Main Street Beaufort, USA, and the South Carolina Shrimpers Association are gearing up for the 21st Annual Beaufort Shrimp Festival, to be held Friday, October 2 and Saturday, October 3, at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park. This two-day festival is a celebration of SC Wild Caught Shrimp, local food and fun in the Lowcountry.

Beginning at noon on Friday, you can browse through the festival’s Arts &amp; Crafts Market, take a carriage, walking, bus, or boat tour of downtown, enjoy lunch at one of local restaurants, and do some shopping on Bay St.

The party in the park begins at 6 p.m. with live music on the Pavilion Stage featuring regional favorite, Deas Guyz. Local Restaurants will be previewing their shrimp dishes for Saturday’s competitions. All restaurants will be using SC Wild Caught Shrimp.

Calling all walkers and runners to participate in the festival’s popular 5K Bridge Run/Walk (USATF certified course) at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning. The Popcorn Shrimp Run for ages 7 and under will begin at 8:45 a.m. at the corner of Bay and Newcastle Streets. All require advanced registration at www.active.com or download applications from www.beaufortshrimpfestival.com

Saturday’s events continue at 11 a.m. with childrens activities, abundance of SC fresh wild caught shrimp dishes will abound from local restaurants and the arts and craft market will be in full swing. Enjoy live music all day on the Pavilion stage by The Sweet Grass Angels and popular Parris Island Marine Band Brass Band. Local restaurants will put their unique spins on fresh local shrimp, available to attendees, and will compete for the “Best Shrimp Dish” and “Best Booth Decoration” voted by a panel of judges, and the “People’s Choice”, chosen by festival attendees. The overall winner will be awarded the prestigious “Silver Cup.” Alternative foods will be available for the shell-fish intolerant. Also adults will be able to participate in a shrimp heading competition and children in a shrimp peeling competition for various prizes.

The Sea Island Rotary Club will host its 7th annual Charity Shrimp Race, where 5,000 rubber floating shrimp will be dropped in the Beaufort River adjacent to Waterfront Park from a working shrimp boat. The Shrimp will float naturally with the tide towards a finish line. The first 10 shrimp to cross the finish line share $5,000 in cash prizes and have a chance to win the Grand Prize. For more information or to adopt your shrimp, visit www.rotaryshrimprace.com.