ALL CRABS AND HUMANS ARE WELCOME at the 2026 horseshoe crab potluck!

When

May 31, 2026 · potluck starts at 6:30pm · high tide at 9:05pm

Where

Conimicut estuary, Warwick, RI — this map pin, not the park.

What to bring

• It's a potluck — bring something good to eat or drink!
• If you want to hang with crabs: watershoes, clothes that can go into knee-deep water, and a towel.
• A flashlight — peak spawning is after sunset.
• But mostly — just bring yourself.

What happens

This is a potluck I throw every year. It's timed to high tide at the full moon, and at the peak of the party, the waters come up around the legs of the potluck table and 2,000 horseshoe crabs come out of the depths and spawn around our ankles, as they have done since before trees existed on our planet.

Why do you do this?

Horseshoe crabs spawn on a celestial calendar — peak spawning activity is on the new and full moon, in May and June, always at high tide. Their physiology and reproductive cycle is tied to the moon, and these ancient animals have been following this rhythm longer than almost any other species on the planet. By learning their schedule, we can show up at the spot and bear witness to a truly natural event. We humans are not important here at all — the crabs will do their thing whether we are there or not. But this is a chance to see a side of the planet that few people are attuned to.

Is this good for kids?

Yes! Lots of kids and families come. It's a very safe, shallow, protected, calm estuary environment where children can be in the water without risk, and it's a great place to meet and hang out with other nature-oriented families. It's a late night on a school night, but it's WORTH IT.

Who are you?

I'm Alex Hornstein, that's who I am. This is my sixth year putting on this weird party, and for the past several years I've been doing it together with Eli Nixon and the Bloodtide crew.