Good Crowds and Weather for New Bedford Working Waterfront Festival
Shane Dolan of the F/V Westporter, winner of the scallop shucking contest, in action. Richie Canastra of the Whaling City Seafood Display Auction who serves as emcee looks on. NBWWF Photo
Thousands attended the 8th annual Working Waterfront Festival which was held in New Bedford under partly sunny skies despite a gloomy forecast. If only weathermen listened to fishermen! Shane Dolan of the F/V Westporter won the scallop shucking contest, cutting 100 scallops in 4 minutes and 2 seconds. Other highlights included the 42nd annual Blessing of the Fleet where outgoing Mayor Scott Lang was honored with the Friend of the Fishing Industry award. Legal Seafoods Chef Peter Doire bested Chef Henry Bousquet by one point to win the popular Seafood Throwdown in which chefs must prepare a dish using a secret seafood ingredient and produce purchased from the on site farmers’ market. Visitors from as far away as South Carolina and Louisiana enjoyed dockside tours of a variety of workboats, fresh local seafood dinners and live music. The 2012 Festival is slated for September 29th and 30th.