Planning a seafood festival is a big task in regular times. Planning one without knowing future state pandemic regulations requires optimism and tenacity. Jacqueline Wade has both.
She is the chairperson for the Kiwanis Club’s Seafood Fest set for late September in Newport News.
“My granddaughter says I like a challenge,” Wade said smiling.
This is Wade’s third year planning the festival and with COVID, she is learning new regulations to make sure it can be done safely. “I’ve attended so many meetings about how to open back up safely, from the Small Business Development Council and Old Dominion University to make sure we cover all our bases. We’ve got to be serious about this element. We want to do this and we want to be safe,” she said.
Wade does not take all the credit, “I just wanted to be sure it is crystal clear, there is a great team of volunteers that make the Kiwanis Peninsula Seafood Festival happen each year.”
To be safe the festival will be outside and attendees are asked to bring their own chairs. There will be very few tables. Parties will be required to sit six-feet apart. Attendance will be limited based on the commonwealth’s regulations in September, posing a challenge for catering and serving beverages.
For those who want to support the Kiwanis Club but not necessarily attend the festival, there is a drive-thru pick-up option. Wade said that is only good for food – not beer or wine.
For Wade, all the work is worth it. “In my opinion, all the challenges presented by utilizing the additional safety protocols necessary to overcome an evil wicked plague is so very well worth the extra time and effort to host a successful fundraiser when we’re supporting the children in our area,” she said.
The festival is set for Sept. 25 from 2 p.m.-5:30 p.m at the Hellenic Community Center, 60 Traverse Road in Newport News. Tickets are $45 each and include all-you-can-eat food and beverage which is wine, beer and water. Local favorite band Slapnation will perform. Call 757-298-3935 or Email kiwanisShag@gmail.com for more information
The picture says September 25 and the words in the article says September 24. Which is correct?
Thank you for bringing the error to our attention. The tenth Kiwanis Peninsula Seafood Festival is scheduled for Saturday September 25, 2021. The article is corrected.
Thanks for clarifying. Look forward to the event!
Where?
The Kiwanis Peninsula Seafood Festival will be at the Greek Hellenic Community Center, 60 Traverse Road in Newport News