From 9,000 to 10,000 seafood lovers are expected to descend on the Millard E. Tydings Memorial Park in Havre de Grace next weekend to sample oysters, steamed shrimp, soft shell crabs and other seafood delicacies at the 15th annual Harford County Seafood Festival.
Visitors to the two-day festival also will have a chance to savor the sounds of Bobby Griffin, a Havre de Grace blues musician, and buy arts and crafts. More than 30 vendors are expected to sell their wares.
The Northeast Beverage Co. and radio station WXCY in Havre de Grace are sponsoring the festival this year to raise money for the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum and the Battery Island Preservation Society.
"Last year, we raised about $3,500," said Charles Maslin, organizer of the event. "This year, we're hoping to top that."
Admission to the festival is free, so Mr. Maslin is hoping a silent auction and a raffle are big money-makers.
Among the many items being auctioned off will be autographed footballs from the Baltimore Stallions and Orioles baseball memorabilia, Mr. Maslin said. Bidding will begin when the festival opens at noon Saturday.
Two tickets to the Sept. 6 Orioles game -- when Cal Ripken Jr. is expected to break the record for the number of consecutive games played -- will be raffled at 5 p.m. Sunday. The winner will be seated 12 rows behind home plate. Tickets for the raffle cost $1 each or $5 for six, and may be purchased at the beer table.
For visitors who prefer something other than seafood, vendors will have pit beef, corn on the cob and potato salad.
"We try to offer something for everyone," Mr. Maslin said. "We want this to be a real community event."
Younger visitors are invited to watch puppet shows performed by Jack Foreaker, a Cecil County resident who was one of the original puppeteers for "The Muppet Show."
One highlight of the Seafood Festival will be the Upper Chesapeake Bay Crab Cake Challenge, which will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday.
Ten restaurants from Harford, Baltimore, Anne Arundel, Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne counties will compete in the event, Mr. Maslin said.
Each crab cake entered in the contest will be baked on site and judged by crab cake experts, who come from areas outside Havre de Grace. Last year there were four judges. It's not certain yet how many there will be this year.
"Basically, they're competing for this year's bragging rights," Mr. Maslin said of the restaurants -- and he should know. His Havre de Grace establishment, Ice Dreams, won the contest last year.
The Seafood Festival will be open -- rain or shine -- from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday.
For information, call (410) 939-2877.
