From the rocky shores of New England to the sunny beaches of Florida, America’s coastal towns know how to celebrate their maritime bounty. Seafood festivals bring together the freshest catches, talented chefs, and enthusiastic eaters for weekends filled with flavor, fun, and often a little bit of competition.
Whether you’re a lobster lover, a crab connoisseur, or simply enjoy the briny taste of the sea, these 25 coastal towns offer some of the best seafood festivals in the country.
Rockland, Maine
The Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland is a crustacean celebration like no other. For over 70 years, this festival has been serving up mountains of fresh lobster, along with cooking contests, a sea goddess coronation, and a lobster crate race.
Don’t miss the chance to try lobster served in every way imaginable, from classic rolls to innovative fusion dishes.
New Orleans, Louisiana
The New Orleans Oyster Festival showcases the city’s love affair with these briny bivalves. From oyster eating contests to the largest oyster award, this festival is a pearl of an event. Be sure to try the chargrilled oysters, a local specialty that will make you swoon.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Morehead City, North Carolina
The North Carolina Seafood Festival in Morehead City is a celebration of all things swimming in the Atlantic. With the blessing of the fleet, cooking demonstrations, and endless seafood vendors, it’s a true taste of coastal Carolina.
Don’t leave without trying the local favorite, Calabash-style seafood.
Crisfield, Maryland
Known as the ‘Crab Capital of the World,’ Crisfield hosts the National Hard Crab Derby & Fair. Watch crab-picking contests and crab races, and indulge in all manner of crab dishes.
The highlight? A beauty pageant where contestants don crab-inspired costumes!
Norwalk, Connecticut
The Norwalk Oyster Festival celebrates the town’s maritime heritage with a weekend of seafood, live music, and family fun. Watch professional shuckers in action and sample oysters prepared in countless ways.
Don’t forget to check out the arts and crafts fair for unique maritime-themed souvenirs.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Charleston, South Carolina
The Lowcountry Oyster Festival in Charleston claims to be the world’s largest oyster festival. With oyster shucking contests, wine pairings, and live music, it’s a shell of a good time.
Be sure to try the local Lowcountry Boil, a hearty mix of shrimp, sausage, corn, and potatoes.
Port Angeles, Washington
The Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival celebrates the bounty of the Pacific Northwest. Feast on the sweet meat of Dungeness crab while enjoying cooking demonstrations and local wine tastings.
Don’t miss the chance to learn crab-cooking tips from local chefs.
Chesapeake Beach, Maryland
The Stars and Stripes Festival in Chesapeake Beach combines patriotism with a love for seafood. Enjoy crab races, a boat parade, and plenty of blue crab dishes.
Be sure to try the local specialty, crab cakes, made with sweet Maryland blue crab.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Everglades City, Florida
The Everglades Seafood Festival offers a taste of Old Florida with a focus on stone crab claws and other Gulf specialties. Enjoy country music, carnival rides, and a unique swamp buggy parade.
Don’t leave without trying the local delicacy, gator bites!
Newport, Oregon
The Newport Seafood & Wine Festival pairs the bounty of the Pacific with fine Oregon wines. Enjoy fresh Dungeness crab, salmon, and albacore while sipping on local Pinot Noir.
Don’t miss the chance to watch professional fish filleters demonstrate their skills.
Hampton, Virginia
The Hampton Crabtown Festival celebrates the city’s crabbing heritage with all things blue crab. Enjoy crab races, picking contests, and dishes ranging from classic steamed crabs to innovative crab fusion cuisine. Be sure to try the local favorite, she-crab soup.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Vermilion, Ohio
The Festival of the Fish in Vermilion combines seafood with a quirky mermaid parade and cardboard boat races. Enjoy Lake Erie perch sandwiches and compete in the ‘crazy craft’ regatta.
Don’t miss the chance to watch (or participate in) the fish toss competition!
Bodega Bay, California
The Bodega Bay Fisherman’s Festival honors the local fishing community with two days of seafood, wine, and entertainment. Watch the Blessing of the Fleet and enjoy fresh-caught salmon and Dungeness crab. Be sure to try the local favorite, cioppino, a hearty seafood stew.
St. Michaels, Maryland
The St. Michaels Oyster Fest celebrates the Chesapeake Bay’s favorite bivalve. Enjoy oyster shucking contests, boat rides, and plenty of oysters – raw, fried, or in stew.
Don’t miss the chance to learn about oyster restoration efforts in the bay.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Astoria, Oregon
The Astoria Warrenton Crab, Seafood & Wine Festival showcases the best of the Oregon coast. Indulge in fresh Dungeness crab while sipping local wines and craft beers.
Be sure to watch the crab-cracking demonstrations for tips on getting every last morsel.
Cedar Key, Florida
The Cedar Key Seafood Festival offers a taste of Old Florida with a focus on clams and mullet. Enjoy the small-town parade, arts and crafts vendors, and plenty of fresh seafood.
Don’t miss the chance to try the local specialty, Cedar Key clam chowder.
Long Beach, Washington
The Long Beach Razor Clam Festival celebrates the Pacific Northwest’s love for these tasty bivalves. Watch clam-digging demonstrations, enjoy a clam fritter cook-off, and learn about the local clamming industry.
Be sure to try the local favorite, razor clam chowder.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Asbury Park, New Jersey
The Asbury Park Oysterfest combines fresh seafood with the town’s famous music scene. Enjoy oysters, craft beer, and live performances on the boardwalk.
Don’t miss the shucking contest, where professionals compete for the title of fastest shucker.
Beaufort, South Carolina
The Beaufort Shrimp Festival celebrates the local sweet white shrimp with a weekend of food and fun. Enjoy the 5K ‘Popcorn Shrimp’ run, shrimp-heading demonstrations, and endless shrimp dishes. Be sure to try the local specialty, Lowcountry shrimp and grits.
Depoe Bay, Oregon
The Depoe Bay Crab Feed and Classic Wooden Boat Show combines seafood with maritime heritage. Enjoy all-you-can-eat crab dinners and admire beautifully restored wooden boats.
Don’t miss the chance to watch for whales from the world’s smallest navigable harbor.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Madisonville, Louisiana
The Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival pairs seafood with a celebration of maritime craftsmanship. Enjoy fresh Gulf seafood while admiring classic wooden boats and watching boat-building demonstrations.
Be sure to try the local specialty, catfish court-bouillon.
Wellfleet, Massachusetts
The Wellfleet OysterFest celebrates Cape Cod’s famous oysters with a weekend of shucking contests, cooking demonstrations, and endless oysters. Learn about the town’s aquaculture industry and enjoy the Oyster Shuck-Off competition.
Don’t leave without trying Wellfleet oysters on the half-shell – they’re some of the best in the world!
Ninilchik, Alaska
The Ninilchik Clam Scramble Festival offers a unique Alaskan take on seafood festivals. Participate in the ‘clam scramble’ at low tide, digging for clams on the beach. Enjoy fresh-caught halibut, salmon, and, of course, clams prepared in various ways.
Don’t miss the chance to learn about sustainable fishing practices in Alaska.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
Panacea, Florida
The Panacea Blue Crab Festival celebrates the Gulf’s blue crab with a weekend of seafood and Southern hospitality. Enjoy crab races, a parade, and plenty of fresh-caught crab.
Be sure to try the local delicacy, smoked mullet dip, alongside your crab dishes.
Port Townsend, Washington
The Port Townsend Wooden Boat Festival combines seafood with a celebration of maritime heritage. Enjoy fresh Dungeness crab and salmon while admiring classic wooden boats and watching sailing demonstrations.
Don’t miss the chance to sail on a historic schooner for a truly immersive maritime experience.
Savor America’s coastal culinary scene!
From the briny oysters of the Northeast to the sweet shrimp of the Gulf Coast, these seafood festivals offer a tasty tour of America’s coastal cuisine. Each event provides not just delicious food, but a window into local culture, maritime heritage, and the communities that have long depended on the sea for their livelihood.
Whether you’re drawn to lobster bakes in Maine, crab feasts in Maryland, or salmon bakes in the Pacific Northwest, these festivals promise unforgettable flavors and experiences.
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.
More from Travel Pug
- 20 Mind-Blowing Things You Probably Didn’t Know You Could Do in the U.S.
- The Best Cruise Ship Experiences for U.S. Citizens
- The Best U.S Travel Destinations for Golf Lovers
- The 25 Most Dangerous Cities in the World (Exercise Caution if Travelling There)
- The Best Fall Foliage Spots in New England (Must-See Places)
Like Travel Pug’s content? Follow us on MSN.