Visitors chow-da down for a good cause
Mark Susko, left, and Jenny Norton dressed up as lobsters for Chowdah Fest on Saturday, March 14. Photos by Michael Patrick Welch.
Dave Valerio plays as a one-man band at the festival. 
A chef from Pit's Pub pours chowder into the crockpot. 
Volunteers stand at the Fishing for the Mission tent.
Mark Susko, left, and Jenny Norton dressed up as lobsters for Chowdah Fest on Saturday, March 14. Photos by Michael Patrick Welch.
Dave Valerio plays as a one-man band at the festival.
A chef from Pit's Pub pours chowder into the crockpot.
Volunteers stand at the Fishing for the Mission tent.
Hundreds of people flocked to Fishing for the Mission’s fourth annual Chowdah Fest on Saturday, March 14 to sample a Massachusetts staple.
Hundreds of attendees filled Stone Path Malt, at 11 Kendrick Road, to try about a dozen chowders while raising money for the Bourne-based organization.
Chowdah Fest was designed to raise money and awareness for Fishing for the Mission, a charity project that aims to prevent veteran suicide by taking veterans fishing.
The charity also helps veterans attend captain school, providing scholarships and other opportunities.
“Fishing for the Mission is everything I wish I had when I was struggling myself for seven years,” said Harold Skelton, a veteran and one of the event’s main organizers.
Paul Wahlberg — brother of actors Mark and Donnie Wahlberg — chose the day’s winning dish. He works as a chef and oversees Wahlburgers, a burger chain he co-owns with his brothers.
He awarded East Wind Lobster and Grill the ultimate prize for its flavorful and creamy chowder, which narrowly beat out Pit’s Pub from Holyoke, Massachusetts, whose bacon chowder was the talk of the event.
“A few of them were just too floury,” Wahlberg said.
Skelton said Fishing for the Mission offers use of three electric bikes and fishing gear that veterans are welcome to enjoy for free. By all accounts the event was a delicious success.
