Crowds flock to waterfront for Seafood Festival at Morehead City

BY JANNETTE PIPPIN

FreedomENC

MOREHEAD CITY - Angie Bare of Randleman had only one problem Saturday as she took in a sunny coastal afternoon from the Morehead City waterfront: what to try first.

Bare attended the North Carolina Seafood Festival with her son and her sister, but it was she who held the family title as seafood fanatic.

"I love it; absolutely love it," Bare said.

She also likes taking in the coastal scene and sat on the boardwalk beside Olympus Dive Center before heading out to choose from the shrimp, crab, and fish offerings that waited.

"I saw a couple of places that looked interesting," she said.

The waterfront filled quickly with people with sunny skies and warm temperatures serving as the backdrop for the 22nd year of the festival.

Sandra Bissette of Rocky Mount attended one of the first festivals and returned this year for a second visit.

One change was quickly obvious. "There are a lot more people," she said.

But seafood remains the center of attention and Bissette and her husband, Kenneth, sampled an oyster recipe while visiting the festival's newest attraction. The Cooking with the Chefs tent educates the public about local seafood while also giving people a sampling of seafood fresh from North Carolina waters.

"I think it's wonderful," Bissette said. "If you are not from the local area you don't always know what makes good seafood."

Bissette and others who arrived at the Cooking with the Chefs tent as the day opened got a taste of a local dish from Sharpies Grill and Bar of Beaufort: polenta-encrusted oysters served over local collards with a Texas Pete vinaigrette.

The lineup of chefs continued throughout the day, with new samplings each hour. Today at the tent it is "Shellfish Sunday" with culinary students from Carteret Community College serving up clam dishes in partnership with the Shellfish Growers Association.

Outside, school groups, churches, civic organizations and other nonprofit groups lined the streets with seafood offerings including shrimp burgers, fish and chips, clam chowder, and crab cakes.

Since the festival's beginning, the nonprofit groups have been a core part of the event, serving up seafood as fund-raisers for community projects and programs.

The Croatan High School Bands Booster was back for a 12th year, selling crab balls, clam chowder and steamed shrimp boats in support of the school's band programs.

"We're all here for the kids," said Johnnie Mattson, who serves as president of the booster organization with his wife, Robin.

A good weekend at the seafood festival can raise $5,000 to $6,000 for the program, helping to offset costs such as travel to band competitions.

And each year at the festival is like being with family, Mattson said, from the friends who come together to work the booth to those who stop by the booth and buy the seafood.

"It's camaraderie with all the people who come out to support us," he said.

The festival returns to the waterfront Sunday for a final day of seafood, rides, music, entertainment and arts and crafts vendors.

The morning opens at 10 a.m. with the Blessing of the Fleet at the state port and vendors and activities continuing on the waterfront at 11 a.m. The festival closes at 5 p.m.

Free parking is available at the state port. For more information on the festival visit www.ncseafoodfestival.org.