Portsmouth NH-Prescott Park Arts Festival presents its 25th annual Chowder Festival on Saturday, June 6.

Gates open at 11 a.m. and serving starts at 11:30 a.m. until the chowder is gone.

The Chowder Festival is one of New England's largest and best-attended events of the summer season.

Each year, more than 4,000 residents and tourists fill Prescott Park in Portsmouth NH to kick-off the summer in a delectable fashion and this year record-breaking numbers are expected.

As with any silver anniversary, the Chowder Festival is gearing up to be bigger than any other held in the past 24 years.

The number of registered restaurants alone has exceeded years past and include the newly opening River House Restaurant, Portsmouth Brewery, McMenemy's, Shipyard, Bob's Clam Hut, Saunder's @ Rye, and many more.

The Chowder Festival will present awards in categories of People's Choice Best Chowder, Judge's Choice Best Chowder, and a new award, the Oakhurst Dairy Culinary Award.

Coinciding with the event will be the first N.H. Leisure Expo event being held across the street at Strawbery Banke on June 6 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and on June 7 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Expo will serve as a guide to affordable recreation and leisure planning. More than 100 businesses from the mountains, lakes and Seacoast regions will present mountain attractions, sightseeing, boating, fishing, camping, hiking, golfing, biking, resorts, artisans and backyard enhancement exhibits. All of Saturday's chowder festival patrons will receive a $2 discount to the Expo as well as a free raffle ticket for more than $10,000 in prizes, which will be given away at the show.

It's a big year for chowder, with more restaurants than ever, there will be lots of different chowder recipes to sample. There will be a great mix of seasoned participants and fresh new restaurants involved this year. It's always great fun tasting them all and figuring out which one is the best.

The taste-testing event has become a New England staple for chowder lovers in a three-state region. Many restaurants use this event to try out new recipes before adding them to their menu, be first to sample the newest in chowder fare in the area. Recipes in the past have included Smoked Scallop Chowder, Manhattan Chowder, Vegetarian Chowder, Corn Chowder and Spicy Seafood Chowder.

The competition will be fierce among restaurants vying for the People's Choice Best Chowder Award-receiving a $2,500 advertising package from WOKQ, Judge's Choice Best Chowder Award-receiving a $2,195 advertising package from Taste of the Seacoast Magazine, and a NEW award, the Oakhurst Culinary Arts Program Award being awarded to the best chowder recipe by a culinary student.

The Prescott Park Arts Festival is New England's largest and oldest outdoor arts venue. Since 1996, the Arts Festival has been named by Yankee magazine as a "must see" tourist attraction. In its 35-year history the Arts Festival has never charged a fixed admission. The festival will present "Grease," along with a full schedule of musical concerts and festivals including performers such as Richie Havens, The Waybacks, Lost Bayou Ramblers and more. For the entire season schedule or to become a PPAF member or sponsor visit www.prescottpark.org.

Rain date is scheduled for Sunday June 7, if needed.

ENJOY!

Portsmouth NH Real Estate www.patricia4realestate.com Hampton NH Real Estate