NC Seafood Festival

This past weekend, David, my mom and dad and I all went down to the beach for the 22nd annual Seafood Festival. David's mom was out of town, so we all stayed at her house. The Seafood Festival is the 2nd largest festival in North Carolina behind the State Fair. This is actually the 1st one I've ever been to and David and I have been together for 6 years now (including dating). But for some reason we just never made it down there on that weekend.


The main reason we went this time was because David had signed up to play in the Seafood Invitational Golf Tournament. This is the 1st time he has ever been able to play in this golf tournament too because until recently he has had professional golfer status, and this tournament was only for amateurs. Since sometime early this summer, when he got his amateur status back, David has been able to play in more tournaments than he ever has since I've known him. I'm glad he gets the opportunity now to do something he loves. So all that was to say that the reason we all went this year to the Seafood Festival was for David to play in this particular tournament.

It was a packed weekend for all of us. David knew that he would be spending most of the days at the golf course, so he suggested we bring along someone else for me to hang out with and go to the festival during the day while he was unavailable. It worked out great that my parents were available and wanted to go. David went down on Thursday evening and was able to play in a skins golf game (where each hole is counted as a "separate game" and prize $ can be won for the person who wins the hole) He played one hole exceptionally well, and won $50.00!

My parents and I came down Friday afternoon, just in time for me to get ready and go to the hors d'oeuvres and seafood social for golfers and their significant others. It was nice and the food was good, but just not quite enough to fill us up. However, we did get to meet a few other people our age and make friends.

After we left the country club, David and I went over to the 1st night of the Seafood Festival to walk around and listen to the bands. The main band that played that night was an 80's music band called The Breakfast Club. They were actually really good and the 80's music was fun.

The next day David had to leave the house early for his tee time, so my parents and I slept in a little and then mom and I spent special girl time together on the beach, sitting in low chairs with the waves washing over our feet and legs. We did try to get in, but it was too cold to go past our thighs. We went back to the house for lunch and that afternoon did some shopping in Beaufort and Atlantic Beach. We had decided to steer clear of the festival on this day as it is the busiest day to go and my dad isn't too fond of very large crowds.

Then that evening David and I had another special event for the golfers and guests at the country club. This time it was an outdoor fish fry. We enjoyed the food and socializing before heading off to the Seafood festival in the evening again. This time they were having beach music and fireworks and we were meeting up with David's dad and brother. We stayed for a couple of hours and then headed home. (There really wasn't as much to see at night as during the day as I would find out the following day)

Sunday morning we all got up early and met David's dad and brother and his girlfriend and her daughter for breakfast before they hit the road. David had a later tee time, so he was able to be with us this time. My parents and I left before he did so we could head over to the festival and catch the 1st tour of the Navy ship docked in the harbor. One of the attractions of the festival this year were a few military ships that you could tour. They had a HUGE Navy ship, and a very tiny (compared to the Navy ship) Coast Guard boat, and belive it or not, an Army boat. I know what you're thinking, the Army doesn't have boats, it's the military on land! Yeah, that's what I thought too. But, I learned something new. The Army does in deed have boats to transport troops, food, supplies, etc... And there are actually military men and women that are stationed on the boats verses on land.

My parents and I toured the Navy ship and the Army boat before catching a tram to the main part of the Seafood Festival. The tour was very interesting. Here are some pictures I took of, on, and from both of the boats. As soon as we got to the main road the festival was on, we stopped at the first tent we saw selling seafood to eat lunch. The 3 of us split a plate of Mahi Mahi and some Aligator nuggets (not really that good, but you have to try something new, right?) After refueling our bodies and rehydrating, we walked along the street dodging people in every direction and poping into every tent that looked interesting. Dad soon tired of looking at all the merchant's wares and went ahead to visit our family friend, Grady, who lives in the nursing home right on the waterfront. Mom and I continued our browsing and shopping and joined him for about 1/2 an hour of visiting. It was actually nice to get into the air conditioning for a while.
This little stand is where David used to work as a kid, so I just had to get a picture of it.
When we left Grady's place, we walked into a tent right outside of his nursing home called the Chef's tent. They were talking all about shellfish and gave out samples of steamed clams and clam chowder...mmmm...oh, and we also got free Pepsi, just when we were starting to get a little parched again - perfect timing. By this time I was ready to find something sweet - I've gotta have something sweet after having salty. It's just a fact of life :) So we came across a booth selling frozen cheesecake on a stick dipped in real milk chocolate, and had to have some. Now that was delicious! It was definitely the culinary highlight of the festival - but the fish was good too. (I have to add that in since it was a festival about seafood)

While we were still savoring the chocolately cheesecake, we happened upon an interesting little hat stand. The title caught my attention - "Crushable Hats" and then also the part about "stays on in up to 40 mph" They were such cute straw hats, and so practical that we just all had to get one for the beach, boats, anywhere we would be outside. Here's me and my dad in our new hats.

We made our way back to the tram stop to take us back to the car, and I snapped this picture while we were walking by this famous restaurant. It was just such a great photo op, I couldn't pass it up.

Once we were back at the house, we rested and cleaned up a little. Then my parents headed home. A few hours later, David returned from the golf course, bearing the evidence of his win - a wooden duck (as well as a $250.00 gift certificate to the CC pro shop) - but this was not just any wooden duck. It was a hand crafted, authentic Core Sound decoy used for hunting that is worth hundreds of dollars as well. Now, if you know us at all, you know we care nothing for hunting, but I guess David is just going to keep it as his trophy.

Anyway, I took these above sunset pictures, and we finished up the evening when David's mom and her husband returned and took us out to dinner on our way out of town. As we were driving back home, I was thinking back on the trip and how we managed to squeeze so many activities into one trip. It was a full but fun weekend.