Volunteers

Please volunteer with us at the 2026 Crab & Wine Festival!

Thank you for your interest in volunteering at the Astoria Warrenton Crab and Wine Festival. In order for our festival to take place each year, we must fill more than 320 volunteer shifts. All volunteers at this event must be 21 or older.

Our 2026 Volunteer schedule is coordinated through SignUp.com.
Here’s how SignUp works in 3 easy steps:
1. Click the button below to go to our invitation page on SignUp.
2. Enter your email address: (You will NOT need to register an account on SignUp)
3. Sign up! Choose your spots – SignUp will send you an automated confirmation and reminders.
Note: SignUp does not share your email address with anyone.

See the Schedule and sign up here

Questions? Please send an email to our Volunteer Coordinator or stop by the Chamber office.

This playlist features a video about the event and volunteers who share why they enjoy being a part of the festival each year.

Read on to learn more about volunteering for the festival!

See the Schedule and sign up here

Volunteering with the Chamber at the Festival

Whenever possible, we try to honor requests for certain volunteering roles, but please be flexible. Sometimes assignments can change at the last minute.

Volunteer Orientation

We host a volunteer orientation for new and returning volunteers on the Wednesday prior the festival. During the orientation, Chamber staff members provide information about festival best practices and help answers any questions you might have about your volunteering role.

  • Who: New & returning volunteers
  • What: Volunteer Orientation
  • Where: Clatsop County Fair & Expo Center, 92937 Walluski Loop in Astoria.
  • When: Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at 4:00 p.m. OR 5:30 p.m. (same information presented each time)
    • Pizza provided for everyone at 5:00 p.m.
  • Why: To provide information about the event and get volunteer agreements and OLCC forms signed

Volunteer Checklist

  • Wear comfortable shoes – Some volunteer roles require being on your feet some or most of the time.
  • Dress for the outdoors – While we hope for nice weather during the festival each year, we’re not always that lucky. On chilly or rainy days, please wear a jacket, as many volunteer stations are outside or near open doors.
  • Eat before your shift – There’s not always time for a snack break during your volunteer shift, so fill up your tummy ahead of time. We will have a circulating staff member handing out bottles of water and snacks. That staff member will also relieve volunteers to use the bathroom, since volunteer posts cannot be left unattended during the festival.
  • Take the FREE shuttle – Due to limited parking at the Fairgrounds, volunteers are encouraged to take the Vendor/Volunteer Shuttle (CMH Field – Astoria Sports Complex, 1800 Williamsport Rd. Astoria, OR 97103). Volunteers should be able to catch the shuttle within 20 minutes from arriving at the pick-up spot. The shuttle may experience delays during peak festival hours, so please plan accordingly. There are two dedicated Vendor/Volunteer shuttle buses running during the listed times below.
    • Friday: 2:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
    • Saturday: 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m.
    • Sunday: 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  • Check in at the Festival Info Booth – When you arrive at the Fairgrounds, enter the building through the doors to the left of the main entrance. A staff member at the information booth will check your name off the list, ensure you filled out all your paperwork and direct you to your volunteer location.
  • Smile!
See the Schedule and sign up here

Perks of Being a Volunteer

We genuinely appreciate each and every person who volunteers at our festival. As a small token of that appreciation, we offer the following perks:

  • One Volunteer Shift:
    • FREE ADMISSION to the festival for the entire weekend! Just check in at the Festival Info Booth (instead of going through the main entrance) when you’d like to take advantage of your free admission. Volunteering on Sunday? Use your free admission on Friday and/or Saturday! Volunteering on Friday? Come back on Saturday and/or Sunday to enjoy the festival!
    • FREE FESTIVAL WINE GLASS! You can pick up your wine glass at the Festival Info Booth after your first shift, or pick it up at the Chamber of Commerce the week after the festival.
  • Two or More Volunteer Shifts:
    • Everything listed above, plus….
    • FREE RETAIL VOUCHER for our festival store! You can pick up your voucher at the Festival Info Booth after your second shift. (The voucher is valued at $20, or the price of a t-shirt.) Put your voucher toward the purchase of any festival merchandise you’d like, such as a hat, t-shirt or more! Not redeemable for cash. May only be used at the festival store during the event or at the Astoria-Warrenton Area Chamber of Commerce Visitor Center in Astoria after the event.

Read the section below to find out about our prize drawing for volunteers!

Spoil a Volunteer

For each shift worked, a volunteer will also have their name entered in a drawing for fun prizes! That means, if you work three shifts, your name will be thrown into the “hat” (aka number randomizing software) three separate times. Spoil a Volunteer prizes include gift cards to local Chamber member businesses, gifts from vendors, and bottles of Oregon wine. Volunteers will be emailed a week or two after the festival with the list of winners.

See the Schedule and sign up here