HAMPTON BEACH—
The Hampton Beach Seafood Festival has once again been acclaimed as “One of the Top 100 Events in North America” for 2011 by the American Bus Association. It is certainly one of the biggest street fairs we know of in New England. And why wouldn’t it be when you consider all the ingredients that make up the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival and Sidewalk Sales Days on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 9, 10 and 11? First and foremost, it’s a genuine seafood extravaganza and that’s the hook, so to speak. Seafood lovers cannot seem to get their fill of the abundant choices. Almost any seafood favorite you can think of will be grilled, steamed, or deep-fried from calamari to shrimp and clams to lobsters—not to mention the chowder and delicious light lobster raviolis. The choices go on and on! After all, there are more than 50 area restaurants under large tents plying their skills. Plenty of non-seafood items and other typical fair fare are available to keep everybody happy.
On Saturday, September 10, 2011, the Second Annual Lobster Roll Eating Contest will take place at the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival. Twelve lucky contestants will be chosen to compete alongside four celebrities. $1,000 is on the line, with the winner receiving $600, second place taking home $250, and third place leaving with $150. The winner will receive bragging rights along with automatic entry into next year’s competition. The ten-minute eating frenzy is sponsored by The 401 Tavern and the Pat Whitley Restaurant Show.
The ideal places to enjoy your catch of the day are the “Pub Tent” with a cool Bud or Redhook Ale or a glass of Barefoot Wine, and the expanded “Beach Tent” where you can keep your toes in the sand while enjoying your beverages and continuous entertainment.
What to place second is a toss up between the fabulous sidewalk sale lineup on closed-to-traffic Ocean Boulevard; the incredible entertainment playing continuously; an appearance by the Air Force Band of Liberty on Saturday; spectacular fireworks Saturday at 8:15; a skydiving demonstration on Sunday at 5:00 p.m.; or the crafts on sale by over 60 local artisans. Not to mention magnificent culinary demonstrations by big name chefs featured on the Pat Whitley Restaurant Show, and a specially designated Kiddie Land with puppet performances, magicians, and more to entertain the younger set.
The whole event kicks off Friday afternoon, September 9 at 4:00 p.m. Admission fee is $5.00 per day. Admission for children under 12 is free. The entrance gates will be staffed by volunteers from the Hampton Rotary Club, who will share in the proceeds from admission fees.
The 2011 Presenting Sponsor is Peoples United Bank. Other sponsors include: A&A Services, Barefoot Wine, Devcon Security Systems, FairPoint Communications, Green Mountain Coffee, Kaburst, Mohegan Sun, New Hampshire Distributors, Owens Corning Basement Finishing Systems, Seacoast Coca-Cola, Seacoast Harley-Davidson, Subaru of New England, Waste Management, Jerky Hut, NE Gutter Kings, Seabrook Chiropractic & Wellness Center, and Wacky Candy Shack.
The best deal of the festival is the free parking and shuttle service from 13 uptown satellite parking lots. Everyone is urged to park and ride free courtesy of the First Student Bus Company, who will have over 30 volunteer bus drivers shuttling festival goers each day.
For a complete itinerary, visit the festival website at www.hamptonbeachseafoodfestival.com.
Photo caption: The 22nd Annual Hampton Beach Seafood Festival will take place September 9-11. (Courtesy photo)
The Hampton Beach Seafood Festival has once again been acclaimed as “One of the Top 100 Events in North America” for 2011 by the American Bus Association. It is certainly one of the biggest street fairs we know of in New England. And why wouldn’t it be when you consider all the ingredients that make up the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival and Sidewalk Sales Days on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, September 9, 10 and 11? First and foremost, it’s a genuine seafood extravaganza and that’s the hook, so to speak. Seafood lovers cannot seem to get their fill of the abundant choices. Almost any seafood favorite you can think of will be grilled, steamed, or deep-fried from calamari to shrimp and clams to lobsters—not to mention the chowder and delicious light lobster raviolis. The choices go on and on! After all, there are more than 50 area restaurants under large tents plying their skills. Plenty of non-seafood items and other typical fair fare are available to keep everybody happy.
On Saturday, September 10, 2011, the Second Annual Lobster Roll Eating Contest will take place at the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival. Twelve lucky contestants will be chosen to compete alongside four celebrities. $1,000 is on the line, with the winner receiving $600, second place taking home $250, and third place leaving with $150. The winner will receive bragging rights along with automatic entry into next year’s competition. The ten-minute eating frenzy is sponsored by The 401 Tavern and the Pat Whitley Restaurant Show.
The ideal places to enjoy your catch of the day are the “Pub Tent” with a cool Bud or Redhook Ale or a glass of Barefoot Wine, and the expanded “Beach Tent” where you can keep your toes in the sand while enjoying your beverages and continuous entertainment.
What to place second is a toss up between the fabulous sidewalk sale lineup on closed-to-traffic Ocean Boulevard; the incredible entertainment playing continuously; an appearance by the Air Force Band of Liberty on Saturday; spectacular fireworks Saturday at 8:15; a skydiving demonstration on Sunday at 5:00 p.m.; or the crafts on sale by over 60 local artisans. Not to mention magnificent culinary demonstrations by big name chefs featured on the Pat Whitley Restaurant Show, and a specially designated Kiddie Land with puppet performances, magicians, and more to entertain the younger set.
The whole event kicks off Friday afternoon, September 9 at 4:00 p.m. Admission fee is $5.00 per day. Admission for children under 12 is free. The entrance gates will be staffed by volunteers from the Hampton Rotary Club, who will share in the proceeds from admission fees.
The 2011 Presenting Sponsor is Peoples United Bank. Other sponsors include: A&A Services, Barefoot Wine, Devcon Security Systems, FairPoint Communications, Green Mountain Coffee, Kaburst, Mohegan Sun, New Hampshire Distributors, Owens Corning Basement Finishing Systems, Seacoast Coca-Cola, Seacoast Harley-Davidson, Subaru of New England, Waste Management, Jerky Hut, NE Gutter Kings, Seabrook Chiropractic & Wellness Center, and Wacky Candy Shack.
The best deal of the festival is the free parking and shuttle service from 13 uptown satellite parking lots. Everyone is urged to park and ride free courtesy of the First Student Bus Company, who will have over 30 volunteer bus drivers shuttling festival goers each day.
For a complete itinerary, visit the festival website at www.hamptonbeachseafoodfestival.com.
Photo caption: The 22nd Annual Hampton Beach Seafood Festival will take place September 9-11. (Courtesy photo)
