6 Things You Need to Know About New Hampshire’s Seafood Festival 2025

The American Bus Association has called the Hampton Beach Seafood Festival one of the top 100 events in all of North America and if you've been there, you know why.

The Seafood Festival is held every year on the weekend after Labor Day on Hampton Beach, New Hampshire.  This year, it's the 36th annual and there is expected to attract an estimated 150,000 people and there's seafood for every single one of them.

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The festival has grown over the years, according to seafoodfestivalnh.com, from a small group of businesses in one section the State Park to blocking off Ocean Boulevard to allow for more food vendors and craft people.

Here are 6 Things You Need To Know Before You Go to the Seafood Festival

#1:  Here's How to Park for Free at the Seafood Festival in NH

Unless you have a business on the beach and you already have a space dedicated to you, don't try to park your car here.  Take one of the many, many shuttles that are available.  There are private lots, but they are expensive and they fill up very quickly.

Last year, The Brook in Seabrook offered shuttles directly from their parking lot all weekend long and it's returning this year as well.

If Seabrook isn't convenient for you, there are many other places to choose from around Hampton.  Check out the list here.

This is a commercial from 10 years ago - the festival has grown exponentially since then, but it still shows how fun it is:

#2:  New Hampshire Weather

The Seafood Festival is rain or shine, so if the forecast calls for rain, dress appropriately and bring an umbrella.  This year, however, at the time of this writing, there is a 50/50 chance of rain.

#3:  The Seafood Festival is a Ticketed Event

You do have to have a ticket to go to the festival.  It runs for three days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  If you want to go just for the day, each ticket will cost you $17.85, that includes all fees, for just that day.

If you want to go to all three days, the price is $49.68, including all fees.

Yes, that is an increase from last year, but the cost of everything has gone way up.

#4:  Live Entertainment All Weekend Long

If you want to take a break from the chowdah and the lobstah, feel free to enjoy all the live entertainment on the Seashell stage and the Beach Cabana stage throughout the weekend.

#5:  Lobster Roll Eating Contest

Sunday afternoon at 2pm at the main seashell stage, there are 8 contestants that will compete in the lobster roll eating contest.  Whoever can eat the most in 10 minutes is the winner. McGuirk's Ocean View Restaurant makes and donates all the lobster rolls.

Part of the live entertainment that they don't tell you is "people watching."  People come from all over for this event and it's really fun to just sit back and watch.

#6:  No Pets Allowed

From experience at the Seafood Festival myself, dogs would not be happy at the festival.  It's not just dogs, no pets are allowed.  Too many delicious delights for them to handle.  Also, there are fireworks on Saturday at 8:30pm, so they might get spooked.

Colleen from the Hampton Chamber told me in the culinary tent there is a new event, Pearls and Pours on Friday, with oysters and mocktails in their culinary tent as well.  They are always thinking of new things for the festival.