Are you getting into the spirit of the season? Not the holiday season, but rather crab feed season. Every winter, area nonprofits and benevolent associations bring in the crab — and sometimes shrimp, clams and other seafood — to raise money while offering the season’s freshest catch.
Every year, the Turlock Pentecost Association feeds over 2,000 hungry locals at their crab cioppino dinner.
“Last year, we served close to 2,200,” said TPA President Jeff Mendonca. “It’s a very good time and entertaining night. It’s one of our biggest fundraisers, along with a golf tournament for Madera’s children’s hospital.”
According to Mendonca, the Turlock Pentecost Association is different from other Portuguese associations in the area.
“We give back in a lot of different ways,” he said, citing the club’s annual Kohl’s for Kids shopping spree for kids and donations for local families in need. “That’s why we fundraise quite a bit. We try to do it big.”
The Turlock Pentecost Association’s Crab Cioppino dinner will be held Feb. 1 at the Turlock Ballroom, 528 N. Golden State Blvd., Turlock. Dinner will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and dancing from 7 p.m. to midnight. There will be no take-outs or tickets available at the door. To purchase tickets, call 209-668-9840.
Other local crab feeds include:
• Friends of the Stanislaus County Fair will hold a crab feed on Feb. 1 at the fairgrounds in Turlock. The evening will start with carnival bites and cocktails from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 7 p.m., which will include crab, shrimp, pesto pasta, Caesar salad and rolls. The event will also include silent, live and dessert auctions, a live band and dancing. Tickets are $75 each and tables of eight are $650. Tickets can be purchased at the fair office, 900 N. Broadway, or at evenbrite.com.
• The Warrior Crab Feed will be held on Feb. 8 at Fitzpatrick Arena on the campus of Stanislaus State. Social hour will start at 5:30 p.m. and dinner will be served at 6:30 p.m., which includes all-you-can-eat Dungeness crab, salad, pasta and bread. The evening will also feature silent and live auctions, music, beer and wine. Individual tickets are $85 each and table for 10 is $850. All proceeds benefit the Warrior Athletics Scholarship Fund. For tickets, visit: https://csustan.hometownticketing.com/embed/all?events=363,364,365,366
• The Denair Lions youth football club will host a crab and shrimp feed starting at 5:30 p.m. March 15 at Larsa Banquet Hall, 2107 E. Monte Vista Ave., Denair. This dinner will feature crab, shrimp, pasta, tri-tip, salad and bread. There will be to-go orders available and a silent auction following dinner. Tickets are $75 and can be purchased at Backroads Home & Gift and The Coffee House., and by texting Robert at 209-404-7243.
• The Stanislaus Area Crime Stoppers Crab Feed will be held March 22 at Rev. O’Hare Hall at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, 1813 Oakdale Road, Modesto. Crab dinner, no-host bar, live and silent auctions. Tickets are $75 for individuals and $800 for a table of eight. For tickets, visit: https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/2025-crab-feed-crab-feed
