In just over a dozen years, LobsterFest has become one of the biggest, best loved and fun parties in town.
Yesterday, 1,500 folks of all ages celebrated at Compo. It’s the second biggest beach event of the year, after the fireworks.
They ate lobster and steak (plus a lot more). They drank beer and soda. They danced to a great band (Silver Steel). Hordes of kids climbed on a fire truck, went inside a police car, got tattoos and face paint, and had all the kind of fun we remember from our childhoods.
Politicians were out in force. But instead of politicking, they wore yellow volunteer shirts. They served beer, checked tickets and cleared trash. They looked like they had a blast.
RTM member Sal Liccione and man about town Dylan Curran.
And — thanks to the spectacular work of the Westport Rotary Club, and volunteers from many other town groups — LobsterFest raised nearly half a million dollars, for dozens of good causes.
In a few months the Rotarians will distribute large grants, to all those groups.
It’s a feel-good ceremony. Those funds will — literally — change lives.
But none of it would be possible without everyone who made LobsterFest happen yesterday. (Special kudos to whoever was in charge of the weather. You rocked it.)
PS: Tickets for LobsterFest ’26 go on sale next summer. As usual, they’ll sell out in minutes.
Towner Didier enjoys his first LobsterFest. (Photo/Steve Dodd)
What kid doesn’t enjoy a fire engine?
Friends from the Staples High School Class of 1982 dance to …
… the Silver Steel Band.
Parks & Recreation director Erik Barbieri, and operations manager Carmen Roda.
Jodi Bell and Rob Simmelkjaer. He’s a Westporter, and CEO of New York Road Runners. Both are training for next month’s Chicago Marathon. After yesterday’s lobsters, they’ll run 22 miles today.
Chrissy Toeplitz, Bre Injeski and Danielle Dobin.
LobsterFest organizers take recycling and waste seriously …
… in more ways than one.
There were plenty of beverages …
… and here’s the money shot. (All photos/Dan Woog unless otherwise noted)
I’m sure it was great. Awesome that they raised close to half a million dollars. So any Westport non-profit can put up a bunch of tents and take over the beach to raise money? Or just the Rotary Club? I’m sure there are many other organizations in town that would love the opportunity to have a large, rent-free space as nice as Compo to hold a mega-fundraiser. Where should they send the applications? And what is the approval process?
Good to see you back under another fake name.
John, while we’re on fake names are you by any chance related to Charlie? I used to hang out with his buddy Knucklehead and their mentor Edgar Bergen at the Players Tavern back in the day. I was dating his daughter Candice (before I met my wife).
Yes, a long lost uncle. He preferred spending time with the oak tree side of his family.
I knew it!!! As they say, “the acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree”. How’s your Aunt Candice? Does she ever mention me? She taught me lessons I’ll never forget.
Probably not just the Rotary given that the Fourth of July fireworks is also a fundraiser and operates at the beach. You might go to Town Hall and ask if you have a charitable event you would like to host. I would imagine if you have the proper insurance, etc. and there is some Westport connection, it would be hard for them to say no given the precedent. You might find out what your event would have to pay for.
With Melissa and Doug sponsoring the fireworks, and the long list of sponsors to the LobsterFest, good chance that some of that goes to paying various fees and/or incremental town expenses. Or not.
Obviously a new (and much less inhibited) leadership style was openly displayed by the parks and recreation department. You can’t say it’s lonely at the top anymore.
Running “runs” in our family.(Excuse the pun.) Both our kids, in their 40s, did an Ironman in Lake Placid in 2023, at the site of the 1980 Olympic Village. 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride and a 26.2 mile run. Both were finishers under 17 hours. I missed Dan Woog’s Compo Beach party that year because I went to Lake Placid instead. (I’m thinking it might have been 2022.)
It’s sad Jack. My wife is allergic to shell fish including lobster. Fortunately she doesn’t “upchuck” but she can give you another perspective on “the runs” that don’t apply to Laddie Lawrence (Staples running czar). But fortunately “the runs” don’t run in our family the rest of us love lobster but they have to be flown in on the Concorde to arrive fresh in Cincinnati. Westporters are “privileged” to have LobsterFest.
Looks like a great party and a BIG congrats to Westport Rotary for another well organised Lobsterfest which will benefit multiple not-for-profit organisations.
One of the things I miss the most about moving to MIchigan in 2020 is volunteering at the lobster fest lobster table every year. Great times!