Are you ready for a road trip? If you like seafood and want to experience a small-town seafood festival, New Smyrna Beach is the place to be this coming Thursday, August 4, 2016. The Annual Shrimp & Seafood Festival takes place on Flagler Avenue (beachside) from 5pm – 9pm. During this festival, the street is blocked off and food, art and craft vendors are set up outside along the street. Live performances are featured on a small outdoor stage and visitors are free to wander around, sample the great food selections and enjoy an adult beverage (if old enough). Flagler merchants open their doors for guests to shop and escape the warm air.
Award winning area restaurants will be in attendance serving up the best seafood samples. Local restaurants as well as a few from the Daytona area are expected to have booths. Prices of these samples usually range from $3 to $6. Some are smaller than others, but by consuming 2 or 3 samples, you’ll manage to consume a nice meal at a fraction of the cost to dine at any one restaurant.
Shrimp & Seafood Festival Favorites
There are many restaurants along Flagler Avenue in New Smyrna Beach. The Gnarly Surf Bar & Grill at the end of the north causeway is one of the favorites at the Shrimp & Seafood Festival. Their booth will be along the avenue, or you can check out their restaurant location. Surf boards decorate the upper balcony with colorful paint. It is a fun location to sit outside and enjoy live music. The inside of the Gnarly Surf Bar & Grill is decorated tastefully in surfer fashion. Try the fish tacos. Some folks say they are the best EVER! The empañadas and hamburger are excellent too. Dishes from various regions are featured on the menu.
Also located on Flagler Avenue is a newly renovated restaurant, the Flagler Tavern. While this location has been here for decades, this past year the restaurant added onto the front, side and top floor. Popular for its deck, this Shrimp & Seafood Festival vendor is a favorite among locals and visitors. Enjoy people watching from the deck, or sneak upstairs for a quite brunch or adult beverage at the bar.
Wide Variety of Samples
In addition to the local restaurants, the Shrimp & Seafood Festival also features restaurants from nearby Daytona, DeLand and others known for their excellent seafood. The festival offers a great opportunity to sample their dishes at one time and one location. With such a wide variety offered, you are sure to find several to sample.
New Smyrna Beach is about an hour’s drive from Orlando. Go early to get a parking place. Enjoy the seafood and the beach. If you can’t make it to this festival, try for another one. The merchants in NSB host a street festival almost on a monthly basis. They’re worth the drive!
