It’s finally here. The 27th Annual Beaufort Shrimp Festival is happening today and Saturday, October 1st and 2nd, 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 Mahoganee followed by popular local band The Tams, along with several area restaurants 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 7am, followed by live music throughout the day starting at 1130am featuring The Bull Grapes, Parris Island Rock Band and the Dixie Land Jazz Ensemble, children’s educational activities, the arts & crafts market…and lots and lots and lots of SHRIMP!
Local restaurants 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 kazoo performance on Saturday at 1pm.
Also at the event on Saturday, you can enter in the Sea Island Rotary Club’s annual Charity Shrimp Race at 2pm 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.
