Coastal Companion

Your ultimate guide to the coast

Beaufort Shrimp Festival 2009

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The 15th Annual Beaufort Shrimp Festival takes place on October 2 – 3, 2009 at Henry C. Chambers Watefront Park, Beaufort, SC.

This is the perfect place to visit to try samples of Lowcountry dishes featuring shrimp. The festival also features a cooking competition, where prizes are awarded for “best recipe” and “most creative recipe” honors.

The event kicks off with a Friday evening concert in the park, where your invited to “dance your shrimp tail off”. If dancing is not your style, how about enjoying live music and sample delicious shrimp dishes.  Six restaurants are allowing you to preview – or purchase a sample – of dishes entered in Saturday’s competition. Lighted shrimp boats will add to the festive atmosphere of the evening. Gates open at 6 p.m.

Saturday’s begins with a 5k Run over Woods Memorial Bridge, and a 5k “Walk through History” in the historic Old Point neighborhood in Beaufort. This is a great way to work up a healthy appetite!

Make sure to arrive on an empty stomach, you won’t regret it. You really need to have room for all the shrimp specialties restaurants offer. This is probably why this event is one of the most popular in the Lowcountry. Saturday also include arts & crafts, live entertainment, the “Popcorn Shrimp Race” for kids, shrimp peeling contests, shrimp heading contests and more.

Tickets for food & drink are  $1 each, which sounds like a deal.

For more information, click here.

Beaufort-Shrimp-Festival

Hilton Head Island Sea Food Festival 2009

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Come to Hilton Head Island for the annual seafood festival on Saturday April 25th. This event offers lots of fun for the whole family. If you love seafood – you can’t miss this one! But there’s not only delicious seafood to eat, there’s also a Bocce Ball Tournament, Crab Races,  Kid’s Zone and live entertainment. Visit the Seafood festival website for more.

Hilton Head Island Seafood Festival

Take a look at this video for more information about
Hilton Head Island Sea Food Festival 2009.

Lowcountry Cajun Festival 2009 – Charleston

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Now you can experience a little bit of Louisiana in Charleston, South Carolina, when the Lowcountry  Cajun Fest comes to town this weekend. This event is an action packed day with Zydeco music, Cajun and Creole foods, children’s activities, mixed together southern style.

The 18th annual Lowcountry Cajun Festival heats up James Island County Park on Sunday, April 5, from noon-6pm!

Food and fun is what this festival is all about. Local and regional chefs cook up a variety of mouth-watering foods to tickle your taste buds  with authentic Cajun and Creole faire.  Enjoy jambalaya, alligator, etouffe, andouille sausage, and of course, lots and lots of crawfish!

People travel from near and far for huge servings of fresh, steaming crawfish – if you’re a crawfish connoisseur and fast eater, the annual crawfish-eating contest is the perfect opportunity to show off your unique talent!

Also enjoy Lowcountry favorites like red rice, seafood and tangy Southern barbecue.  And for those with less adventurous stomachs there’s also your regular festival food of hot dogs, burgers, funnel cakes and more.

Dance in the grassy fields to the irresistible sounds of Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys and Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble.  Other festivities include a crafter market and mechanical, inflatable, and carnival games for kids.

Admission is $10.  This event is free for ages 12 and under with paying adult.  Gold pass holders are admitted FREE to this event as well. Call 795-4FUN (4386) or visit www.ccprc.com/cajun!

Blessing of the Fleet 2009- Darien, Georgia

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This popular event is the biggest event in McIntosh county. Every spring the Blessing of the Fleet celebrates the opening of the shrimping season. On Friday March 27 and Saturday March 28, 2009 the small town of Darien creates a party on the riverfront with food and live entertainment. The actual blessing takes place on Sunday March 29th, 2009. Decorated shrimp boats will pass under the bridge to recieve their blessing. For times and details for the event The Blessing of the Fleet Darien, click here.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to visit Darien before, this is a great time to do so. Plenty of vendors participate. There’s all kinds of food, from fresh Georgia shrimp to cotton candy, lots of activities for the kids and live music.

Visit the website for a detailed schedule at www.blessingofthefleet.com

23rd Annual Great Chowder Debate – St Augustine, Florida

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Who can resist a good debate? Even if you’ve had enough of political debates, check this one out. This is a different kind of debate. Here you can satisfy your passion for great seafood chowder at the Conch House Marina’s celebrated annual Great Chowder Debate. More than 30 area restaurants will compete to see who has the best chowder – each special entry is available for tasting with taste tickets sold for $1 each. An astounding variety of chowders will be available – from local favorites like the Menorcan chowders to an assortment of New England chowders – made with clams, conch, lobster, scallops and crab and laced with secret concoctions of herbs and spices. The event starts at noon and runs throughout the day. All proceeds benefit the Shriners’ Hospitals for Crippled Children. The Conch House Marina is located at 57 Comares Avenue in St. Augustine.
Conch House Marina, 57 Comares Ave, St. Augustine, FL 32084
Sunday, Nov. 2, 2008
904.829.8646