Lobster

Lobster Fest – Saturday in Cary

Lobster

Cary, NC — While barbecue and chicken dinners are the hallmarks for charitable dinner fare in the Cary area, one local church has led the way in doing good works with lobster. St. Paul’s Episcopal Church of Cary is holding its ninth annual Lobster Fest on Saturday, October 3, 2015. 

Lobsters Doing Good

A truckload of live lobsters brought down overnight from Maine has delighted the taste buds of hundreds of diners in Cary for nine years now, but the real magic is the longer-term benefits those diners make possible with their purchases.

Ted Straub, the original “Lobster Man” of the festival, pointed out to me that the event raises more than $15,000 each year. Funds go straight to outreach programs (that is, activities that benefit the wider community) as well as youth events and other projects at St. Paul’s.

In addition, Straub says that a collection of canned goods is taken up at each Lobster Fest that is then delivered to the Food Bank of Eastern North Carolina. Over 700 pounds of canned goods were received from the Lobster Fest in 2014.

130 Volunteers

The over-130 volunteers working the Lobster Fest have their work cut out for them in 2015.

While live lobsters are sold for those who prefer their own kitchen work, most pick up cooked 1 ½ pound lobsters, and the church has perfected a “Quarta Pounda Lobsta Roll” served on frilled La Farm Bakery brioche. Diners can also purchase complete lobster meals (with indoor or outdoor seating and live music) and party pack specials which are delivered by volunteers.

Over 2,500 lobsters and rolls will be served.

Menu & Pricing

The Lobster Fest menu is as follows:

  • Live Lobsters – bringing a cooler is recommended ($19)
  • Cooked Lobsters – warm or chilled based on your preference ($21)
  • Quarta Pounda Lobsta Roll – a heapin’ lot of fresh lobster meat and a little sauce served on a La Farm Bakery brioche roll with a side of slaw, chips and dessert ($15)
  • Lobster Meal – cooked 1½ lb. lobster, sides, roll, dessert, drink ($25)
  • Chicken Meal – chicken, sides, roll, dessert, drink ($10 or $5 for kids under 12)

Event Details

Lobster Fest
Saturday, October 3, 2015; 11:30 am – 3 pm
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 221 Union Street, Cary

10 am – Noon: Party Pack Live-Lobster Deliveries
11 am – 4 pm: Live and Cooked, 1½ lb. Lobsters to take home
11:30 am – 3 pm: All Meals and Rolls, eat-in or take-home

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Story by David Lindquist. Photo by Jamie McCaffrey.