AIKEN – Despite a wet weekend start, the Aiken Seafood Bash “calibash-ed” its way on to Newberry Street in downtown Aiken Friday night and is splashing forward for two more days.
Hot seafood of many varieties with ice cold beers, colorful food trucks and tents plus artisans lined the streets just down from the Aiken Community Theatre near The Alley. Vendors served food and sold some merchandise in the early evening on Friday. Bouncy houses were inflated but will primarily be used on Saturday as the weather allows.
The coordinators of the event did not cancel the event due to the rain.
Marge Davenport, business partner with Robin Roberts Promotions which helped head up the event, said, “The only time we shut down is if there is a hurricane.”
She also mentioned shutdowns if there is severe lightning.
The seafood show went on Friday evening. Just before the start of the event, a deluge occurred. Then, there was a little over an hour where the weather was relatively clear, and a small crowd meandered to the vendor trucks and tents. Around 6:15 p.m., torrential rains started again. Later in the evening, the weather cleared up again.
“The weather is going to be scattered. We still look forward to a great weekend,” Davenport said.
Immediately after the rainy weather on Friday evening, Mama’s Taste of the World had several seafood dishes several were purchasing, including a lobster roll and a variation of a traditional lobster roll as well as conch fritters.
Peter Hanti said he and Edna “Mama” Hanti started the business in South Florida and moved to Lexington. They, of course, drive their food truck on the festival circuit.
Dishes included a variation of the lobster roll, the lobster grilled cheese as well as the “Mama’s style” lobster roll was stuffed full of fresh lobster. Also on the menu were conch fritters.
Laughing Crab Catering of Havre de Grace, Maryland, served up some crab cake sliders among other dishes. The crab cake in the slider was chock full of fresh crab and lightly battered.
Though the festival had a seafood theme, other foods were available as well.
Heather Ervin of Heather’s Corner came over from Georgia with what she calls her famous macaroni and cheese and boiled peanuts.
She also revealed something else she does with her talent and time:
“I help feed the homeless and wash clothes for them,” she said.
A small group of other food vendors, including seafood and dessert vendors, can be visited throughout the weekend.
Artisans and other vendors came to the event.
Mary Ellen Bennett of ME’s Creative Art came from Spenser, N.C.
She said she makes art from beads, shells, acrylic paint and other materials. Her artwork will be for sale throughout the weekend.
Stephen Donahoo of One Stop Hats in Florida had a variety of men’s and ladies’ hats for sale, including some Australian-style hats. He beckoned people out of the rain to his large tent and had placed pool noodles at strategic points in the inside of the tent because of the weather.
He said they do not have a website or storefront and just sell hats at events throughout the country.
DJ’s Jewelry was also on hand selling a wide variety of jewelry. Other vendors and a caricature artist were placed here and there along Newberry St.
No entertainment will be available at the event.
“Entertainment has been cancelled because the Earth, Wind, and Fire Experience will be performing at the Aiken Community on Newberry St. each evening of the weekend,” Davenport said.
Click hehttps://apagonline.org/earth-wind-fire-tribute/re for more information about those performances:
Much of Newberry Street will be blocked off Saturday for the event.
The festival continues until 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 27 and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 28.
South Carolina author, former teacher and veteran journalist Ron Baxley, Jr. is a social media manager working on a Southern television series. His latest novel, “O.Z. Diggs the Fifth Estate” is available in regional comics shops, bookstores, and gift shops. Reach him at ronbaxleyjr.com.
