Keep hunger at bay
Feast on the shore of Tillamook Bay at Garibaldi seafood festival
Immerse yourself in the ocean’s bounty and a bevy of adult beverage choices at the inaugural Port of Garibaldi Seafood and Spirits Festival, this Friday, Sept. 8, through Sunday, Sept. 10.
The event was created with the vision to highlight the abundance of fresh, local seafood. Guests can sample Oregon spirits while savoring freshly harvested local seafood like oysters, seaweed and mussels at an event venue that overlooks the Port’s marina and the beautiful Tillamook Bay.
More than 12 local Oregon distilleries, wineries and cideries will be selling their products and there will be more than 20 seafood-centric vendors selling food, art, products and wares.
The main stage will have live musical performances by Chad Rupp and the Sugar Roots, N.E. DayNow, Mercury Coast, North County Blues, Katelyn Convery Band, Scott Casey and the Unsung Heroes, Ronni Kay and the Great Auntie Lo band.
The event will also be jam packed with educational demonstrations and seafood sampling by local seafood experts and chefs each day.
On Friday, Kelly “the Blade” Barnett from the Spot will give a fish fileting demonstration.
Friday and Saturday, Todd Perman and Tom Krupica of JAndy Oyster will give free samples following an oyster shucking demonstration.
On Saturday, Alanna Kieffer of Shifting Tides will give a cooking demonstration using mussels harvested out of Tillamook Bay and seaweed grown at Oregon Seaweed in Garibaldi.
Also on Saturday, Maylin Chavez, executive brand chef for Blue Evolution, will be joined on stage by Tommy Gomes, host of the TV show “The Fishmonger” for an albacore tuna cooking demonstration.
Both Saturday and Sunday, Clair Thomas, director of education for Garibaldi Cultural Heritage and US Historic Boathouse programs, will demonstrate how to clean and crack a crab.
Finally, on Sunday only, Executive Chef Dennis Cavitt from Garibaldi Portside Bistro will be giving a salmon gravlax demo.
Want the full seafood culinary experience? Friday and Saturday VIP tickets get you access to a seafood dinner experience (with smoked meats, too!) catered by Garibaldi Portside Bistro in the VIP tent.
The Seafood and Spirits Festival runs from 4 to 8 pm on Friday, noon to 8 pm on Saturday and from noon to 4 pm on Sunday. The Port of Garibaldi Event Tent is located at 107 Jerry Creasy Way. Single-day tickets are $15 to $30, with VIP and multi-day tickets available. For more information and to purchase advance tickets, go to portofgaribaldi.org/seafood-and-spirits-fest or call 503-374-1424.