Celebrating the abundance and variety of seafood offered on all shores of the USA, a good number of seafood festivals continue to grow in popularity as they showcase regional delicacies and traditions in food and entertainment.
From crab festivals in the north to lobster festivals in the south, and everything in between, including Oyster festivals in Connecticut and crab festivals in California. There is a food and a festival to suit every seafood taste.
ALASKA
Kodiak Crab Festival
May
Kodiak
The annual, spring Kodiak Crab Festival is a treasured festival combining a world-famous edible delicacy with a true Alaska-style party, including: a photo exhibit, sporting events, artisan tents, carnival, foot races, live music and the “Wild about Kodiak Seafood Cook-off.
For more information visit: www.kodiak.org
CALIFORNIA
Mendocino Crab & Wine Days
January
Mendocino
Recently listed as one of the Top 10 Seafood & Wine Festivals in Coastal Living Magazine, this fundraiser features two of Mendocino County's most highly prized commodities: locally caught Dungeness crab and locally produced wines!
Festivities include cooking classes, crab tours, fishing excursions, crustacean-and-wine dinners, and the annual crab cake cook-off and wine tasting at Fort Bragg’s Noyo Harbor.
Visitors can pick up an official Crab & Wine Days Passport and have it stamped to win lodging, dinners and wine.
For more information visit: www.gomendo.com
CONNECTICUT
Oyster Festival
September
Fairfield County, Connecticut
Started more than 34 years ago, the Annual Milford Oyster Festival is held on the third Saturday of August every year and attracts local residents and visitors from around the globe who want to enjoy the sights, sounds, tastes and history of Milford, Connecticut at a family-oriented festival and to celebrate the Long Island Sound’s seafaring past.
Activities and attractions include live entertainment, arts and crafts, vintage vessels, demonstrations, juried crafters, international food court, exhibits and Kid’s Cove.
For more information visit: www.milfordoysterfestival.org
Horseshoe Crab & Shorebird Festival
May
Historic Downtown Milton and the Prime Hook National Wildlife Refuge, Delaware
Timed to correspond with the spawning cycle of the horseshoe crab on area beaches, and the shorebirds who come to feed on horseshoe crab eggs before they continue their three-day, nonstop flight to their summer home,the Horseshoe Crab & Shorebird Festival celebrates this extraordinary event.
Apart from live music and delicious food, attractions of the festival focus on educating visitors about the area, the crabs and shorebrids, and local wildlife, while having fun with artwork, an educational play about horseshoe crabs and shorebirds, the Horseshoe crab/Shorebird Express Train, a pontoon boat ride on the Broadkill River and hay-wagon tours.
LOUISIANA
Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival
May
Breaux Bridge, Louisiana
The Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival has become one of the largest gatherings of world famous Cajun, Zydeco and Swamp Pop musicians and plays host to over 30 bands on three stages during the three-day festival.
Also part of the fun are the Breaux Bridge Heritage Tent, Cajun cuisine, crawfish races, Cajun and Zydec dance contests, carnival midway, crawfish cookoff and eating contest, and a parade to honor the Crawfish Queen.
For more information visit: www.bbcrawfest.com
Mudbug Madness
May
Shreveport, Louisiana
Paying homage to the most cherished of Louisiana institutions – the crawfish boil – Mudbug Madness began in 1984 as a two-day street festival in downtown Shreveport.
It is now one of Louisiana’s largest and most popular Cajun festivals, featuring renown Cajun, Zydeco, Blues and Jazz artists, mouth-watering Cajun cuisine, raucous contests, and fun for all ages.
This four-day festival held each Memorial Day weekend is nationally recognized as one of the Southeast Tourism Society’s Top 20 Events, drawing as many as 56,000 people in one day.
For more information visit: http://mudbugmadness.com
MAINE
Yarmouth Clam Festival
July
Yarmouth, Maine
One of Maine’s most popular summer events, the Yarmouth Clam Festival, going strong for over 42 years, is an annual 3-day event that attracts nearly 120,000 visitors each year, swelling the quiet New England village will to 15 times its size.
Festivities include the Friday night parade, Saturday night fireworks, the Clam Shucking contests, clam cook-off, clam cooking demos, Firefighters’ Muster, over 150 craftspeople, artists, and photographers displaying and selling their work, performances by noted musicians and entertainers and, of course, more clams!
For more information visit: www.clamfestival.com
Maine Lobster Festival
August
Rockland, Maine
Along with tons of Maine lobsters, this world famous New England summer event features maritime displays and demonstrations, Maine arts and crafts, harbor cruises, contests, lots of wonderful entertainment, a giant parade, and much more.
A celebration of Maine's maritime heritage, past performances have included top national musical talents such as the Dixie Chicks, Willie Nelson, Chubby Checker, and the Temptations.
For more information visit: www.mainelobsterfestival.com
MISSISSIPPI
Biloxi Seafood Festival
September
Biloxi, Mississippi
A popular attraction for over 27 years, the annual Biloxi Seafood Festival attracts more than 25,000 festival goers, vendors and volunteers, and has been voted as the best Mississippi event of the year.
Food fun events feature a gumbo championship, and a large selection of seafood including jambalaya, shrimp and fried fish. Live music, from country to rock, entertains the foodies.
For more information visit: www.biloxi.org
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Hampton Beach Seafood Festival
September
Hampton Beach
New England’s largest seaside event features more than 60 of the Seacoast's top restaurants serving an abundance of mouthwatering seafood delicacies.
Attractions include 80 arts & crafts vendors promoting locally made products, end-of-the-season Sidewalk Sales, a Kiddie Land with the region's most notable celebrities in children's entertainment, continuous culinary chef demonstrations, and two stages of continuous entertainment with 15 Bands and Orchestras. HIghlights of the festival are the spectacular fireworks display and an amazing Sky Diving extravaganza.
For more information visit: www.hamptonbeachseafoodfestival.com
NEW JERSEY
NJ Seafood Festival
June
Belmar, New Jersey
The New Jersey Seafood Festival in Belmar combines a culinary celebration of seafood delights with a day of fun. The Annual event will once again unite master chefs, fine artists and crafts people along with musicians from around the state.
Food offerings extend from the traditional shrimp, lobster and calamari, to the more exotic alligator sausage, sushi, conch fritters, and seafood paella.
The New Jersey Seafood Festival has been named as one of the top 100 events in North America. Approximately 150,000 visitors attended last year’s festival, which is held at Silver Lake Park on Ocean Avenue.
For more information visit: www.belmar.com/seafoodfestival
NORTH CAROLINA
North Carolina Seafood Festival
October
Morehead City, North Carolina
A tradition for over 22 years, and the second largest Festival in North Carolina, the North Carolina Seafood Fetsival features seafood, free national and regional musical entertainment and the cultural heritage and traditions that surround commercial fishing.
The event also includes Arts & Craft Vendors, an 8K road race, and rides.
For more information visit: www.ncseafoodfestival.org
OREGON
Astoria Warrenton Crab and Seafood Festival
April
Astoria, Oregon
A tradition for more than 27 years, the Astoria Warrenton Crab and Seafood Festival is always on the last full weekend in April.
Visitors to the event can enjoy live music from NW Bands, a great selection of seafood and other culinary delights (including the Rotary club’s traditional crab dinner), near 50 Oregon Wineries and about 100 booths filled with handmade arts and crafts.
For more information visit:
www.oldoregon.com/events/entry/astoria-warrenton-crab-seafood-festival
