It’s finally here. The 30th Annual Beaufort Shrimp Festival is happening this week, Friday and Saturday, October 4th and 5th, 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 cookers 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 from 5:30pm – 7:00pm by Alan Price and then Deas Guyz takes the state at 7:30pm along with several area cookers 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 11am featuring The Brewer Band, followed by Jason Lee Cook, Gritty Flyright. There will also be a Coastal Education Fair, a Kids Corner featuring the new Happy Art Studio and the Arts & Crafts Market…and lots and lots and lots of SHRIMP!
Local cookers 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.
This year’s line up of delicious seafood and other delectable food includes offerings from Bellyfull By Tyger, Mother Smokin’ Good, Food Savvy Spices, Nom Nom Poke Shop, Sea Eagle Market, Sea Eagle Fusion, and treats from the Island Fudge Shoppe and Sassy Sweets.
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 with a Grand Prize of $30,000. 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 30th Annual Beaufort Shrimp Festival ….celebrating our local food and culture with tons of family fun….Beaufort-style.
Don’t miss it.
