It’s finally here. The 28th Annual Beaufort Shrimp Festival is happening today and Saturday, October 7th and 8th, at downtown Beaufort’s picturesque Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park.
Beaufort’s annual Shrimp Festival celebrates Lowcountry cuisine and incorporates lots of fun activities for all ages. The festivities always includes concerts, arts & crafts, educational activities and two fun days of several local restaurants filling Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park offering samples of Lowcountry dishes featuring local wild-caught shrimp.
One of Beaufort’s most popular festivals, the excitement kicks off at 5pm tonight and includes live music by Lauren Hall followed by popular Elton John Tribute Band, “Still Standing,” along with several area restaurants and cooks previewing their creative shrimp concoctions for Saturday’s serious competitions.
But, you don’t have to wait until this evening arrives because you can enjoy browsing through the festival’s Arts & Crafts Market, which starts at 12pm.
The event will continue on Saturday with the popular Run Forrest Run 5K race starting at 8am, followed by live music throughout the day starting at 11:15am featuring Broke Locals, followed by the Parris Island Rock Band, Walker Dean and Katie Lynn. There will also be a Coastal education fair, the arts & crafts market…and lots and lots and lots of SHRIMP!
Local restaurants and cooks will be set up throughout the park serving their best while vying for the trophies including Best Shrimp Dish, which is voted on by a panel of shrimp-familiar judges, and the People’s Choice award, which is voted on by you. The overall winner will be awarded the Silver Cup and will have a full year of bragging rights at their restaurant.
Gone from previous years are the shrimp heading competition and the shrimp peeling competition.
New to this year’s event, will be a Kids Corner with face painting, a petting zoo and more.
Also at the event on Saturday, you can enter in the Sea Island Rotary Club’s annual Charity Shrimp Race at 3pm and check out thousands of rubber shrimp racing as they float down the Beaufort River towards a finish line full of fabulous prizes. The event takes place at the sea wall in the park.
If you need help with parking in downtown, because it can be a challenge sometimes, visit our Downtown Beaufort Parking Map.
The Annual Beaufort Shrimp Festival ….celebrating our local food and culture with tons of family fun….Beaufort-style.
Don’t miss it.
