Crab Soup Cook-Off
Crab Soup Cook-Off
Saturday, September 13, 2025
The Maryland Seafood Festival invites you to participate in the Annual Crab Soup Cook-Off.
Restaurants and caterers throughout Maryland will be vying for the right to call themselves the “Premier Creator of Crab Soup” – gaining valuable exposure for their business. Festival attendees can purchase a Crab soup tasting ticket for $15 for entry in the crab soup tent. Vote for your favorite and participate in the people’s choice.
Showcase your restaurant in a competitive and festive atmosphere! This year, the Maryland Seafood Festival is expected to draw over 8,000 visitors during two days of family activities, entertainment and delicious seafood dishes.
The Crab Soup Cook-Off is the highlight of the Maryland Seafood Festival’s first day with over 1,000 soup lovers passing through the tent just to sample your soup!
Love soup and looking to buy a ticket? See more information here and be sure to add a Soup Tasting ticket to your General Admission purchase.
For Judges’ and Peoples’ Choice, first, second and third place awards will be presented in three categories:
- Cream of Crab
- Vegetable Crab
- Alternative Soup
Each restaurant must provide:
- 8–10 gallons of each soup entered
- Serving utensils
- Non-electrical heating source
- Serving and chafing dishes
- Attendant to serve soup
- Ice
Maryland Seafood Festival provides:
- Publicity and signage
- Six foot table for each restaurant
- Soup bowls & spoons to serve the public and judges
- Awards and press coverage
- Plaques are presented to the winners of each category for you to display in your establishment
Schedule:
8:30am – Restaurant set-up begins
10:30am – Health Dept. Inspecction
11:30am – Public Tasting begins
12:30pm – Official judges begin tasting
2:30pm – Awards Presentation
New this year, we will be promoting all restaurants prior to the festival on social media, as well as on local news outlets such at Naptown Scoop, What’s Up, and more.
There will be a REFUNDABLE $100 deposit to enter (per restaurant). Deposit will be returned at the festival. The deposit will be forfeited if entry does not show up at the festival.
To enter one or more soups, please fill out the form below.
