How do you eat a lobster?
Shediac Lobster Fest says anything goes
Some people use their hands, others use their feet. Some people think a punch will do the trick while others figure a gnaw of the teeth will suffice.
The point is there's no wrong way to eat a lobster at the 59th annual Shediac Lobster Festival (which starts today and runs until Sunday) except for maybe one. At the nightly lobster eating competition, there's a rule where no utensils are allowed.
This would explain the foot stomping, fist punching and teeth gnawing. Still each summer, tourists and locals alike try their luck at eating the most lobster in the shortest amount of time, sans any fork, nutcracker or shears.
Participants find other creative ways to crack through the red shell in order to get to the lobster meat.
Volunteers are picked out of the crowd for the competition, being held this year on the festival grounds' main stage from today through Saturday at 8 p.m. Each competitor is given three lobsters and whoever eats the most in three minutes wins. Festival organizers promise a special souvenir prize for each night's champion.
For those who prefer to eat their lobster with a little more civility -- and perhaps even a fork -- that's certainly an option as well. Lobster suppers with all the trimmings will be available inside the fair grounds' arena each day of the festival. For $20, lobster lovers get a complete plate which includes a one-pound lobster, potatoes, a salad and roll.
"It's about the cheapest place around where you'll be able to eat lobster," said festival president Marcel LeBlanc.
While the sea crustacean will take centre stage during the five-day festival (even the event's mascot Mr. Lobster will be hard to miss), a wide array of entertainment is also on the menu.
Two new carnival rides will be offered by Campbell Amusements Rides and Games this year in addition to the more than 30 which have lit up the night sky for festivals before. The carnival starts at 4 p.m. today, and noon for the rest of the festival. Bracelets which allow admission for all the rides cost $25 per person.
The kids' parade, where children dress up in costumes and take over Shediac's Main Street, will begin at 1 p.m. on Sunday afternoon with every participant receiving a treat bag. For teens between the ages of 13 and 18, The MuchMusic Video Dance will offer big screens and big sounds tonight at 9 p.m.
As far as the festival's extensive live musical offerings go, Gerard Pellerin kicks it all off today at 2 p.m. with a show at the Villa Providence.
Tomorrow night's music on the family stage will include bluegrass band The GrassKickers. Inside the 19 beer garden tomorrow, outlaw country music band The Hardcore Troubadours will take the stage, followed by country vocalist Shirley Albert and ECMA winners The Divorcees.
Friday's family stage show will feature tribute performances to some of today's favourite pop stars including Avril Lavigne and Hilary Duff. For the 19 crowd, AC/DC tribute band Dirty Deeds will kick off the night followed by hard rock band Tracy Starr.
Saturday night's family stage will host the Acadian kitchen party energy of The Arsenault Family. Saturday's beer garden stage will also be big on French Acadian music with Raymond Savoie, Shediac's very own Le Groupe Jigue, and the legendary Cayouche & Friends.
Kids will be entertained by Razzmatazz who have performances lined up for Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Buskers entertainment will also be on tap throughout the festival with the clown duo Buiscuit & Macaroni, humourist Dominick Léonard and illusionist Gino Lévesque.
The festival grounds, located at 84 Festival Street in Shediac, will be the epicentre of Lobster Fest activity. Admission is $5 for those age 12 and over, a loonie for those between the ages of three and 11 and no cost at all to those under the age of two.
The grounds' admission fee covers everything including the beer tent for those aged 19 (ground admission doesn't cover the bracelet or tickets needed to go on carnival rides).
Originally started in 1949 as a fundraiser for the Shediac Legion Building, the Town of Shediac took over Lobster Fest in 1952. It has since grown to become one of the province's top summer events over the last 58 summers.
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