Manatee Festival and The Crab Plant-Crystal River-Florida

Posted on by obligatorytraveler@gmail.com

PLEASE NOTE, THIS POST MAY INCLUDE AFFILIATE LINKS, MEANING THAT IF YOU CLICK ON A LINK AND MAKE A PURCHASE, I'LL RECEIVE A SMALL COMMISION. THIS WILL COME AT NO COST TO YOU.

While swimming with manatees, we learn that we have inadvertently scheduled our visit during the weekend of Florida’s Annual Manatee Festival. As we didn’t have a strict schedule for the weekend, we join in the fun.

I must admit that I’m initially disappointed as we enter the Manatee Festival. In my imagination, I expect the manatee festival to either be…

A festival completely run by manatees. Manatees selling churros, manatees supervising the bounce house, manatees selling their homemade jewelry (far-fetched I know, but a girl can dream).
A festival where EVERYTHING is manatee themed. Manatee housewares, manatee hoodies, manatee ice cream cones…more believable yes, but sadly also not the case.

There are a few vendors selling manatee themed items, but the festival is more of a general festival. Once I get over my initial disappointment, I jump into the revelries.

Though the Manatee Festival has countless food vendors selling everything from BBQ, to Ice Cream, to Arepas, I already have my heart set on eating my birthday lunch at The Crab Plant.

There’s nothing like a no-frills, old school, seafood restaurant, and The Crab Plant is everything I want it to be.

crab plant crystal river florida

I’m delighted by my fried shrimp.

crab plant crystal river Florida seafood food lunch

The seasoning and breading are light, enabling me to savor the shrimpy goodness.

Shannon gets the shrimp skewers.

crab plant crystal river florida seafood shrimp

Two sides come with our meals. We divide and concur so we can taste and share. The fries, beans, and hush puppies are all yummy, but the fried okra side is the star of the show.

We munch, as pelicans lazily float on the water by the window. It’s one of my best birthday lunches so far.

Back at the Manatee Festival, a sign shines like a beacon, summoning Shannon towards one of his favorite snacks. The Beef Jerky vendor hands out generous free samples. It’s a good strategy, because we walk away with several bags of dried meat.

manatee festival crystal river florida

We also obtain a substantial amount of delicious, homemade, licorice, from The Licorice Guy.

manatee festival crystal river florida licorice man

Later, my duffel bag will get flagged going through airport security. It gets pulled for further inspection due to the excess licorice appearing suspicious.

Like a manatee, the Manatee Festival is immense. It goes on, and on, and on.

manatee festival crystal river florida

We pass food vendors,

manatee festival crystal river florida

craft vendors, and adorable little goats.

manatee festival crystal river florida goats

Also in the little and adorable category, we visit with a tiny, injured, owl, who is in the process of being rehabilitated.

manatee festival crystal river florida

We hang out for a bit and listen to a band playing on the stage. I’m fascinated by the people who are busting out some amazing, sweet, dance moves.

We finally get to a point where we are sure that we have come to the end of the Manatee Festival, only to discover that the festival continues across the street. It’s now a quest, a quest to find out just how large the Manatee Festival is, and if it ever ends.

Quest complete, we finally reach the end of the festival, and agree that it’s time to go back to the Plantation Resort for a nap.

Though it’s not entirely manatee themed, nor run by lovable manatees, Florida’s Annual Manatee Festival, in Crystal River, Florida, is impressive. It turned out to be one of those great, surprise, unplanned, activities that makes us happy to be travelers.

Manatee Festival and Crab Plant -Crystal River, Florida-Obligatory Traveler

If you’re looking for a great Travel Community to join, check out WeekendWanderlust

animals festivals florida food travel

obligatorytraveler@gmail.com

Lydia
at

This is the first time I am hearing about the Manatee Festival and it seems like an exceptional event to attend. Thanks for sharing pictures to bring this place closer. Those little goats are indeed adorable!
1. obligatorytraveler@gmail.com
  at
  
  The little goats were cute, and friendly. I loved the little owl too. There were so much to do at the festival for people of all ages. There was a whole kids’ play section too.
Cynthia Mackintosh
at

We will need to attend this next time! We live 1.5 hours away from Crystal River. Sounds like an awesome time!
1. obligatorytraveler@gmail.com
  at
  
  The festival was great. It lasts for two days. If we had more time, I would have loved to stop by the second day just to try some of the delicious looking food.
Andi
at

I lived in Tampa for 10 years and never attended the festival. And I LOVE manatees! Now I live in France so I doubt I’ll make it there. Thanks for sharing your experience!
Elaine Masters
at

Sounds like a great excuse for a party and that’s amazing that it was so big. Hope the rest of your birthday was wonderful.
1. obligatorytraveler@gmail.com
  at
  
  Thanks. It was a wonderful, relaxing, birthday weekend.
Brianna
at

Wait…so if there aren’t live manatees selling their wares, nor is it very manatee themed, why is it called the Manatee Festival?? I also swam with them in Florida several years ago, and it was a really cool experience!
1. obligatorytraveler@gmail.com
  at
  
  I know right? I was at the very least hoping there would be a big plush manatee I could get a pic with, but alas it was not to be.
Andi
at

I used to live in the Tampa area and never made it to this festival! Thanks for sharing. I lived it vicariously through you!
1. obligatorytraveler@gmail.com
  at
  
  Thanks for reading. We spent a day in Tampa too. I’d love to go back and explore more of it.
Allison
at

Homemade licorice?! I’m totally there! #weekendwanderlust
1. obligatorytraveler@gmail.com
  at
  
  Now that I’ve had homemade, it’s going to be hard to go back to store bought. I really need to order more from the online store.
Carol Ivey
at

Sounds like fun
1. obligatorytraveler@gmail.com
  at
  
  It was fun and massive
Hannah
at

Ahhh this looks awesome! I love stumbling into local festivals like this. Thanks for sharing!
1. obligatorytraveler@gmail.com
  at
  
  It was an impressive festival, despite the lack of manatees. I look forward to stumbling on more festivals in our future travels.
Faith
at

This post made me so hungry! Great mix of info and photos. Really enjoyed learning about the Manatee Festival. Thanks for putting it up! 😀
1. obligatorytraveler@gmail.com
  at
  
  Thanks for reading. I wish I could eat that sandwich all over again.
Kemi
at

You mean it wasn’t manned by manatees?? Fail! Lol. Wow! All that seafood is heaven for a non-meat eater. Coincidentally I had similar far in Brooklyn complete with a bib and gloves. You gotta tell how you managed to rescue your bag from TSA with all that licorice. What was your story and did they think it could be fashioned into something else? Lol. That tiny owl is sooooo cuties. Bless!
1. obligatorytraveler@gmail.com
  at
  
  I’m always nervous when they search my bags, but I did really want to know what they thought was in there when they looked at the scanner screen. I still haven’t been to an seafood place that requires a bib. It’s definitely a foodie goal
Susan
at

Sounds like it was a good time. Have you been to Smitty’s in Somers Point? It one of those divey seafood joints on the water. I miss going there, I would go relatively often in the off-season when I lived in that area.
1. obligatorytraveler@gmail.com
  at
  
  I haven’t heard of Smitty’s but I’m going to have to check it out. I love divey seafood places, they always have the freshest stuff