The Granite Bay High School Emerald Brigade band program is a source of pride for the community, but behind the scenes, it’s the annual Crab Feed that keeps the music alive. This beloved fundraiser, held on March 8, 2025, at 6365 Douglas Boulevard, is more than just a night of all-you-can-eat crab and lively auctions—it’s a financial lifeline for the band.

For band director Lynn Lewis, the Crab Feed is a cornerstone of the program’s success. Each student within the band costs about $4000, covering the entire year. The crab feed makes it so that kids don’tdont need to donate even more than what is recommended. The program wants to make sure that anybody that can’t afford it can still do band,, and Crab Feed helps with this as well.  

”…Last year…we cleared about 23,000…the whole event brings in about 40 to 45 [thousand],” Lewis said. The cost of crab and other technicalities related to hosting the event is what brings the overall total down to 23,000. 

The Crab Feed’s origins trace back to Lewis’s suggestion, when after other fundraisers, like a high-ticket dinner auction, failed to sustain interest. 

“…Wwe tried a dinner auction, we tried a golf tournament, we tried all these other things, and they didn’t work. And I’d been to crab feeds in Stockton…they were great. So I suggested it to the boosters at the time, and they said, we love that. Let’s do that.” Lewis said.

The event’s structure allows attendees to spend as little or as much as they want, making it more successful and accessible to audiences as compared to past events, like the dinner auction. Attendees can go to just enjoy the crab and the jazz band, or they can bid on desserts, gift cards, or even trips.

The band students play a crucial role in the event’s success. They sell raffle tickets, serve as waiters, and even work as bussers.

 “They get job training for hospitality,” Lewis said. “The boosters ask them to come and serve so we don’t have to hire people to do it.”

Henrie Notley, a student in jazz band and a senior experiencing his fourth year in the band program, emphasized the importance of the Crab Feed in alleviating financial burdens. 

“I don’t know what the estimate is, but I think if we didn’t have crab feed, every student would have to pay about $500 more. We make almost $30,000 from crab feed every year.” Notley said. The numerous band fundraisers can be a hassle for some, as Notley emphasizes, however the time sacrificed is worth it. Without fundraisers the band would suffer greatly.

Luke Bettencourt, who worked at last year’s Crab Feed, highlighted the event’s dual role as a fundraiser and a community builder. 

“I would say, like, most definitely, it’s a big source of income. It covers a lot of our budget… it’s definitely really fun. [It’s] like, probably…10% of what we need.” Bettencourt said. Not everyone enjoys the whole ordeal, but kids like Bettencourt are proof that the event can be worth more than just it’s money.

Every band student is required to help with this event, every year, whether that means being a part of the set-up crew, or whether that means selling out auctions. Malia Golden, a first-time crab feed attendee, is encouraging of the concept and believes in the importance of fundraising. 

“It is more expensive than previous bands, but it makes sense for how big we are and how much we do. So I don’t think it’s too much. As long as you’re financially stable.” Malia said. 

Even when a family can not afford the initial recommended donation price, fundraising and other sponsors help in making the band accessible to all. The money is spent wisely, according to Golden. 

“I would say the money is worth it…for the most part [the money is for] instruments, instrument repairs, props for shows, and transportation…even…costumes,” Golden said.

Despite the Crab Feed’s success, the band still faces financial challenges. The school district provides only $2,500 annually, a fraction of the program’s $200,000 booster budget. 

“80% of the instruments we’re using were bought when the school opened. So we need about $300,000 to replace those.” Lewis said.

Proposition 28, a recent initiative to fund arts education, has provided some relief.

 “…we got a set of timpanis for $15,000, the boosters would never be able to afford that…what we decided to do as a department is hire new teachers, so more students got involved in music. So Mr. Pierce, we got to hire him because of Prop 28, and so that created a lot more piano and guitar classes. And…we hired a visual arts teacher as well, so more students get arts because we have more teachers.” Lewis said.

For the Granite Bay Emerald Brigade, the Crab Feed is more than just a fundraiser—it’s a celebration of music, teamwork, and generosity. As Mrs. Lewis put it, “It makes it so that anybody who wants to be in band can be, regardless of their financial situation.”