Wild Texas Shrimp Fest in Galveston Sept. 25

GALVESTON,TX -- Some of Galveston’s top restaurants will compete for the best shrimp gumbo designation during the inaugural Galveston Island Shrimp Festival cook off on Saturday, Sept. 25. Participating restaurants include Benno’s on the Beach, Bernardo’s Restaurant at Hotel Galvez, Float Pool & Patio Bar, M&M Restaurant & Bar, Olympia The Grill at Pier 21, The Spot and Yaga’s Café, as well as Galveston College Culinary School. Visitors can purchase a tasting cup for $5 to sample the gumbo from participating restaurants.

Shrimp Festival activities begin on Friday, Sept. 24 and continue through Sunday, Sept. 26. Events include a 5K run/walk, gumbo cook off, children’s parade, merchant walkabout and bicycle ride followed by a tailgate party. Gumbo lovers can sample and judge wild shrimp gumbo prepared by area restaurants participating in the professional category.

“We think that is important that visitors know that Gulf Coast seafood from Texas is safe as well as tasty and this festival gives us the opportunity to showcase this important industry,” says Mike Dean, president of Yaga's Entertainment, Inc., a local events company.