Chowdafest Moves to Norwalk, Columbus Day Weekend

Screen Shot 2014-10-01 at 10.16.25 AMChowdafest is right around the  corner. This year the event, which has grown every year since its inception, moves to Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk. The event is Sunday Oct 12 from 12:00 noon to 4:00pm.

The last Chowdafest was back in February in Bridgeport Harbor Yard on Superbowl Sunday.

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Chef Ref at the last Chowdafest back in February at Harbor yard. This fall, Chowdafest moves to Calf Pasture Beach in Norwalk. Credit: Leslie Yager

With the next Chowdafest scheduled for October, there is a fun new Halloween promotion for kids of all ages called “Boo & Chew.”

“It’s not a trick, it’s a treat” said Jim Keenan, Chowdafest Chairman. Every kid who comes dressed for Halloween gets a raffle ticket for a chance to win a gift certificate for four to the PEZ Visitor Center in Milford.

Two winners will be randomly selected at the conclusion of the event and winner does not need to be present to win.

“I’m wondering how many kids will come dressed as Chef Ref, our mascot or their favorite Pez dispenser,” Jim guessed.

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Raffle tickets will be available at the kids section sponsored by Stop & Shop. “Little necks are important to us” noted Keenan. “We have an entire section set aside where kids get free chef hats to decorate with stickers, markers and crayons. But the biggest thing they get is the right to vote just like the adults,” he said, adding that the kids take their voting very seriously indeed.

Screen Shot 2014-10-01 at 10.16.47 AMChowdafest is the adult equivalent of candy on Halloween, where big kids get unlimited sampling of chowder, soup & bisque, then vote on their favorites.

Admission includes sampling of craft beer, award winning cheese & wine, farmers-made ice cream and more. There’s even an Italian section called “Ciao”dafest where you can sample fresh baked artisan bread, sauces, pasta, Italian sparkling water or take a test drive in an Alfa Romeo or Fiat. There’s also the new ChowdaMex section where you can sample chips and salsas.

Chowdafest benefits Community Plates which rescues unused food from restaurants and distributes it to the hungry in the state.

General admission tickets for adults are $10 in advance online or $15 at the door. $5 for kids (6-12 years old. $25 VIP tickets are still available with benefits including entrance an hour early to the event.


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