The shrimp festival is back (Update: Coverage)

Flickr user travorpittman
It's time to get your shrimp on.

Update: Eat Sleep Play Beaufort offers a write-up from the event along with a host of photos, and a short video of the kids shrimp peeling competition.

The Island Packet also offers a report, noting that the festival was especially good for business this year.

Fried, boiled, on a roll, with seasoning, on a skewer, or in a pot: It doesn't matter how you like your shrimp, there'll be no shortage this weekend.

The 18th annual Beaufort Shrimp Festival will arrive on Friday, October 5, and Saturday, October 6, at the Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park for a celebration of SC Wild Caught Shrimp, local food and fun in the Lowcountry.

The festivities kick off at 6 p.m. on Friday and include live music by Stud Farm and several area restaurants, which will be previewing their shrimp dishes for Saturday's competitions.

All restaurants will be using SC Wild Caught Shrimp.

The festival's 5K Run (USATF certified course) and Walk Through History will begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday morning. The Popcorn Shrimp Run for ages 7 and under will begin at 8:45 a.m. at the corner of Bay and Newcastle Streets (registration details here).

Saturday's events continue at 11 a.m. with live music, children's games and activities and arts and crafts. Local restaurants will put their unique spins on fresh local shrimp, available to attendees, and will compete for the "Best Shrimp Dish" and "Best Booth Decoration" voted by a panel of judges, and the "People's Choice", chosen by festival attendees.

The overall winner  will be awarded the "Silver Cup" and adults will be able to participate in a shrimp heading competition and children in a shrimp peeling competition for various prizes.

The Sea Island Rotary Club will host its 4th annual Charity Shrimp Race, where 5,000 rubber floating shrimp will be dropped in the Beaufort River adjacent to Waterfront Park from a working shrimp boat. The Shrimp will float naturally with the tide towards a finish line. The first 10 shrimp to cross the finish line share $5,000 in cash prizes and have a chance to win the $1 Million Grand Prize. For more information or to adopt your shrimp, visit www.rotaryshrimprace.com.

Alternative foods will be available for the shell-fish intolerant.