Looking for a steamed lobster or some chicken BBQ this weekend? How about a piece of New England art or a handmade craft item? The Niantic Lions club will be ready, with the 30th Annual Lobsterfest, combined with the 48th Annual Niantic Outdoor Art/Craft Show at the East Lyme Town Hall grounds at Pennsylvania Avenue in Niantic.
The two days of food are the primary fundraiser event for the Lions chapter, which is committed to addressing low vision and blindness both locally and around the world. This year, the all-volunteer organization has assumed the responsibility of organizing both the food and the arts and crafts show, a long-standing local tradition.
“It’s opening a new chapter for us,” said Mike Engwall, East Lyme, who as incoming Niantic Lions president also serves as chair of the Lobsterfest. Several subcommittees have been hard at work over the months to make both events bigger and better.
About 120 artisans and crafts-makers will be at this year’s show, more than previous years. Engwall said that Howard Parkhurst and Clff Rimkus, organizers of the show, have become regulars on the arts and crafts show circuit around the region, seeking out a good mix of artists, returning and new. He thanked local artist Dan Price for helping with the selection of artists.
The cooks are ready to steam up 2,000 lobsters and serve up about 1,000 chicken dinners, according to Wayne Fraser. The former East Lyme First Selectman and fellow Lion is coordinating the lobsterfest and barbeque set-up and logistics.
This year’s menu also features a number of items that people can purchase a la carte and also enjoy in Seebeck Pavilion, he said.
“We make our clam chowder onsite – it’s a secret recipe,” he said. Clam fritters, a hit last year, will be back. There also are chicken nuggets for kids, as well as strawberry shortcake for all ages.
There is no charge to take in the art show. People can buy advance tickets for the full lobster dinner ($17) and BBQ chicken dinner ($8) at a number of area merchants or Lions Club members through July 4 and save a buck or two. Tickets also can be bought on Saturday and Sunday; the Lobster dinner is listed at market price at the fest.
Additional parking at Veterans Field and a shuttle van have been added in anticipation of larger crowds, Fraser said.
The events are rain or shine; the artists and their works are protected from the elements by tents.
Back in 1977, Niantic Lions Club president Dr. Ed Edgar hit on the idea of throwing a lobster fest to coincide with the East Lyme Arts Council’s arts and crafts show, according to Jim Curley, a past president who was around for the first fest and has been involved ever since, including this year’s events.
Over the years, the club built the Seebeck Pavilion overlooking Dodge Pond, which Curley pointed out is a very scenic spot for the lobsterfest.
“The Lions Clubs are always doing the ‘act locally and think globally’ kind of strategy,” said Engwall, who got involved about four years ago. “Every Lions club in Connecticut, the U.S. and around the world, supports the foundation charities of Lions International, as well as local efforts.”
The Connecticut Low Vision Eye Research Center in Yale/New Haven benefits from Lions support, he said.
“Over the course of the year we will donate upwards of $20,000 to local and worldwide charity initiatives, from local scholarships for deserving East Lyme High School students to supporting an initiative to eradicate preventable blindness worldwide,” he said.
The local chapter also hosts the Leos, a high school service organization that youth can join. Throughout the years, the Leos hold car washes, organize dances at the middle school and help with other activities to support the Lions mission. They will organize and run some games at the arts and crafts show.
“The Shoreline Leos is one of the largest, if not the largest Leos group in Connecticut,” he said. Most of the students are from East Lyme; a few are from Waterford.
Parental membership in Lions is not required for youth to get involved in the Leos, Engwall said, although they certainly are welcomed to get involved, too.
Niantic Lions is open to men and women, and has about 70 members. It meets the first and third Wednesday of most months of the year, at 6:30 p.m., at the Flanders Fish Market. Fewer regular meetings are held in July and August, months focused on fundraising events.
The Lobsterfest and Art/Craft Show start at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Food is served until 7 p.m. Saturday and 6 p.m. Sunday; the art/craft exhibits close one hour earlier each day. See www.nianticlions.org