Chincoteague Seafood Festival Gives Guests a Taste of the Eastern Shore

Little Neck steamed clams, single fried oysters, fried fish, shrimp and clam fritters are all dishes you can indulge in during the 48th annual Chincoteague Seafood Festival.

This years Chincoteague Seafood Festival will take place on Saturday, May 7 from 12-4 p.m. at Tom’s Cove Park. Gates for the event will open at 10 a.m.

According to Evelyn Shotwell, executive director of the Chincoteague Chamber of Commerce, the Chincoteague Seafood Festival has been a staple in Chincoteague, Va.’s culture for many years.

“The event was started by the Eastern Shore of Virginia’s Chamber of Commerce as an annual fundraiser, every first Wednesday in May. In 2011, they gave the event up and our chamber decided we would continue to have it! We moved it to every first Saturday in May to bring more people in and raise more revenue.”

This event is one of the biggest spring celebrations in Chincoteague. Shotwell says it brings in great revenue for the first early weekends and is able to get the economy going, boosting tourism dollars for dining, shopping and at hotels.

Each year, the event averages around 2,300 people. This year, Shotwell hopes to sell 3,000 tickets, which she says is feasible since the chamber is already 60% ahead of last years numbers. Proceeds from the event go towards promoting tourism. Since the chamber is self funded, all the money raised will go right back into the community.

Each year, people come from all over the region for the event including guests from Pennsylvania, New York, California and Louisiana.

The all-you-can-eat event will feature appetizers, a full salad bar, sweet potato fries, boardwalk fries, clam strips, raw oysters, raw clams, grilled chicken, clam chowder and  hushpuppies.

“We want people to get a good taste of the Eastern Shore!” Shotwell says.

In addition to an abundance of seafood, there will be prizes, raffle tickets, arts & craft exhibitors, local business displays, games and activities.

Tickets are $40 per person and children under 5 are free. Tickets for the event can be bought at the chamber office, online at chincoteaguechamber.com or by calling the chamber at (757) 336-6161. Unless the event sells out in advance, tickets will also be sold at the gate.