My Trip to the Charlestown RI Seafood Festival
So, I’d been hearing about the Charlestown RI Seafood Festival for a while now, and this year I finally decided, “Alright, let’s do this.” Packed up the car on a Saturday morning, wasn’t too sure what to expect, but I was definitely craving some good seafood, you know?
Getting there wasn’t too bad. Found a parking spot after a bit of circling around, which is always a small victory at these kinds of things. Paid the guy at the entrance, and then I was in. The first thing that hit me, even before I saw much, was the smell. Man, that mix of salty air, fried clams, and something sweet, probably funnel cake, just screams “festival.”
Diving into the Food Scene
Okay, let’s be real, I was there for the food. I started walking around, just trying to take it all in. So many stalls! Lobster rolls here, clam chowder there, mountains of fried shrimp. It’s tough to decide where to even start. My strategy? Do a full lap first, see what looks good, what lines are the longest – sometimes that’s a good sign, sometimes it just means they’re slow.
My first stop was for some clam cakes and chowder. It’s a classic, right? You gotta. The clam cakes were pretty decent, hot and crispy. The chowder, well, it was okay. Maybe a bit on the thin side for my liking, but it had good flavor. Warmed me up a bit as the breeze was picking up.
Then, I spotted a place doing lobster mac and cheese. Now, that’s something I can’t usually resist. Waited in line for that one for a bit. It was good, real cheesy, plenty of lobster chunks. Pricey, sure, but what isn’t at these things?
- Walked around some more, just grazing.
- Saw some folks with these huge fried seafood platters. Looked amazing, but I knew my limits.
- Grabbed a lemonade, because all that salty food makes you thirsty.
- Considered some oysters, but decided to save room for something else.
Ended up trying some fried scallops from another booth. Those were fantastic. Cooked just right, not rubbery at all. Definitely a highlight for me. I think I just stood there for a bit, enjoying them and watching the crowds go by.
Beyond the Bites
It wasn’t all just eating, though that was a big part of it for me. They had a bunch of craft vendors set up. You know the type – handmade jewelry, nautical-themed decorations, t-shirts with funny sayings. I browsed through a few stalls, didn’t end up buying anything, but it’s always interesting to see what people are making.
There was a band playing some live music over on a small stage. They were alright, playing some classic rock tunes. Added a nice background vibe to the whole thing. Lots of families were out, kids running around, people just chilling on the grass with their food. It’s a pretty laid-back atmosphere, which I appreciate.
Heading Home, Full and Content
After a few hours, I was pretty much stuffed. My wallet was a bit lighter, and I definitely smelled like fried food, but it was a good day. Started the walk back to the car, feeling that happy kind of tired you get after being out and about.
So, yeah, that was my trip to the Charlestown RI Seafood Festival. If you like seafood and don’t mind a bit of a crowd, it’s worth checking out. It’s not fancy, but it’s good, honest festival food. I got my seafood fix, that’s for sure. Would I go back? Probably. It’s a good way to spend a summer afternoon.
