Ginuwine, Little Texas, The Original Wailers set to headline Blue Crab Fest

Courtesy of Ancient City Entertainment. R&B singer Ginuwine, seen here, will headline this year's Blue Crab Festival.
Courtesy of Ancient City Entertainment. This year's Blue Crab Festival lineup.
Courtesy of Ancient City Entertainment. Country band Little Texas, seen here, will take the stage at this year's Blue Crab Festival.
Courtesy of Ancient City Entertainment. The Original Wailers, seen here, will perform at this year's Blue Crab Festival.

Calling all Ginuwine fans: the 1990s singer will bring R&B vibes to the Blue Crab Festival concert series this Memorial Day weekend, organizers announced today.

The soulful singer is best known for his 1996 hit “Pony.” But his 1999 hit “So Anxious” also went platinum, and fans may remember “In Those Jeans” and “Differences.”

Ginuwine is scheduled to perform as the last act on the opening night starting around 9:20 p.m.

There will be a little something for everyone, though. Residents can also rock out to a lineup of more than 30 acts for the three-day event that starts May 27. Musical acts include Grammy-nominated bands Little Texas, who will perform May 28, and The Original Wailers, who perform on the first night. There will also be some St. Augustine cover bands such as Papercutt, who performs May 29, organizers said.

This year’s festivities have been taken over by the city of Palatka after former organizers, Palatka Young Professionals, passed the baton earlier this year. City commissioners unanimously approved using $75,000 from the city’s general fund in March to fund the Blue Crab Festival. They also approved a $160,000 contract with St. Augustine event company RQ Music LLC, also known as Ancient City Entertainment, to promote and manage Blue Crab.

A breakdown of the contract lists $80,000 for bringing in three days of show production equipment, $15,000 to purchase alcohol, $20,000 for event rentals, $5,000 for volunteers and security work, $15,000 for a promoter fee and $25,000, which comes from a statewide tourism development grant, for marketing.

“I’m really honored to be included in Palatka,” organizer Jeanetta Cebollero said.

The Blue Crab Festival, which has always occurred during Memorial Day weekend, began in 1989, according to Daily News archives.

It was canceled in 2018 because organizers at the time said they did not have the money. The festival was slated to have the same fate in 2019, but Palatka Young Professionals took over as organizers. The COVID-19 pandemic forced the festival’s cancellation in 2020 and 2021.

While Cebollero is not from Palatka, she said meeting everyone since she stepped in to organize Blue Crab has been great.

She said she can tell there is a lot of love in this community and people are eager for the tradition to return.

“I’m really just championing this small town,” she said.

Vendor spots are still open for people wishing to be a part of this year’s festivities.

Visit palatkabluecrabfestival.com/vendor-app to register.