After a four-year hiatus, the Hampton History Museum’s most popular fundraiser — the Dockside Seafood Feast — is returning this Saturday.
The event, held annually before the COVID-19 pandemic, features music, fun and all-you-can-eat seafood. This year’s event will be take place at 6 p.m. at the The Landing Hotel, 700 Settlers Landing Road in Downtown Hampton.
Money raised during the event will support museum educational initiatives, student tours and school outreach. Seamus McGrann, the museum’s promotions director, said the dinner is the museum’s major fundraiser of the year and that the funds are “crucial.”
“We have an ambitious roster of educational programs for schools and visiting students, as well as educational outreach for kids and continuing learning programs for adults,” McGrann said in an email. “When Air Power Park reopens, we have a lot of ideas of what we want to do there, and this funding will make that, and so much else we want to do, possible.”
This year’s theme is the Jazz Age — a tribute to the current museum exhibit, Teetotalers and Moonshiners and Hampton’s Prohibition story, founding of Old Point National Bank in 1923, and the museum’s 20th anniversary. The Hampton History Museum opened on May 3, 2003.
According to a news release, the evening features fresh seafood supplied by Graham & Rollins. Unlimited dishes include the blue crab Hampton is known for (cakes, claws, soft-shell and soup); oysters (fried and on the half shell); sauteed scallops, fried flounder and shrimp cocktail.
Partiers can dance to the music of Hard Times Band and are encouraged to join the fun by dressing in Roaring Twenties style. In addition to seafood, the event offers complimentary beer, wine, “spiked” dockside lemonade, and a silent auction and drinks.
McGrann called the event’s return “exciting.” While the event typically drew crowds of 300 people in the past, this year the museum hopes to have about 500 attendees.
“This will be the first large gathering of long-standing supporters, our board, and new supporters to get together and share what they are passionate about the museum—and enjoy great seafood, music and have a fun time,” he said.
Tickets are $125 per person and are on sale through Friday or until sold out. All proceeds benefit the museum. People can purchase tickets online at hamptonhistorymuseum.org/seafoodfeast or at the Hampton History Museum gift shop.
Josh Janney, joshua.janney@virginiamedia.com.