy trying crab legs just like Mom and Dad! The all-you-can-eat crab legs options allow kids to indulge even with smaller appetites.
Red Lobster also hands out festive crab hats, balloons, and activity sheets to keep kids entertained during the wait and meal. The kid-friendly vibe during Crabfest makes it an event the whole family can look forward to.
Conclusion
Crabfest has become a signature summer event at Red Lobster that crab lovers eagerly await each year. The months of May and June are the prime time to visit Red Lobster for unbeatable crab dishes and deals. With special menus, fun cocktails, and family-friendly vibes, it’s easy to see why Crabfest draws such big crowds every summer. This beloved promotion allows Red Lobster fans to embrace crab season and enjoy their favorite seafood in style.
