Two north Norfolk towns are preparing to celebrate a famous seafood speciality with a weekend of food and events highlighting their link to the sea.

North Norfolk News: Tom Bridges, marine science officer at Eastern IFCA with a crab at the Crab and Lobster Festival at Cromer. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYTom Bridges, marine science officer at Eastern IFCA with a crab at the Crab and Lobster Festival at Cromer. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The 10th annual Cromer and Sheringham Crab and Lobster Festival will begin later this month.

And the weekend of events will kick off the festival's summer-long programme, including a 'boat shelves' art trail and August's crabbing championships.

The first weekend of the festival will be held on Saturday, May 18, and Sunday, May 19, with a Friday night concert at Cromer Pier's Pavilion Theatre, and food and drink stalls, entertainment, music and cookery and crab dressing demonstrations at the festival grounds in Cromer's Evington Gardens.

Friday, May 17

North Norfolk News: Cromer town crier Jason Bell with Crab and Lobster festival president Hilary Cox pose for a photo with the festival mascot at the annual event. Picture: KAREN BETHELLCromer town crier Jason Bell with Crab and Lobster festival president Hilary Cox pose for a photo with the festival mascot at the annual event. Picture: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

The opening night concert will be hosted by entertainer Olly Day, with doors at the theatre opening from 7.30pm and featuring performances from, among others, the Sheringham Shantymen and Marlene's School of Dancing.

Tickets are available from the pier's box office or via the website.

Saturday, May 18

The festival grounds open to the public at 10am, with more than 50 craft, food and drink stalls on offer, and activities including kids' entertainment from Rollo the Clown and crab dressing by Julie Davies.

North Norfolk News: Lewis Clark, seven, meets a lobster at the Eastern IFCA stand at the Crab and Lobster Festival at Cromer. Picture: DENISE BRADLEYLewis Clark, seven, meets a lobster at the Eastern IFCA stand at the Crab and Lobster Festival at Cromer. Picture: DENISE BRADLEY (Image: Copyright: Archant 2017)

The annual crab race will be replaced by the crab lucky dip, from 10.30am, and there will be an evening performance by Tom, Dick and Harry and a barbeque.

2019 will also see the festival expand for the first into a fringe event - the Cromer Gardening Festival, in North Lodge Park.

The event will include a show garden, plant swap, massages, food, and a sunflower competition.

Sunday, May 19

North Norfolk News: The cookery theatre at CromerPhoto: KAREN BETHELLThe cookery theatre at CromerPhoto: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

The festival's stalls and events will continue, including cookery, theatre and heritage.

And at 2pm in the main tent, the annual Cromer crab sandwich competition will be judged.

To enter, contact Phillip at Henry's Cafe, in Cromer.

World Crabbing Competition

North Norfolk News: Razz the Clown entertaining crowds at CromerPhoto: KAREN BETHELLRazz the Clown entertaining crowds at CromerPhoto: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

On Sunday, August 25, the festival's world crabbing contest will be held on Cromer Pier.

Teams and individuals can register from 9.30am and crab from 10.30am, with winners announced on the pier at 1.30pm.

Art trail

The annual art trail will also be up for auction on Sunday, May 25.

North Norfolk News: Have-a-go crab dressing at CromerPhoto: KAREN BETHELLHave-a-go crab dressing at CromerPhoto: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

For more information, visit the Crab and Lobster Festival website.

North Norfolk News: Cromer and Sheringham Crab and Lobster Festival Photo: KAREN BETHELLCromer and Sheringham Crab and Lobster Festival Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)

North Norfolk News: The crab lucky dip at Cromer and Sheringham Crab and Lobster Festival Photo: KAREN BETHELLThe crab lucky dip at Cromer and Sheringham Crab and Lobster Festival Photo: KAREN BETHELL (Image: Archant)