AVALON — The Avalon Chamber of Commerce will host its annual Seafood Festival on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 11 and 12, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 30th Street and the beach.
More than 20 vendors will be serving up some of the area’s best seafood at the popular event, which also will feature live music, children’s activities, crafts with fall and seafood themes, and shopping.
Beer and wine also will be available for purchase both days, with seasonal beverages from Cape May Brewery, Samuel Adams and Hacker-Pschorr.
Among Saturday’s highlights will be the second annual Shucking Showdown, scheduled for 3:30 p.m. The friendly competition among area chefs determines who can shuck the most clams in the allotted time. Avalon Seafood’s Warren Wade is the defending champion.
Saturday’s live entertainment will be provided by Marnie & Nate, Justin Neri, and Sean Loosh & Brett Haenn. Meanwhile, college football fans will be able to catch the day’s games streamed live in the Sound Advice Lounge.
The famous Chowder Championship is scheduled for Sunday at Avalon Community Hall. Local restaurants enter their chowder in this contest. For a fee, festival visitors will blind-taste the chowder and vote for their favorite. Miss Avalon, Andie Babusik, and Miss Avalon Outstanding Teen, Jamie Gialoretto, will be on hand to announce the Chowder Contest winner.
The live entertainment lineup for Sunday includes the Michael Thompson Duo and Tom Curtis Jr. And the Sound Advice Lounge will be offering big-screen viewing of NFL games.
The rain dates for the Avalon Seafood Festival are Nov. 1 and 2. For more information, please visit www.visitavalonnj.com/special-events.