Seafood and music competition offered weekend enjoyable

BRADENTON BEACH – The three-day Coquina Beach Seafood & Music Festival kicked off Friday night, Jan. 23, on the south finish of Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach.

The competition was hosted and arranged by Paragon Festivals.

Attending residents and guests sampled fresh-cooked seafood from distributors serving shrimp, crab, lobster, oysters and different coastal favorites.

Live music stuffed the short-term competition grounds all through the weekend, with a rotating lineup of bands performing beach-inspired grooves, basic rock, island rhythms, soulful jams and Cajun-influenced sounds. 

Performing as Prodigal Sons, Dana Lawrence, Tom McNulty and Johnny Mac opened the competition Friday evening, performing a mixture of Americana, Cajun, folks and Irish-inspired tunes. Additional musical performances by Westbound and Down, Twinkle & Rock Soul Radio and others entertained the competition attendees.

Seafood was the point of interest of the occasion, with distributors providing a variety of dishes together with Cajun-fried alligator, coconut shrimp, grouper, crimson Argentine shrimp and lobster-based specialties. Many meals have been ready on-site, giving company the chance to look at as their meals was cooked contemporary. 

Sandy Heisler, a seasonal resident from Ohio, praised the choice, saying, “Everything is awesome.” 

Several attendees echoed comparable sentiments, noting the number of menu choices obtainable. 

Atlantic City, New Jersey-based Vagabond Kitchen & Tap House proprietor Tom Harris has been featured on the Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives” tv present. As a competition vendor, he featured his three-way sandwich combo and his crab cake sandwiches.

Before reaching the meals, drink and music areas, guests handed by means of rows of arts and crafts cubicles that includes handmade art work, clothes, jewellery and specialty objects that included Caribbean-inspired spirits. 

At the Island Dream Waves sales space, Corpus Christi, Texas, resident Ryan Engelke showcased epoxy art work, house items and décor designed with a coastal theme.

The competition provided a relaxed, family-friendly environment, with many company establishing seaside chairs close to the music stage or discovering shaded spots to get pleasure from their meals. The beachfront location allowed guests to get pleasure from views of the Gulf whereas attending the occasion.

Taking place on Saturday and Sunday too, the competition offered attendees with a weekend of meals, music and neighborhood gathering at a scenic beachfront park.