Shrimply the Best Seafood Fest!

For more than half a century, the last weekend of August in Guntersville, Alabama, has smelled like heaven—if heaven were filled with bubbling gumbo, sizzling catfish, and shrimp boiled to perfection. This year’s St. William Seafood Festival, set for August 29 and 30, is bringing all that mouth-watering magic back for its 55th edition, and it’s not just aging gracefully…it’s aging deliciously!

What started in 1971 as a humble fish fry has grown into a lakeside tradition and full-on flavor parade. The action takes place at the Foley Center on Gunter Avenue, just a few cast nets away from the water. Locals and out-of-towners alike (yes, folks drive in from Tennessee and Georgia for this!) line up for a menu that hits all the Gulf Coast highlights without ever leaving Marshall County.

What’s on the Plate?

Whether you're swinging by after work or showing up Saturday with an empty stomach and big plans, here’s the breakdown:

• Friday, August 29 (4:00–6:00 p.m.) & Saturday, August 30 (7:30 a.m. until sold out): Drive-thru time. Reel in your seafood without leaving the car!
• Saturday, August 30 (10:30 a.m. until sold out): Dine-in opens. Come early and catch the full feast!

This year’s menu includes:

• Gumbo thick enough to stand a spoon in
• Boiled shrimp, hot and seasoned just right
• Fried catfish that could convert even the most stubborn seafood skeptic
• Barbecue chicken for the landlubbers (we see you)

Beyond the food coma you’re likely to enter, the festival is also a major fundraiser for St. William Catholic Church. Proceeds help fund local outreach, community services, and church programs—so every plate you clean is doing a little good in the world.

Why It Matters

In an era when so many events try to do too much, the St. William Seafood Festival keeps it simple: feed people well, bring the community together, and make sure no one leaves hungry. It’s Alabama at its best—welcoming, generous, and deeply delicious.

So whether you’re a lifelong Guntersville local or just shrimp-curious, mark your calendar, bring your appetite, and prepare to be greeted like family. This isn’t just a meal—it’s a 55-year tradition worth savoring!