Elmira is a long way from the ocean, but for one night it will take on the flavour of the east coast, minus the tang of sea air, when the Kiwanis Club of Elmira hosts the 29th annual Lobsterfest May 29 at 7 p.m. at Lions Hall.
One-and-one-half pound Shediac lobsters are flown in fresh from New Brunswick on the day of the event, and steamed to perfection by the Kiwanis Club’s highly experienced team.
“There are two secrets – you need a big, fresh lobster and you have to cook it just right. Timing is everything.” said Tom Hendrick, committee chair and founder of the event. “After cooking about 20,000 lobsters over 28 years, we seem to have it pretty well figured out.”
Beyond the food, the event also provides for a fun evening and supports many local community causes. Live “down-east” music will be played over dinner, with a DJ and dancing to follow. Organizers anticipate they will cook between 800 and 900 lobsters throughout the course of the night. A cash bar is available.
This year, for the first time, the event will also feature raffles for several big sports prizes.
“Look for tickets for your favourite big league teams – the Raptors, the Maple Leafs, a weekend get-away package for Blue Mountain, sports equipment,” said Kiwanis member Tony Dowling.
“This is a new twist to Lobsterfest this year, and we expect it to generate a lot of fun and also raise additional money for our community causes.”
Unlike traditional raffles, the tickets for these prizes will be sold in a new format, with only 120 tickets available for each prize – making the raffle move more quickly, giving entrants better chances to win and raising more money for the cause.
The Kiwanis Club of Elmira supports a variety of programs in the community, including the Kiwanis Music Festival, Kiwanis Santa Claus Parade, Meals on Wheels, Kiwanis Food Drive, Kiwanis Transit, and the new Woolwich Memorial Centre, among others. This year, their aim is to raise between $10,000 and $12,000.
The cost to attend is $49 per person. There is also an early-bird seating at 5 p.m. with no entertainment for $39. For tickets, visit Read’s Decorating or call 519-669-1281. For more information, contact Tony Dowling at 669-1281, or visit www.elmirakiwanisclub.com.
