HAMPTON — The Hampton Beach Seafood Festival returns this week with an abundance of mouth-watering food from the sea and "the largest beach bar in New England."
The end-of-the-summer party now in its 33rd year takes place from Sept. 9-11, 2022, and will feature 38 food vendors, 70-plus arts and craft vendors, culinary demonstrations and three special events.
"We are hoping that we will have a good weekend," said John Nyhan, president of the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce, which puts on the annual festival. "You don't find too many festivals today that offer as much as we offer for such a low price. It's a weekend of fun and it's a weekend also for families."
Returning events include the Hampton Beach Pop-up Art Show on Friday, fireworks on Saturday night and the Lobster Roll Eating Contest on Sunday.
The festival begins Friday at 12 p.m. (an hour earlier than in previous years) on Ocean Boulevard, which is closed to traffic from the N.H. Marine Memorial to H Street creating a pedestrian mall. The festival continues Saturday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Nyhan expects between 60,000 to 80,000 people to walk through the gates during the three-day festival.
An explosive find:A Hampton family found a Civil War artifact in an Exeter river
Admission is $10 each day, or $30 for all three days. You can get tickets the day of or for the first time online.
There are also discounts available for local residents and veterans.
The Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce is offering a discounted rate for residents living in the communities the chamber serves (Hampton, Hampton Falls, North Hampton, Rye and Seabrook). Wristbands for $8 per day or $20 for all three days can be purchased at the chamber office at 47 Winnacunnet Road until Sept. 2.
'Surfing heals all wounds':Wounded Warriors hit surf at Hampton's North Beach
Service Credit Union, the presenting sponsor of the festival, is offering free tickets to active military personnel and veterans. Free festival wristbands are available to anyone providing an active military ID or evidence of service at any New Hampshire Service Credit Union branch while supplies last.
A portion of admission proceeds will be donated to 10 non-profit organizations who are providing volunteers to run the gates. They are the Knights of Columbus, Super Evan, Hampton Rotary Club, Lions Club, Hampton PTA, St. Vincent de Paul, WHS Interact Club, WHS Marine Corps JROTC and WHS Chem Free.
"We expect to make over $20,000 in donations, which is important to us in terms of giving back," Nyhan said.
Free parking is always best and the chamber is offering a free shuttle service from satellite parking locations in town to the festival all three days.
The shuttle bus will run from 4 to 10 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and 9 to 7 p.m. on Sunday.
Ready for Game Day:Wing-Itz in Hampton unveils new outdoor patio
Satellite parking locations include the Municipal Parking Lot located on High Street, Old Town Hall parking lot on Winnacunnet Road and the Hampton Park and Ride on Timber Swamp Road. Other locations include the Town Hall parking lot, 100 Winnacunnet Road, Centre School, 53 Winnacunnet Road, and Marston School, 4 Marston Way.
On Saturday and Sunday, there will be two additional locations, Winnacunnet High School Student Lot, 1 Alumni Drive in Hampton, and Merrill Industrial Drive, Merrill Drive in Hampton.
The official festival-accessible parking lot with free wheelchair-accessible shuttle service is located at the Hampton Town Hall, 100 Winnacunnet Road. Other accessible/handicapped parking is available free of charge without shuttle service at the NH State Parking Lots, any state metered space and the municipal lots on Island Path and Ashworth Avenue.
Clam chowder, lobster rolls, shrimp jambalaya, clam fritters - you name it. The festival’s biggest draw is, of course, the food.
"I think for the first time we have a number of new food vendors which is great," Nyhan said. "One of the things we tried to do was broaden it. We still have a lot of vendors who do seafood, but we also have some non-seafood just for the folks that don't want to eat seafood. Then we have a couple of dessert vendors which are very popular after a day of eating."
There will be 38 food vendors including returning favorites like Boardwalk Café, Ray's Seafood, Old Salt and Brown's Lobster Pound, with their handmade onion rings and native fresh fried clams.
There are a number of non-seafood vendors including Bud's Roast Beef and Miss Bailey's All American Comfort Food. Dessert vendors include Clyde's Cupcakes and Let the Dough Roll, with their signature doughnut ice cream cones.
Ceal’s Clam Stand turns 75:Four generations of women behind Seabrook Beach staple
Friday night, Sept. 9, will feature the "best types of food contest," where the various food vendors at the festival vie for awards like "Best Lobster Roll" or "Best Chowder." The awards will be presented at 6:15 p.m. on the Seashell Stage.
There will also be culinary demonstrations hosted by Wicked Bites from Boston and WRKO on Saturday and Sunday. Scott Whitley of Wicked Bites has invited some of the best local chefs to give the dish on their favorite seafood recipes.
The Beach Bar, which is right on the beach, has been expanded to 40,000 feet to become what organizers are calling the largest beach bar in New England. There will be more than 12 options for adult beverages available for purchase.
They're not what you think:Taking a closer look at sand dollars on Hampton Beach
Nyhan said there will be no shortage of those selling arts and crafts during the three-day festival.
"We have 74 crafters which is the biggest we had in years," Nyhan said.
Crafters include Body Logics, Family Signs, Moore Merry Toys, Paws and Spas Boutique, Paparazzi Jewelry, I Love Boston Sports Company and Wood's Vermont Syrup.
Hampton Beach T-shirt king:Meet the man behind the five apparel shops on the boulevard
Also, Ocean Boulevard merchants will be offering end-of-the-season sidewalk sales.
There will be continuous entertainment on two stages - Beach Bar Stage and Seashell Stage - throughout the three-day festival.
"We have entertainment booked from the beginning of the festival on Friday until we close at 6 p.m. on Sunday," Nyhan said. "At both stages you will have live music throughout the day."
Headlining the Seashell Stage on Friday from 7 to 9 p.m. is Head Games, a Foreigner tribute band. The Baha Brothers kick off the entertainment at the Shell at 1 p.m. followed by Wellfleet at 4 p.m. Playing the Beach Bar Stage is All Day Fire at 1:30 p.m., Left in the Dark at 4 p.m. and the pop and dance cover band Kaleidosope at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, country singers Martin and Kelly will headline the Seashell Stage, starting at 6:30 p.m. The Tall Granite Big Band will kick the music off at the Seashell at 11 a.m. followed by Time Pilots. Playing at the Beach Bar Stage is Drive South at 11 a.m., Dave Macklin Band at 2 p.m., the Party on Band at 4:30 p.m., and Bailout at 7 p.m., which was voted "Boston's Best Cover Band."
Sunday's Seashell Stage headliner is Mychael David Music, a mix of rockin' country, rhythm and blues. The band takes the stage at 3:30 p.m. with the Rocking Daddios kicking off music at 11 a.m. Playing the Beach Bar Stage are Rumblekatz at 12 p.m., and Pop Disaster at 3 p.m.
The second annual Seafood Festival Pop-up Hampton Beach Art Show will take place Friday, Sept. 9.
Fifteen artists will descend onto the sand to create an "immersive experience" that will allow festival goers to interact with artists as their paintings evolve.
Live painting on the beach will take place from 12 to 5 p.m. A private meet the artists' party will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. where attendees will be the first ones to see all 15 pieces completed and have the option to purchase the artwork at a pre-auction price.
Tickets are $35 per person and there will be complementary apps by the Old Salt and a cash bar.
Voting for the "People's Choice Award" and bidding on the artwork will take place all day Saturday with award winners announced Sunday, Sept. 11 at 11 a.m.
The Bags on the Beach Cornhole Tournament will take place Saturday, Sept. 10 at 12 p.m. near the Beach Bar.
Hosted by Skull It Cornhole, up to 60 teams will compete for cash prizes in two tournaments.
The first tournament will start at 12 p.m. and is sold out.
The second tournament will be a sign-up the day of and will start when the first one ends. Registration for the second tournament will be open from 11 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. The approximate time of the second tournament will be around 3 p.m.
Cash prizes will go to the top three finishers. All participants must be 21 years or older.
More:Hampton Beach metal-detecting stranger saves day for woman whose ring was lost in sea
The fireworks show will take place at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 10. The event is sponsored by the Hampton Beach Village District.
Eight competitors, including returning champ Manny Cambra, will race to devour the most lobster rolls to be crowned the festival’s lobster-roll eating champion.
The all-you-can-eat contest takes place at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 11.
Amateur eaters as well as professional ones — known by those who follow the sport as “gurgitators”— have 10 minutes to eat as many lobster rolls as they can.
Bragging rights and cash prizes are on the line. First place receives $600, second $250 and third $150.
Other contestants include professional eater Molly Schuyler and Nate Gayman, of Wakefield, Massachusetts, who came in second place in the 2021 contest.
This year’s contest is sponsored by McGuirk’s Ocean View and the winner will be able to take home the coveted Lobster Roll Champion belt.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu will be the honorary host of the contest.
There will be two races on Sunday, Sept. 11.
The Lil' Lobster Fun Run, a 100-yard kids beach run, will take place at 8:30 a.m. The Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Seafood Fest 5K begins at 9 a.m. The 3.1-mile course runs along Route 1A, an out-and-back course finishing on the sand of the beach.
Registration is $15 for ages 11 and younger, $25 for ages 12 to 20 and $30 for ages 21-plus at runreg.com/seafood-fest-5k. Race day is $35 for 21-plus and $30 for ages 12-20 based on availability.
Awards will also be given out to the top three males and females in each age group.
Those 21 and older will also be given a ticket for a free beer at the Beach Bar.
More information for the 2022 Hampton Beach Seafood Festival at seafoodfestivalnh.com.