Charlestown kicks off 39th annual seafood festival

CHARLESTOWN, R.I. (WLNE) — The annual Charlestown Seafood Festival kicked off Friday, with participants sharing opinions on why the event has such a strong impact each year.

Local food vendors said the festival is a yearly staple for their businesses.

“2014 was the first year that we came,” Mark Ready of the Charlestown Rathskeller said. “It’s just really good exposure, it is very busy.”

Many visitors set up RVs for the weekend celebration, which features a wide array of activities for families.

“You can listen to the music, you can look at the vendors, you can get some of the great food that’s here,” camper John Lewitz said. “Everybody has a good time and they don’t have to worry, especially if you come here camping, you have three or four days of just fun.”

Organizers said the festival holds a unique meaning for each person who attends, with high expectations for the 39th year of the festival.

“It’s such a fun family event,” Heather Paliotta, the festival’s event manager, said. “It looks like the weather could be in our favor. It’s like the Charlestown Seafood Festival miracle!”