Sustainable Seafood Festival coming Oct. 26

The fifth annual Sustainable Seafood Festival will be held noon-6 p.m. Oct. 26 at the Charleston Maritime Center.

This year's seafood selection, including local shrimp, locally farmed striped bass from Meggett and the catch of the day from local snapper and grouper fisherman Capt. Mark Marhefka, will be prepared by chefs from some of the region's finest restaurants.

Festivalgoers will have an opportunity to sit in as chefs provide free culinary demonstrations, sharing their talents and tips throughout the day, and sample seafood selections from popular area restaurants in the Chef Cooking Competition.

The festival will kick off with the striped bass competition at noon, followed by the shrimp competition at 2 p.m. and wrapping up with the catch of the day competition at 4 p.m. Judging cards are available for purchase at $12 per competition or a reduced total rate of $30 for all three competitions.

Guests may purchase reserved space for six guests in the festival's VIP tent for $300, offering all three flights of seafood, harborside seating, tableside service and complimentary beer and wine for the event.

Back again for a fourth year, the High School Recipe Contest will feature 10 local junior and senior high school students from throughout the state who will compete for $48,000 in scholarships to Johnson & Wales University. Students will face off in front of a panel of experts for one of six scholarships.

Music and fun for the entire family will be available throughout the day.

Admission to the festival is free. Beer, wine and food are available for purchase.