Crab Festival

The Pontal do Paraná Crab Festival is one of the most traditional food events on the Paraná coast, held every year to celebrate the opening of the crab season.

When: it usually takes place in December, marking the start of the summer season.

Where: the festival works as a food circuit in restaurants across several beach districts, but its official opening is held at Shangri-lá Square, home to the famous giant crab sculpture.

What you will find: besides the traditional "dozen crabs", participating restaurants offer creative dishes such as pastéis (fried pastries), coxinhas (croquettes), risottos, lasagnas and even burgers made with crab meat.

Crab season in Paraná: it is important to note the difference between the festival and the season.

Catching season: legally permitted from December 1 to March 14 in Paraná.

Andada: during the "andada" (breeding migration) periods, which occur at the beginning of the year (January/February), catching, transporting and selling the mangrove crab (caranguejo-uçá) is prohibited to ensure the preservation of the species.