The Bay Seafood Festival
The Bay Seafood Festival is staffed by employees from local businesses, a way for them to contribute without having to make a monetary donation. They help prepare and serve food and drink purchased by the Kilmarnock-Irvington-White Stone (KIWS) Rotary Club.
Some people sure know how to throw a good time. A quarter of a century ago, members of the Kilmarnock-Irvington-White Stone Rotary Club wanted to do a fundraiser to get their name out in the community and raise money for local charities.
That’s all it took to create the Bay Seafood Festival twenty-five years ago.
“It’s probably the largest event that takes place on the lower end of the Northern Neck,” says former Bank of Lancaster president Ken Bransford, the man who became seafood chairman that first year and continues to hold the position. “It sells out every year and we serve 1,500-2,000 people. It’ll only continue to grow.”
That’s a good thing because the proceeds from the festival benefit local organizations such as the Northern Neck Free Health Clinic, Boy Scouts of America, Jacob’s Ladder, The Haven, Hospice Support Services of the Northern Neck, and other community groups. After expenses, which run in the tens of thousands of dollars, all proceeds are divided between local organizations that apply for the funding. Since the start, profits of over $400,000 have gone to the community.
The event is staffed by employees from local businesses, a way for them to contribute without having to make a monetary donation. They help prepare and serve food and drink purchased by the Kilmarnock-Irvington-White Stone (KIWS) Rotary Club. For this year’s festival, more equipment will be added so lines for food can be shorter, which can be an issue when serving a crowd.
After twenty-five years of planning and executing, the KIWS Rotary Club continues to fine-tune the festival. In the past, alcohol has been included in the ticket price, but this year they’re dropping the cost and having a cash bar. Beer will be $2, wine and mixed drinks $3, and there’ll be a tent for $4 Virginia craft beers, a burgeoning drink category, especially popular with younger attendees.
For years, the festival was held at Belle Isle, but this year it’ll move to Camp Kekoka in Kilmarnock where a water taxi will ferry boaters from deep water anchorage to the festival. “Come, dock your boat, and we’ll pick you up,” Bransford says. “Yacht clubs will have tents so you’ll have the opportunity to meet other club members from up and down the bay.”
Not surprisingly, the event attracts food lovers from all over, including Richmond and Charlottesville, but Bransford says in the past few years many locals stayed away because of the drive. Hoping to bring them back is part of the motivation for the change in location along with better boat accessibility.
The Bay Seafood Festival is September 11, with gates opening at 4:30 pm A feast of clam chowder, fried oysters, steamed shrimp, crab cakes, soft shell crabs, fried fish, pork barbecue, sides of hush puppies, French fries, sweet potato fries, corn on the cob, tossed salad, and ice cream will be served until 7:00 pm when the band En’Novation starts playing.
“People dance; others just do their thing. We always have a lot of family reunions, people sitting on the ground catching up,” Bransford says, “and a raffle and silent auction round out the fun.” Alcohol sales end at 9:00 pm while the band plays until 10 pm.
Giving back to the community never tasted so good.
Tickets are limited. Purchase tickets online at kwisrotary.com today.
This article appeared in the Summer 2015 issue of The Local Scoop Magazine, pg. 9.