Glastonbury Rotary Club Lobster Fest 2012!

I went to bed at midnight on Saturday. If you know me, then you know this is a big deal. The last time I was up past midnight was the night of a trip to Mohegan Sun with my friends. So, what occasion had me awake past my usual 10PM bedtime? None other than an event I have looked forward to every year since I first started attending a few years ago, the Glastonbury Rotary Club’s Lobster Fest.

Outfit for the Evening:

Necklace, Bracelet: Charlotte Russe

Watch: Fossil

Top: Ahh! I don’t know! It’s my sister’s :-D

Jeans, Belt: American Eagle

Shoes: Forever 21 (Heather borrowed them when she visited!)

I spy…a floating lobster!

Every June, citizens of Glastonbury and surrounding towns gather under a huge tent with their own snacks, desserts, and drinks. Tickets are $50 apiece and will get you a meal of corn on the cob, salad, a roll, and lobster or steak. Steamers are also available.

My dad’s tray, which I so lovingly waited in line for ;-)

The lines for food this year were the longest I’d ever seen! It had been cloudy earlier in the day, but thankfully it cleared right up and, for the first time in a few years, the Fest didn’t end up getting rained on later in the evening!

I got an exclusive behind-the-scenes peek at the Rotary Club volunteers in dinner prep mode!

Prepping those steamers.

Plenty of water for lobster cooking.

Now that’s a grill!

The table of lobster “crackers” was definitely the most intense work station. These folks weren’t stopping for anything! And I could see why – the pressure was on with the huge food lines, which were wrapping around in a couple “layers” of people at the busiest point.

Maria is the tweeter behind @GlastRotaryClub!

She’s also QUITE the lobster cracker.

Each group of ticket holders was assigned to one of the tables under this HUGE tent!

Our family friend Mrs. Trett brought her famous guacamole, and my mom contributed her delicious black bean and pico de gallo salad.

Another couple at our table, the Peerys, brought my favorite food of the evening, a shrimp curry dip topped with crunchy cracker crumbs and almonds! It had a cream cheese base and the curry flavor made it so unique. All of that crunch was pure satisfaction.

For dessert, our table didn’t have a lot, but the below bowl of Cool Whip, blueberries, strawberries, and pound cake went fast! I skipped out though – I’d been eating fruit ALL day and was quite fruited out.

My beverage of choice was a bottle of wine I’d received from my intro package of reds from the Wall Street Journal Wine Club, called Saracosa Toscana 2009. I don’t usually dislike red wines, but I was just not a fan of this! It just tasted…blah. Nothing special, not dry, not robust, a weak body…someone ended up drinking it but it certainly wasn’t me. Luckily my mom had brought her standby favorite wine, Avalon Cabernet 2009, and was up for sharing it with me. With my dessert (a chocolate chip cookie and the top of a FABULOUS coconut rum cupcake), I also had a glass of Relax Riesling, one of the few sweet whites that I enjoy.

Showin’ off that Reeeeelax.

Some tables REALLY go all out with the food, drinks, and decorations. I saw light-up drink glasses, frosty dispensers filled with sangria, huge summer-themed balloons, and…tiki huts?

I made laps around the tent all night and ran into neighbors, high school classmates (it wasn’t as awkward as you’d think it’d be!), and…Olivia! Not a coincidence, I knew she’d be there, but we hung out periodically throughout the night and it was great to see her again. Side note, I’m obsessed with the dress she wore, only $22 from Nordstrom Rack!

Check out the flip flop balloon behind us!

I sit with my parents and our family friends every year (if you couldn’t already tell from my food descriptions), and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

I LOVE MY DAD!

And he loves me :)

In addition to loving this lovely mama of mine.

My favorite part of the Lobster Fest every year isn’t the food and drinks (I swear). No, it’s the DANCING! I haven’t had a place to go and dance like I did last night, just losing myself in amazing music, since graduating from college a year ago.

I spy my mom…

There were your hit or miss songs, but the DJ did a pretty good job. Every year at the Lobster Fest, attendees go crazy for the music and dancing, no matter what generation the dancer or the song is from. I LOVE IT! Seriously, I can’t get over how much fun this night was, I keep smiling to myself like an idiot whenever I think about it. I danced with both of my parents, Olivia and her boyfriend, and high school friends throughout the night.

You know there’s trouble when the kissy face comes out.

And the duck face!

Too busy dancing for focus!

May or may not have been glow stick raving occurring.

When my parents and I got in the car to head home, I could hardly believe my eyes. It was past 11PM! The amount of surprise I had over this just goes to show you what a grandma at heart I am. But I felt so full of energy and so, so happy! I’d had a stressful day previously and the Lobster Fest was just what I needed. Thanks to the Glastonbury Rotary Club for putting on the best Lobster Fest yet!

Have you ever attended an outdoor summer festival like this?

When was the last time you went all-out and had a night of crazy dancing?

How late do you stay up on weekend nights?

0 Responses to "Glastonbury Rotary Club Lobster Fest 2012!"

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  1. foodwineandslippinitin

    June 12, 2012 at 10:43 am

    Such a great event! I went last year and had a great time. The food is probably my favorite part but the amount of people of ALL ages tearing up the dance floor is priceless! No where else (outside of a wedding) have I experienced that. haha I’m upset I missed this year due to a BBQ in Mystic but hopefully I can get back there next year!

    Reply
    • Caitlin

      June 12, 2012 at 10:45 am

      Mystic BBQ sounds fun too! LOL I’m sure you recognize some 07 folks from my pics. I didn’t know you went last year I was totally there!

      Reply
  2. Elizabeth

    June 12, 2012 at 11:18 am

    I’m not a lobster girl, but this looks like a blast! What a fun way to spend a night. I’m totally with you on late nights– if I am not in bed by 10, trouble abounds. ;-)

    Reply
    • Caitlin

      June 12, 2012 at 12:13 pm

      Yeah I didn’t even have any haha!

      Reply
  3. Lisa

    June 12, 2012 at 11:23 am

    I love summer festivals….one with lobster would be just perfect in my book!
    I go to bed early most of the time, but I did stay up/out really late a couple times when I went to Cali recently (which was even later than it seemed based on the time difference!)… I never feel great after I do that, but I suppose it’s worth it once in a while!

    Reply
    • Caitlin

      June 12, 2012 at 12:12 pm

      I think it is too if you’re doing something fun and if you’re not forcing yourself to stay up, because that means you’re up because you want to be. I always feel crappy when i stay up late though because without a doubt I will not sleep in the next day!

      Reply
  4. robfiasco

    June 12, 2012 at 11:30 am

    I like that Riesling. I used to buy it every couple months.

    on the weekends i’m usually up til 1 or 2. For no real reason other than the fact that I can. I need to get back to going to bed earlier on the weekends.

    Looks like you had a blast! I went to a rotary auction a few weeks ago. No Lobster though :( Just Chicken Barbecue.

    Reply
    • Caitlin

      June 12, 2012 at 12:12 pm

      It’s such a good one! I like being on my earlier schedule most weekends because then it’s not too hard to get back into it for the week.

      Reply
  5. Meg

    June 12, 2012 at 12:24 pm

    Gosh! I never stay up late either, babe! Looks like you had a blast, though! :D XOXOXOXO I am so happy for you!

    Shrimp curry dip!? WHAAA I want I want

    Reply
    • Caitlin

      June 12, 2012 at 12:39 pm

      Im surprised you didn’t mention the salmon!

      Reply
  6. Liz @ Southern Charm

    June 12, 2012 at 12:28 pm

    What a FUN event!! Wow! it looks like a blast!

    And in New Orleans, well, we tend to have A LOT of festivals and are currently in festival season (which is all but 2-3 months really, depending on when Mardi Gras falls) .. we just had Oyster festival and in the near future we have: tales of the cocktail, running with the bulls, white linen night, dirty linen night (a week later where you wear your white linen from the weekend before) and red dress run! I canNOT wait :)

    Reply
    • Caitlin

      June 12, 2012 at 12:39 pm

      Holy moly see you may not have a farmers’ market like mine but I’d rather have those PARTIES!

      Reply
  7. katiemoves

    June 12, 2012 at 1:48 pm

    Sounds like SO much fun! I love lobster. That shrimp dip sounds to die for! I too miss fun dancing since college :( I gotta find something like this by me!

    Reply
  8. Lisa

    June 12, 2012 at 1:59 pm

    You are so cute! Love the picture of you and your dad together!! Summer festivals are so much fun!! I can’t wait until we have more going on here. I always stay out waaay too late, last time I went to one we were out until 5 AM. Oopsy, that was a shocker to my system haha. I don’t actually like seafood! Well that may be a lie, I’m actually afraid of things in the ocean, so I have never ever eaten any type of seafood. Wow, I sound weird ;)

    Reply
    • Caitlin

      June 12, 2012 at 2:02 pm

      Wow 5AM?! Now I don’t remember at all the last time I did that haha. You have never tried seafood?! OMG you must, girl! You can totally ease into it, there are certain fish that I swear taste just like chicken, I started there.

      Reply
  9. Pavement Runner (@PavementRunner)

    June 12, 2012 at 2:15 pm

    Great post… photos look super fun. 1. That rib is the size of a small state. 2. I love a good Riesling. Cheers

    Reply
    • Caitlin

      June 12, 2012 at 2:17 pm

      The rib also kinda sucked…lol it was a really well done one and my dad offered me a few bites but I could barely even get one bite even while holding the steak in my bare hands and trying to rip it out of my mouth! Way too much marbling too. But hey, it’s all good because I had good Riesling.

      Reply
  10. Meredith @ DareYouTo

    June 12, 2012 at 3:12 pm

    WOW what a fun community gathering !!! I’ve been to giant food festivals before, and music festivals, but never one giant get-together that has it ALL and is locals-based. Looks like a fun summer tradition :)

    Reply
    • Caitlin

      June 12, 2012 at 3:23 pm

      Indeed! I’m still jealous over that Brooklyn Fest you attended.

      Reply
  11. breedlovehoops

    June 12, 2012 at 4:12 pm

    It looks like you had a fantastic afternoon & evening. I wish Portland did something that cool!

    Reply
  12. Alex @ therunwithin

    June 12, 2012 at 4:36 pm

    Oh my gosh I kind of hate you, I miss seafood like whoa. Love me some steamers. Eek so jealous.

    Reply
    • Caitlin

      June 12, 2012 at 4:36 pm

      I love seafood too but didn’t like it enough to wait in those lines haha

      Reply
  13. Matt @ The Athlete's Plate

    June 12, 2012 at 5:25 pm

    Sounds like a fun event!

    Reply
  14. Megan

    June 12, 2012 at 6:09 pm

    I love your outfit! You look great!

    Reply
    • Caitlin

      June 13, 2012 at 8:58 am

      Thank you! And thanks to my sis for the shirt :D

      Reply
  15. katie z

    June 12, 2012 at 7:33 pm

    Looks like it was so much fun! And you’re not alone–I’m a super old lady inside too. During the school year I try to be asleep by 9:30…! Haha but who could blame us? We have to get our beauty sleep when we can!

    Reply
    • Caitlin

      June 13, 2012 at 8:59 am

      Last night I got to sleep at 10:30 and I feel like death today! Haha

      Reply
  16. Madeline @ Food, Fitness, and Family

    June 12, 2012 at 9:34 pm

    OMG that looks like SO much fun!! I love events like that. The last time I went all out dancing was back in February at a friend’s wedding. Now-a-days a “crazy” night for us is 11PM. OH how having a baby ages you ;)

    Reply
    • Caitlin

      June 13, 2012 at 8:59 am

      The atmosphere and carefree feelings of this event totally reminded me of a wedding. 11PM is crazy for me now too and I don’t even have a baby! Haha

      Reply
  17. Kierston

    June 12, 2012 at 10:50 pm

    Looks like it was a blast!!! That dessert looks soooo good!

    Reply
  18. Jane

    June 12, 2012 at 10:58 pm

    I LOVE LOBSTER! That is my kind of event! Plus dancing afterwards? Yes please!

    Reply
    • Caitlin

      June 13, 2012 at 9:00 am

      It definitely seems right up your alley!

      Reply
  19. Miz

    June 13, 2012 at 5:51 am

    you HAD ME at the love for your family.
    and the top.
    tell yer sis I covet the top :)

    Reply
    • Caitlin

      June 13, 2012 at 9:00 am

      I shall! I need to find out where she got it!

      Reply
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