BOB Fest sells out
Published 5:12 pm Tuesday, January 16, 2024
- Jennifer Henson of Norfolk serves baskets of oysters. (Photos by Stephen Faleski | The Smithfield Times)
Smithfield’s BOB Fest, an annual all-you-can-eat festival highlighting Bloody Marys, oysters and Brunswick stew, drew thousands to Windsor Castle Park on Jan. 13 despite coinciding with a long-planned four-day shutdown of the James River Bridge. Gina Ippolito, festival director for the nonprofit Smithfield VA Events, which organizes the BOB Fest, said tickets to the event sold out despite the bridge closure. The event typically brings in around $55,000. This year, Smithfield’s Rotary Club is slated to receive $10,000 from the proceeds. Sundays at Four, a classical music program at Smithfield’s Christ Episcopal Church, is slated to receive a $5,000 share and the rest will be distributed in smaller amounts among other community organizations.
- Lucas Hempley of Smithfield rakes oysters over an outdoor stove to steam them.
- Joe Johnson, Johanna Wiggins of Smithfield joined Keith Compton of Carrollton at the BOB Fest.
- Julia Hillegass, Claire Wooley, Lorain Cosgrave and Liz Rollins of Smithfield work the Bloody Mary bar.
- Kim Zoladkiewicz, Sarah Groupman, Sarah and Albert Yin of Smithfield
- Ann Gledhill, Elaine Dairo and Deborah Duncan of Smithfield work the wine table.
- Ali Crawford, Christina Allen and Sydney Hoppell of Smithfield