Your Guide to the Blessing of the Stone Crab Fleet in Everglades City
Every September, Everglades City plays host to a cherished local tradition: the Blessing of the Stone Crab Fleet. This event marks the start of stone crab season, a vital time for both the fishing community and visitors eager to experience one of Florida’s most celebrated delicacies. Taking place weeks before traps are first set on October 15, the Blessing of the Fleet brings together crabbers, families, and the public for a morning filled with community spirit, live music, and prayers for a safe and successful season.
What is the Blessing of the Fleet?
The Blessing of the Fleet is a centuries-old ritual originating in European fishing villages. Clergy gather at the waterfront to pray for fishermen and their vessels, asking for protection and abundant harvests in the season ahead. Today, Everglades City continues this practice to honor its hardworking crabbers at the beginning of the season.
Local pastors and priests bless each boat, often sprinkling holy water or offering symbolic tokens, creating a special moment of well-wishes before the intense months of stone crab harvesting begin. Children then have the honor of spreading flower petals beside the fleet along the dock. Finally, the event concludes with a group prayer for a bountiful season.
Why Everglades City?
Everglades City is known as the Stone Crab Capital of the World, producing a significant portion of Florida’s annual stone crab haul. This small fishing town has been the heart of the industry for generations, with families passing down crab trapping skills and operating fish houses that supply markets and restaurants across the state.
If you'd like to learn more about the history of Everglades City and its connection to the stone crab industry, don’t miss the chance to visit the Museum of the Everglades. Housed in a historic 1927 building once used as a commercial laundry, the museum offers permanent and rotating exhibits exploring over 2,000 years of human history. You’ll find stories of early settlers, the construction of the Tamiami Trail, and how stone crab harvesting became a cornerstone of the local fishing community.
Attend the Blessing of the Fleet
The 15th Annual Blessing of the Stone Crab Fleet takes place on Saturday, September 27th, 2025, at Camellia Street Grill in Everglades City. The event begins at 10 a.m., with boats docking shortly after to receive blessings from local clergy. Visitors are welcome to join the crowd, meet area fishermen, and enjoy a day filled with live music, local vendors, and food celebrating the upcoming season.
In past years, fun competitions have also been added to the day’s festivities, including a Coconut Guava Cake Contest and a Bait the Trap Mullet Toss for kids. Limited-edition Blessing of the Fleet shirts, created by the Florida Stone Crabbers Association, are available for purchase as keepsakes of this one-of-a-kind event.
How to Experience Stone Crab Season
Stone crab season runs every year from October 15th through May 1st. To make the most of visiting during this special time of year, we’ve put together a list of pro tips:
- Read our Ultimate Guide to Stone Crab Season to learn about the history, harvesting process, and sustainability efforts that make this delicacy unique.
- Follow our Stone Crab Tasting Tour so you don’t miss any of the top restaurants or markets across Naples, Marco Island, Goodland, and Everglades City.
- Plan your visit during the Naples Stone Crab Festival (October 24-26, 2025) for a celebration with live music, chef showcases, and plenty of claws to crack.
These experiences, combined with the Blessing of the Fleet, give travelers a deeper connection to local culture and seafood traditions in Naples, Marco Island and the Everglades.
Experience a Local Tradition
The Blessing of the Stone Crab Fleet marks the start of a season that defines life in Everglades City and across Florida’s Paradise Coast. It’s a chance to watch a local tradition in action, meet the people behind the stone crab industry, and plan your own tastings once the season opens. For an authentic start to stone crab season, ONLY Paradise will do.