It’s BACK!

The 97.5 WOKQ Chowder Festival Summer Kick-off, presented by SubCom, returns to Prescott Park Arts Festival for its 39th year. Held on the first Saturday of June, this staple of summer in Portsmouth, NH, kicks off festivities for Prescott Park Arts Festival’s Summer Season!

Join in the fun of the Chowder Festival with some of your favorite local restaurants serving up mouthwatering chowder in Prescott Park.

Check out the complimentary kid-friendly activities, and grab an ice cream from The Prop. Plus a DJ will keep the energy and tunes flowing all day long!

This community event is always a great time from 11:30 am until the chowder runs out.

The Summer Kick-Off side of the park is free and open to all.

ATTENTION PASSHOLDERS
The Chowder Festival is Buy-One-Get-One for our Season Passholders!

Buy one ticket for just $25 and get one ticket FREE. 
DID YOU KNOW? Chowder Festival is one of the largest fundraisers of the year for the Arts Festival. Thank you for your understanding and support!

This taste-testing affair has become a New England institution for chowder lovers in the tri-state region. An impeccable roster of amazing restaurants throughout the seacoast join us to introduce their delicious chowder recipes to compete for the Best Chowder title and to take home the Golden Ladle! Recipes in the past have included Smoked Scallop Chowder, Manhattan Chowder, Vegetarian Chowder, Corn Chowder and Spicy Seafood Chowder. We can’t wait to see what they come up with this year!

PLUS you can pre-order delicious oysters from Virgin Oyster Company. 

Check out this great video all about Virgin Oyster Company and their locally farmed oysters!

 

Chowder not your thing or just want to hang out after? We have plenty of space for you to enjoy family friendly fun in the park. Best part – the Park is always free and open to all. We are planning lots of fun and exciting entertainment for the whole fam like a tie-dying station; giant lawn games like connect four, corn hole, and Jenga; face painting. We will also offer a fun raffle with some incredible prizes and a local DJ to keep the energy and tunes flowing all day long. People can grab delicious treats, including ice cream, fresh-squeezed lemonade, and snacks from The Prop, the Festival’s onsite kitchen and concessions stand.

 

Who will win the Golden Ladle this year?

From fan favorites to exciting newcomers, this year’s lineup is packed with flavor:

• Fisherman’s Catch Restaurant – Classic clam chowder from a Wells institution
• Old Ferry Landing – A Portsmouth staple with waterfront flair
• River House and Water View Grill – Ten-time People’s Choice winner serving up scrumptious seafood chowder
• SALT Kitchen & Bar – A yummy clam chowder from Wentworth by the Sea’s chic eatery
• Shalimar India – A scrumptious Indian Chowder from an award-winning restaurant, bringing authentic North Indian Punjabi Cuisine to the Seacoast
• The Library Restaurant – Elegant clam chowder from a historic location
• The Prop – The Festival’s onsite kitchen serves up comfort food favorites and delivers a tasty chowder
• The Wilder – A crowd-pleasing chowder from the sophisticated gastropub
• Two-Fifty Market – Last year’s Judge’s Choice Award! Locally sourced, bold and fresh clam chowder
• When Pigs Fly Sourdough Breads – Back by popular demand in 2026! Local bakery magic is the perfect pairing with all of the chowders of the day
• Virgin Oyster Company – Fresh-shucked oysters all day (pre-order yours!)

With more restaurants to be announced!

JUDGES

This year’s festival will feature an esteemed panel of judges bringing culinary expertise and Seacoast community spirit to the Golden Ladle competition. Among them is Chef Nicole Nocella of Stalk Restaurant in Dover, NH, a celebrated culinary talent who was named a James Beard Award Best Chef Semi-Finalist in 2025, a testament to the exceptional dining scene right here in New Hampshire. Joining her on the panel is Troy Farkas, host and executive producer of Seacoast Stories, the fast-growing podcast spotlighting the people and businesses that make New Hampshire’s Seacoast region so vibrant. Rounding out the panel are two distinguished community leaders: Portsmouth Mayor Deaglan McEachern and Portsmouth City Manager Karen Conard, both of whom bring a deep commitment to the Portsmouth community that makes this festival so special. Additional judges will be announced as the event draws closer.

Back in 2026! We will have a Kids’ Choice Award for the best chowder! Kid judges to be announced soon. It’s always a family affair!

THIS EVENT IS RAIN OR SHINE!