Seafood festival, Corvette show come to Westport Sept. 1

By Dan Hammock • August 29, 2018 7:00 pm
KAT BRYANT | THE DAILY WORLD Hundreds of people will fill plates of fish, oysters, chowder and more at the 72nd annual Westport Seafood Festival at the Westport Maritime Museum Sept. 1.
KAT BRYANT | THE DAILY WORLD Hundreds of people will fill plates of fish, oysters, chowder and more at the 72nd annual Westport Seafood Festival at the Westport Maritime Museum Sept. 1.

Seafood and Corvettes by the sea: If that sounds like a great way to spend part of your Labor Day Weekend, point yourself toward Westport.

The 72nd annual Seafood Festival kicks off at 10 a.m. Saturday at the Westport Maritime Museum grounds, 2201 Westhaven Drive. A craft show will be set up with about 20 vendors, and seafood will be served starting at noon. Local band All In will be playing from noon to 4 p.m.

The seafood feast includes barbecued salmon, white fish, oysters, shrimp cocktails, chowder, salad and corn on the cob. The cost is $20 ($18 for seniors). Dollar-off coupons are available at businesses in Westport and in The Daily World and South Beach Bulletin.

If seafood isn’t your bag, you can get a hot dog with soda for $5, and there will be a selection of beer and wine for $5 a glass.

Between 700 and 800 people attended last year, said Leslie Eichner, executive director of the Westport-Grayland Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the event.

Corvettes at the Marina

More than 100 classic and modern Corvettes are expected to be on display Saturday at the ninth annual Corvettes at the Marina show.

There were 124 cars at last year’s show, according to Larry Benner, president of Corvettes of Grays Harbor, which hosts the event.

Display registration opens at 9 a.m., and the event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. along Westhaven Drive. The registration fee is $20.

Trophies are given to the first-place winners of each of seven classes and for the Best of Show selection. The trophies are crafted by local artists from driftwood, seashells and glass floats, Benner said. There are also award plaques for second place in each category, plus special awards for favorites selected by the mayor, police chief, fire chief and chamber of commerce.

Included in the show are a 50/50 raffle, a silent auction, door prizes, goody bags and dash plaques. Benner said this year’s auction items, donated by numerous local businesses, include a fishing trip with a two-night motel stay, casino packages and more.

All proceeds from the show go toward charities and scholarships. This year, $1,500 will be donated to PAWS of Grays Harbor, and another $1,500 will go toward a scholarship for an area school. The club also donates $500 to the Westport Police Department for its Chief for a Day program.