Coast Day will connect visitors to fun

Thousands of visitors are expected for this year’s Coast Day on Sunday, Oct. 7, an annual celebration that introduces adults and children to the wonders of the sea and the importance of Delaware’s marine and coastal resources.

Hosted by the College of Marine and Earth Studies and the Delaware Sea Grant College Program, the event will be held at the University’s Hugh R. Sharp Campus in Lewes, Del., from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Coast Day began 31 years ago as a small open house highlighting marine research at UD, but public interest soon turned it into a major attraction, offering something for everyone.

In keeping with this year’s theme, “Making the coastal connection,” visitors will be able to enjoy hands-on exhibits, expert lectures on popular science topics and ship and laboratory tours, including some of UD’s state-of-the-art research facilities. Back by popular demand are such annual features as the crab cake cook-off, seafood cooking demonstrations, a boat show, nautical craft exhibits and much more.

The crab cake cook-off became part of Coast Day in 1990, and since that time, more than 250 recipes have been submitted to the competition by professional and amateur cooks from across the country. Award-winning recipes are published in a commemorative Coast Day Crab Cake Cookbook, which will be available at the festival at a cost of $6.

Kids at Coast Day can cheer on the competitors in the crab races and get their hands wet in various marine critter touch tanks. They also will have special opportunities to speak with marine scientists to learn firsthand about their discoveries and to explore the many fascinating careers available in environmental science fields.

A special ceremony will be held during the day to announce the winners of the 2007 Coast Day Essay Contest, open to fifth-graders in the state. This year’s entries centered on the topic, “The Journey of a Drop of Water: Your Watershed Connection to the Coast.”

Over the years, more than 200,000 visitors—from nearly all 50 states and several countries—have flocked to Coast Day to learn about cutting-edge coastal and marine research, explore the aquatic world, sample delicious coastal fare and have a great time.

Admission to the event, at 700 Pilottown Road, is free; parking is $2. 

For more information, visit the web site [www.ocean.udel.edu/coastday/], or call the Marine Public Education Office at (302) 831-8083,
the Delaware Sea Grant Program at (302) 645-4346 or send e-mail to [MarineCom@udel.edu].