Just in time for crab-season mania, the Rotary event will take place on Jan. 17 from 6 to 9 p.m. at the St. Mary's Catholic Church parish hall.

Loose-fitting pants and a hearty appetite are encouraged at this all-you-can-eat feast, which serves up Dungeness crab alongside pasta with marinara sauce, sourdough French bread, and a green salad. To round out the meal, coffee and desert will be served after the crab is cleared away.

"It's one of our two main fundraisers," says Rotarian Don d'Arms. "It's a well-favored event and a great time." Adding to the liveliness is the decked-out parish hall, which will be spruced up with red, white, and blue balloons and checkered tablecloths.

Nearly 400 people attended last year, and the organization expects similar numbers this year. To accommodate the hungry crowd, 1,000 pounds of crab will be delivered for the occasion.

In addition to the food, there will be a live auction. Rotary member Katie Anderson, who heads up the auction committee, says the event is a big affair.

"It's a nice group of people at this event and a really good time," she says. "And the auction is a great deal of fun. It's really lively and competitive."

The auction committee began rounding up bidding material in early December and has turned out an impressive array of items. Choices range from dining certificates, San Jose Sharks tickets and sailing excursions to weekend getaways in Lake Tahoe and San Francisco.

Rotary member John Pencer has worked on the auction since its inception in 1980—the crab feed came later—and says it is successful because "we have very generous members and people in the community who donate. It allows everyone to have some fun and bid on useful items." And, Pencer says, the crab dinner has only improved the auction. "It's some of the best crab I've ever eaten," he says. "It provides a really festive atmosphere—it's noisy and very fun."

Tickets for the event are $30 per person and $15 for children ages 12 and under. Proceeds from the feed will benefit local organizations and funds, including the Rotary's college scholarship fund, Los Gatos Arts Commission, Los Gatos Youth Park, A Place for Teens, Girl Scouts of America, Boy Scouts of America, Southwest YMCA, Youth Science Institute, Community Against Substance Abuse, Live Oak Senior Nutrition Services, Rotacare, San José Repertory Theatre, and the Second Harvest Food Bank.

St. Mary's is located at 219 Bean Ave. in Los Gatos. To order tickets, call 408.262.2722. For more information, visit http://www.losgatosrotary.org.