The beloved Stone Crab Festival, a Clearwater Beach tradition for nearly four decades, is moving to Dunedin this year after recent hurricanes forced the closure of five Frenchy’s and Clear Sky restaurant locations. The festival will be held at Frenchy’s Seafood Market on the Dunedin Causeway (501 Causeway Blvd.) on Friday, October 25th, from 4-10 p.m. and Saturday, October 26th, from noon-10 p.m.

Despite the challenges posed by storm damage, organizers remain committed to hosting the event, with proceeds benefiting the Frenchy’s and Clear Sky Employee Fund, a 501(c)(3) organization supporting workers displaced by the closures.

“We truly are a part of the community and feel that it’s our responsibility to help the area get back on its feet,” says Scott Sousa of Clear Sky and Frenchy’s Restaurants. “It’s been a tough ride for everyone, and we can all use a little bit of normalcy and fun in our lives.”

This year’s festival carries special significance as the restaurant group works to rebuild its Clearwater Beach locations. “We have hundreds of employees who are displaced because of this,” Sousa explains. “The money raised will go directly to our team members.”

Festival attendees can enjoy live music, food, drinks, local vendors, and Frenchy’s famous locally-caught Tampa Bay stone crab. The event aims to provide both financial support for affected employees and a sense of hope for the broader community as it recovers from the storms.

For more details about the festival, visit www.frenchysstonecrab.com.