This year is a big one for Annapolis’ annual Seafood Festival. On September 9th and 10th, the event–once known as the Maryland Clam Festival–will celebrate its 50th year running at Sandy Point State Park.

Here’s what you have to look forward to.

The food (of course) 

While there will be tons of activities going on at the Seafood Festival, the food is, in the spirit of the festival’s cause, front and center. Competitions include crab picking and oyster shucking faceoffs, a crabcake eating contest and a fishing challenge with top prizes awarded for the biggest rockfish, biggest blue crab and biggest white perch. 

Vendors will be selling an expansive variety of seafood fare including crabcakes, clams, oysters, shrimp, fish and chips, rockfish sandwiches and everything else under the sun (or under the water).

Local chefs will be present to teach you how to prepare a number of seafood dishes, and local restaurants will compete in the Maryland Crab Soup Cookoff in hopes of winning best Cream of Crab and Maryland Vegetable Crab soup. 

The fun

If you find yourself looking for ways to work off those Old Bay and butter-induced calories, there will also be a paddle boat poker run and a beach soccer tourney (just be sure to register ahead of time to participate).

All of these activities–plus musical chairs, a crab derby, crab shell painting and a treasure hunt sponsored by Sprint–are packed into the two-day span of the festival.

There will even be an appearance by Jimmy Riffle of Animal Planet’s Gator Boys, traveling with his Zoo Road Show and plenty of reptiles for festival-goers to meet and greet. 

The music

What’s a festival without live music? On Saturday, the Seafood Fest will host musical acts including Doug Segree, Leaf Jumpers and Weird Science, while Jr. Cline and the Recliners and the Kelly Bell Band will play on Sunday. 

If you’re a true Marylander looking to expand your seafood palette, compete in a few friendly challenges or just kick back and enjoy the entertainment, you’ll want to check out the Maryland Seafood Festival.