So, I found myself down at the Richmond Hill Seafood Festival today. Heard some folks talking about it, and the weather looked like it was gonna hold up, so I thought, why not? Always on the lookout for some decent seafood, and these festivals can be a hit or miss, you know?
Getting Myself Over There
Packed up, jumped in the car. The drive wasn’t too bad, found parking a few blocks away – pretty standard for these kinds of events. You gotta be prepared to hoof it a bit. The moment I got out and started walking closer, bam! That smell hit me. You know the one, grilled fish, fried shrimp, a bit of that salty, briny air mixed in. Definitely gets you in the mood for some eating.
The place was already buzzing when I arrived. Lots of people, music playing somewhere in the distance. First impression? Looked like it was gonna be a busy one.
Diving into the Food Scene
Okay, let’s be honest, I was mainly there for the food. And boy, were there options. Stall after stall, just rows of them. They had everything: grilled oysters, shrimp po’boys, crab legs steaming away, fish tacos… you name it. It was almost a bit much trying to figure out where to start.
I decided to kick things off with some classic fried shrimp from a little spot that didn’t have a crazy line. Watched them pull a fresh batch out of the fryer. They were pretty good, hot and crispy. A good start. Then, I moseyed on over to another stall that was doing some kind of blackened fish. Smelled amazing. Gave that a try too. It was decent, had a nice kick to it.
I saw some folks walking around with these massive lobster rolls. Looked incredible. But the line for that particular stall? Forget about it. Snaked all the way back. I ain’t got that kind of patience when there’s other food to be had. Maybe next time, if I get there right when they open.
Beyond the Bites
It wasn’t just about cramming food in your face, though. There was a live band playing on a makeshift stage. Some local group, I think. They were playing some upbeat tunes, kind of a bluesy rock thing. Not bad at all, actually. Added a nice vibe to the whole scene. People were tapping their feet, a few were even dancing a bit.
- Walked around a bit to let the food settle.
- Saw a bunch of little tents selling arts and crafts. You know, handmade jewelry, painted wooden signs, that sort of thing. Took a quick peek, but nothing really jumped out at me.
- Lots of families out, kids running around with sticky faces. It was a proper community gathering, for sure.
One thing I noticed, like at all these things, is you gotta be ready to open your wallet. The prices weren’t exactly bargain-basement, but that’s festival life, right? You’re paying for the experience too, I guess. As long as the quality is there, I don’t mind too much.
Wrapping Up My Day
After a good few hours of wandering, eating, and just soaking in the atmosphere, I was starting to feel pretty satisfied. And pretty full, too. My feet were telling me it was about time to head home. I thought about grabbing one more thing, maybe some dessert, but everything looked like it would involve another long wait.
So, I started the trek back to the car, feeling that pleasant kind of tired you get after a good day out. Overall, the Richmond Hill Seafood Festival was a pretty decent experience. Got my seafood fix, saw some happy people, listened to some good music. If they do it again next year, I’d probably consider going back. Maybe I’ll even brave that lobster roll line. Or maybe not. We’ll see.
