Eclipse oyster roast on Saturday

Published 10:22 pm Tuesday, November 6, 2018

This Saturday will be a reunion for friends and family, as well as another fine introduction for newcomers alike to enjoy delicious oysters and chowder.

The Crittenden, Eclipse and Hobson Ruritan Club will host its 15th annual oyster roast from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday at the C.E.H. Ruritan Hall on Eclipse Drive. This cookout is typically a packed affair with more than 800 ticket-holders annually, according to club member Jason Gould.

Attendees will enjoy pours from the beer trucks — plus non-alcoholic beverages — as they work their way through roughly 100 bushels of roasted oysters brought right to their tables by the wheelbarrow-full.

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There will also be about 150 gallons of the club’s signature clam chowder, a crowd-pleasing recipe concocted by member Jimmy Smith that dates back to the 1950s. Gould said that the club fully expects to use up every last gallon of the chowder by roast’s end.

“If not, (then) we sell quarts of it at the end of the event,” he said.

Local band The Baddadz will perform, and a raffle will be held for the chance to win a kayak. Proceeds from the event will support the club’s annual Fourth of July fireworks, efforts to feed needy families around the holidays and funding for maintenance of the Ruritan hall, Gould said.

Roughly half of the 1,400 printed roast tickets had already been sold as of Tuesday evening.

“The weather looks good. I’ve got a feeling we’re going to sell a lot,” Gould said.

Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 the day of the event, with beer included in the ticket price. They can be purchased at the Market at 1604 Bridge Road, Fatboy’s Grill and Steamshack at 15042 Carrollton Blvd., BB&T Bank at 3131 Bridge Road and Saunders Supply Company Inc. at 5881 Godwin Blvd.

Text Gould at 803-8487 or search for “CE&H Ruritan Club” on Facebook for more information.