Alyssa Evans

This week marks the return of the Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival, a longstanding event of the North Coast that is celebrating its 39th year. The festival will primarily run Friday to Sunday but some aspects will be available to enjoy through most of May.

In a typical year, visitors, volunteers and vendors fill up the Clatsop County Fair & Expo Center. Seafood snacks, meals and delicacies are devoured, while wines of all kinds are savored. Artisans explain their processes with enthusiasm. Musicians perform, adding livelihood to the already lively center.

This isn’t a typical year but many of the same aspects of the festival can be enjoyed this year. Vendors will still share their unique products. Musicians will still light up a stage. Treats will still be devoured and savored. However, the festival will mostly be held online — meaning many of the in-person interactions will be enjoyed through video calls and other similar methods.

There will still be an in-person element to the festival. During the festival, attendees can visit certain restaurants to enjoy specially-prepared meals and drinks.

Also unlike previous years, most of this year’s festival will be available for attendees to participate in through most of May. Many vendors will still be accessible, plus restaurants’ festival-inspired dishes.

A more in-depth look at the festival is available to read in this week’s edition on pages 8 and 9. Cheers to all who are participating in this year’s event.