Hampton Beach Seafood Festival 2023: What to know about food, mini air show, more
HAMPTON — The Hampton Beach Seafood Festival in 2023 will feature an abundance of mouth-watering food from the sea, "the largest beach bar in New England" and two mini air shows featuring "one of the world's best acrobatic pilots" over the Atlantic.
The end-of-the-summer party in its 34th year takes place from Sept. 8-10, 2023, and will include more than 50 food vendors and 70-plus arts and craft vendors.
"This is not just a local New Hampshire festival," said John Nyhan, president of the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce, which puts on the annual festival. "It's a festival drawing people from everywhere around the country."
Nyhan said they already have 12 charter buses lined up to attend the festival and so far, have sold more than 25,000 wristbands online for the three-day event, with four tickets sold from California.
"It's not only a festival where there is just food and crafts," Nyhan said. "There is so much more... This year's festival we are extra excited because we have been able to get approval with the FAA to host one of the world's best acrobatic pilots to do a mini airshow over the waters at Hampton Beach."
Returning events include the Hampton Beach Pop-Up Art Festival Show, fireworks on Saturday night and the Lobster Roll Eating Contest on Sunday.
The festival begins Friday at 12 p.m. 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 60,000 to 80,000 people to walk through the gates during the three-day festival.
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What is the cost of admission for Seafood Festival?
Admission is $10 each day or $30 for all three days. You can get tickets the day of the event or online. Children under 12 can enter the festival for free.
The Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce is offering discounted rates 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. 1.
A portion of admission proceeds will be donated to 10 nonprofit organizations that 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.
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Where is the best place to park at Hampton Beach?
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 First Student 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.
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.
Special event: Hampton Beach Seafood Festival teams up with Thunder Over NH to bring air show to beach
When is the Thunder Over NH mini air show at Hampton Beach?
Fans of Hampton Beach’s Seafood Festival will get the extra treat of a mini air show this year, thanks to a partnership with the Thunder Over New Hampshire Air Show.
The show is at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9, and on Sunday, Sept. 10. It will feature Rob Holland, world-renowned for his flying aerobatics, and one of the performers from the air show at Pease set for that same weekend.
“He is absolutely the best in the business,” said Air Force Capt. Jacob Ricciotti, a pilot and the operations director for Thunder Over New Hampshire Air Show. “When we go to air shows, the Blue Angels go over to him to shake his hand.”
Holland was named an honorary “Blue Angel,” and is the winner of dozens of worldwide and American aerobatic championships, including the Eric Muller Trophy World Aerobatics Championship in 2019.
Both shows will be 15 to 20 minutes long and take place over the ocean at Hampton Beach.
More: Can I still get into Thunder Over NH Air Show 2023 at Pease? Everything you need to know
What's on the Seafood Festival menu?
Clam chowder, lobster rolls, shrimp jambalaya, clam fritters - you name it. The festival’s biggest draw is, of course, the food.
There will be more than 50 food vendors including returning local favorites like Ray's Seafood, Old Salt, Brown's Lobster Pound and JB's Seafood, which will be selling oysters. New this year are Wing-Itz and Ronaldo's Ristorante, which will be selling Italian seafood.
There are also a number of non-seafood vendors on the menu as well.
Friday night, Sept. 8, 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 p.m. on the Seashell Stage.
There will also be culinary demonstrations hosted by Wicked Bites from Boston WRKO on Saturday and Sunday. Wicked Bites has invited some of the best local chefs to give the dish on their favorite seafood recipes.
Wicked Bites is coming Saturday and Sunday to showcase local chefs.
"It's always a popular tent," said Nick Bridle, who is the event coordinator for the Seafood Festival. "We have some people who just come to the festival to sit in that tent all weekend and eat some free samples."
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.
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How many crafters will there be at Hampton Beach?
Nyhan said there will be no shortage of those selling arts and crafts during the three-day festival.
"We have over 70 crafters this year and a waiting list for those who want to come in," Nyhan said.
Also, Ocean Boulevard merchants will be offering end-of-the-season sidewalk sales.
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What’s the Seafood Festival entertainment?
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 from 7 to 9 p.m. on Friday is The Great Escape, a Journey tribute band. The Maddi Ryan Band kicks off the entertainment at the Shell at 4 p.m. Playing the Beach Bar Stage is Woodland Protocol at 1:30 p.m., Rhythm Method at 4 p.m. and the band Impact at 7 p.m., playing the best of '70s to today.
On Saturday, Being Petty: The Tom Petty Experience will headline the Seashell Stage, starting at 6 p.m. The band covers all phases of Tom Petty’s musical career, including hit songs like "Free Fallin'" and "American Girl."Comedian juggler Bryson Lang will kick off the entertainment on the Seashell Stage at 10 a.m. with "ball bouncing and spinning, fire-juggling and more. He will also perform at 1:30 p.m. and 5 p.m.
The Kit Demos Big Band takes the stage at 11 a.m. and the Gravel Project will perform at 5 p.m. Playing at the Beach Bar Stage is All Day Fire at 11:30 a.m., Funbucket at 2 p.m., alternative rock band Whatsername 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 Brandy at 3:30 p.m. with The Bel Airs kicking off music at 11 a.m. performing doo-wop and 1950s-60s vintage rock and roll.
Playing the Beach Bar Stage are the Dave Macklin Band at noon and Freight Train at 3 p.m.
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What to know about the pop-up Hampton Beach art show?
The third annual Hampton Beach Seafood Festival Pop-up Art Show Contest will take place throughout the festival.
Sixteen local 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 noon to 5 p.m. on Sept. 8.
Voting for the "People's Choice Award" will take place from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday with award winners announced Sunday, Sept. 10 at 11:30 a.m.
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How do I sign up for the cornhole tournaments?
The Bags on the Beach Cornhole Tournament will take place Saturday, Sept. 9 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. Registration is $50 per team.
The first tournament will start at noon and is sold out. The second tournament will offer sign-ups the day of the event 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. with play starting at approximately 3 p.m.
Cash prizes will go to the top three finishers. All participants must be 21 years or older.
What time is the fireworks show?
The fireworks show will take place at 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9. The event is sponsored by the Hampton Beach Village District.
When is the Lobster Roll Eating Contest?
Eight competitors 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. 10.
Amateur eaters have 10 minutes to eat as many lobster rolls as they can.
Nyhan said the contestants this year are local and not professional eaters, known by those who follow the competitive eating sport as “gurgitators.”
"We made a judgment call to bring it back to the local folks," said Nyhan. "The winner last year was a professional eater, and she ate so many lobster rolls at the contest we actually ran out before it was over. She ate over 60."
Bragging rights and cash prizes are on the line. First place receives $600, second $250 and third $150.
This year’s contest is sponsored by McGuirk’s Ocean View and the winner will be able to take home the brand-new Lobster Roll Champion belt.
New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu will be the master of ceremonies for the event.
How do you sign up for the 5K road race?
There will be two races on Sunday, Sept. 10. 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, $30 for ages 12 to 20 and $35 for ages 21-plus at runreg.com/seafood-fest-5k.
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: seafoodfestivalnh.com
This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Hampton Beach Seafood Festival 2023: What to know before you go
