If you go
› What: Cleveland Seafood Music Fest› Where: Cleveland Greenway Park and Pavilion, 755 Raider Drive, Cleveland, Tenn.› When: 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 17› Admission: Free› For more information: 423-486-7597
After the resounding success of last year's inaugural Seafood Music Fest in Cleveland, Tennessee, - an estimated 7,600 folks turned out - the second Seafood Fest is planned for Saturday, Aug. 17, with two changes that will make it even more appealing.
First, there will be no admission charged this year; guests will just pay for the food they buy. Second, the seafood event is being combined with a previously scheduled Ragin' Cajun festival that didn't take place, so Saturday's event will be a mix of seafood and Louisiana Cajun food and music, says Tina Wilkins, festival organizer.
"We will have a big variety of seafood: Louisiana-style crawfish etouffee, low-country shrimp boil, crab legs, shrimp po'boys, shrimp and grits, shrimp tacos, fish tacos, crab cake sliders, gumbo and shrimp creole," says Wilkins.
Prices for servings of these foods will range from $4 to $15, however crab legs will be $25. Wilkins advises visitors bring more cash than cards as not all vendors will be set up to accept credit cards.
Bring your lawn chairs and sit down with a dish of Cajun cooking to listen to music by Connor Priest Band from Dalton, Georgia, C.J. "The Piano Man" Warren from Athens, Tenn., and Blue Matter from Cleveland.
In addition to the food vendors, there will be arts and crafts vendors and direct sales booths. Cheer on contestants in a crawfish-eating contest at 4:30 p.m. Children can play in the Kids Zone.
Proceeds from Seafood Music Fest will benefit Cleveland High School in appreciation for use of its parking lots.
For more information: https://www.targetmarketingmedia.com/seafood-music-fest.html.
Contact Susan Pierce at spierce@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6284.