Charleston native father and son bring you the Shrimp City Report Podcast. The Shrimp City Report is your guide to Lowcountry leisure, entertainment, and lifestyle. Covering everything from local events and dining to arts, culture, and coastal living, this podcast offers in-depth discussions, expert insights, and engaging interviews with the people shaping the region. Whether you're a longtime resident or a visitor looking to experience the charm of the Lowcountry, Shrimp City Report brings you the latest trends, hidden gems, and must-know updates to make the most of life in this vibrant coastal community.
Episodes
Friday May 01, 2026
Friday May 01, 2026
In this episode we speak with Alicia Leland about the 48th annual Low Country Shrimp Festival and Blessing of the Fleet, held in and around McClellanville at the Robert E. Ashley Boat Landing (at the end of Pinckney Street). Alicia, a McClellanville native, walks us through the festival’s history, its roots in the community, and what keeps this tradition alive.
Topics covered include the festival’s role as a fundraiser for the Cape Romaine Environmental Education Charter School (CREEKS), the school’s environmentally themed, project-based curriculum, and the ways students and volunteers participate in the event (yes—kids help peel shrimp).
We trace the festival’s origin back to 1976, note the two missed years during COVID, and explain how the event transitioned from supporting a former private school to backing the charter school. Alicia also discusses the festival’s efforts to be greener and how the partnership with the school fits the festival mission.
The episode highlights McClellanville’s working waterfront: one of the largest East Coast fleets and two commercial processing docks (Carolina Seafoods and Livingston’s Bulls Bay Seafood).
Listeners get a look at festival logistics and must-do moments: the Blessing of the Fleet (clergy bless boats during the parade down), plenty of shrimp and other foods, live music, roughly 60 local craft vendors, and crowd estimates of about 2,500–4,000 people for the day (in a town of roughly 550 residents). The show also covers planning rhythms, key volunteers and vendors, and humorous community stories from past festivals.
Alicia advises attendees to come prepared for typical Lowcountry weather—rain or shine—with tents and covered areas available. She mentions plans and hopes for the festival’s 50th anniversary and encourages listeners to join the celebration.
For more information and updates, follow the Low Country Shrimp Festival on Facebook (Low Country Shrimp Festival) or visit lowcountryshrimpfestival.com. The Blessing of the Fleet is scheduled for 4:00 PM on festival day; check the festival’s Facebook event page and FAQ for the latest details.
No comments yet. Be the first to say something!