Forestry Crab Feed

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Sebastopol, CA
Forestry Crab Feed

In 1961 the employees of The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, CAL FIRE, Sonoma Ranger Unit recognized a need to begin a benevolent fund.

The purpose of this fund was to help the department employees monetarily during times of financial need due to disasters, death, illness, etc. and at the same time instill a sense of esprit de corps among the employees and the community. In response to the challenge, the annual “Forestry Crab Feed” was conceived. In addition to an “all you can eat” crab feast, we offer dancing, a raffle and silent

auction which generate most of our profits. Over the years, the “Crab Feed” has become such a success; we have also been able to respond to needs beyond the CAL FIRE family. Donations exceeding $300,000 have gone to various charities throughout our Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, some of which included YMCA Battered Women’s Shelter, Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, and various local youth sports programs, academic scholarships for CAL FIRE employees and family, KZST’s Secret Santa, Salvation Army, Home Hospice, Project Graduation, Associated Air tanker Pilots Benevolent Fund and many, many more. The members of this organization are employees of CAL FIRE who work in the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit. They are the firefighters and staff who make up CAL FIRE located throughout Sonoma, Lake, Napa, Solano, Colusa and Yolo Counties. They have responded to thousands of emergencies, from fires and medical aids, to floods and earthquakes in the six counties served and throughout the state.

02/23/2026

Check out the article in the NYTimes that featured our feed!

In Northern California, the tradition of winter crab feeds, which started after the Gold Rush, endures in crustaceans feasts attended by thousands.

02/07/2026

Check out the link below!!

I’m sitting down with Kim Thompson, retired CAL FIRE Battalion Chief, to talk about the 63rd Annual Forestry Crab Feed - a longtime Sonoma County tradition that’s raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for local charities and families in need. From his years of service with CAL FIRE to helping ...

02/01/2026

Just under a week left! Make sure you get your tickets to come enjoy good food and fun!!

01/20/2026

All you crab feed enthusiasts who may have attended last years feed. We can’t wait to see you again. If you happened to lose something last year stop by the coat room and describe it to our volunteers. We have a couple items that have not been claimed!

And yes there are still tickets available with 2.5 weeks left!

01/18/2026

If you can't be at this year's feed, we're looking still for good auction and raffle items. Reach out if you'd like to donate something for us to put in our lineup!

Tickets still available!

01/14/2026

So fun fact: Did you know there are multiple generations of Forestry/CDF employees and their families who all volunteer their time to work and make this event happen? Some are second and third generations of forestry crab feed members who come each year. It’s part of our charm and makes this family event so great. All the members working and supporting our “fire family” and the community have so much fun. We hope if you haven’t gotten your tickets you do soon so we can see you there this year. Just 3 weeks left!!!!!

01/08/2026

Happy new year all you crab feed people. Today is January 7th which means we are exactly 1 month out from seeing you all hopefully at the 63rd annual feed! If you don’t have your tickets get them now.

Remember we have all you can eat crab cioppino, marinated crab, shrimp salad, garlic bread and wine. Come enjoy the music, friends and great food with us.

63rd Annual Forestry Crab Feed – Holy Ghost Hall, Sat Feb 7, 2026 - Please join us at our 63rd Annual Forestry Crab Feed for an all you can eat dinner, DJ & dancing, cash bar, silent auction and raffle. The all you can eat dinner includes: crab ciop...

11/22/2025

Greetings to all Forestry Crab Feed (CAL FIRE) supporters. As we all prepare for the Thanksgiving week, we want to thank you all support you’ve given this organization for the previous 62 feeds. We pride ourselves on having the best REAL Crab Feed, where you get the two kinds of crab (marinated and cioppino—and plain if you would like), shrimp salad, garlic French bread in addition to Sonoma or Napa wine on all tables. This is truly an “all you can eat” Crab Feed with no “fillers” like pasta, etc.

As we shared after this year’s feed, the cost of crab and the lack of large numbers of crab, we ended up paying over 50% more than anticipated and shared that we’d likely have to raise the price of our feed this coming year. We pride ourselves on being affordable for our customers, but unfortunately, a ticket raise is inevitable. Although our price has been increased for this coming year, we reviewed other feeds in the area and are striving keep it as affordable as possible so we can continue to see our friends, year after year. Looking forward to seeing you on February 7, 2026.

03/16/2025

Thank you attendees!

Greetings to all Forestry Crab Feed (CAL FIRE) attendees and future attendees. We want to thank you all for another sold out Crab Feed held on February 1. We hope that those of you that were able to attend enjoyed the music, dancing, auction and most importantly, the Crab Dinner. We pride ourselves on having the best REAL Crab Feed, where you get the two kinds of crab (marinated and cioppino—and plain if you would like), shrimp salad and garlic French bread. This is truly an “all you can eat” Crab Feed with no “fillers” like pasta, etc. We buy 4 lbs of Crab per person and expect to end the night with zero leftovers, which we were able to achieve.
We are a non-profit organization that counts on this sole Crab Feed for our profits to help other non-profits we support along with scholarships for our CAL FIRE members and their relatives. This year, because of the cost of crab and the lack of large numbers of crab, we ended up paying over 50% more than anticipated. That being said, because of the bleak crab outlook for next year given to us by our wholesaler supplier, we will need to significantly raise ticket prices next year. We pride ourselves on being affordable for our customers, but unfortunately, a ticket raise is inevitable with these current times.
So please bear with us and continue to support our Crab Feed. We will do everything to keep it as affordable as possible so we can continue to see our friends, year after year. Mark your calendar, next years’ feed will be on Saturday, February 7, 2026. Hope to see you all there!
Forestry Crab Feed Committee 🦀🦀🦀

Send a message to learn more

02/10/2025

We want to thank you all for coming to our feed last weekend. It was an amazing time for all.

We did find a few items left behind and if you think that any of them are something you may have lost, please contact us so you can describe what you might be missing.

Send a message to learn more

02/02/2025

Address

7690 Mill Station Road
Sebastopol, CA
95472

Website

https://www.forestrycrabfeed.com/

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Our Story

In 1961 the employees of The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, CAL FIRE, Sonoma Ranger Unit recognized a need to begin a benevolent fund. The purpose of this fund was to help the department employees monetarily during times of financial need due to disasters, death, illness, etc. and at the same time instill a sense of esprit de corps among the employees and the community. In response to the challenge, the annual “Forestry Crab Feed” was conceived. In addition to an “all you can eat” crab feast, we offer dancing, a raffle and silent auction which generate most of our profits. Over the years, the “Crab Feed” has become such a success; we have also been able to respond to needs beyond the CAL FIRE family. Donations exceeding $300,000 have gone to various charities throughout our Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit, some of which included YMCA Battered Women’s Shelter, Alisa Ann Ruch Burn Foundation, and various local youth sports programs, academic scholarships for CAL FIRE employees and family, KZST’s Secret Santa, Salvation Army, Home Hospice, Project Graduation, Associated Air tanker Pilots Benevolent Fund and many, many more. The members of this organization are employees of CAL FIRE who work in the Sonoma-Lake-Napa Unit. They are the firefighters and staff who make up CAL FIRE located throughout Sonoma, Lake, Napa, Solano, Colusa and Yolo Counties. They have responded to thousands of emergencies, from fires and medical aids, to floods and earthquakes in the six counties served and throughout the state.