Rock veterans Soul Asylum, The Romantics to headline seafood festival

(Hollywood, Florida) A bounty of fresh seafood, live music and entertainment are in store September 28-30, 2007 at the 6th Annual Hollywood Beach Clambake, where that tasty New England tradition takes on a tropical twist. The popular seafood festival will take place along Hollywood Beach’s historic Broadwalk, a newly renovated pedestrian promenade at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean, and will feature performances by world-class musical acts Soul Asylum, The Romantics and many more.

Throughout the weekend, a sumptuous South Florida feast of fresh clams, oysters, shrimp, fish, lobster, conch and crab cakes will be served up by festival vendors and beach eateries. Seafood-lovers will find much to enjoy all along the Broadwalk, as local restaurants offer their hottest seafood recipes and coolest drink concoctions for hungry revelers.

Nonstop live music on two stages will include popular local performers as well as nationally known concert acts, including Grammy-winning indie-rock icons Soul Asylum, best known for chart-topping tunes “Runaway Train,” “Somebody To Shove” and “Misery” (Saturday, September 29, 9 p.m.), Detroit power-pop group The Romantics of “What I Like About You” fame (Friday, September 28, 9 p.m.), New Orleans favorites Porter Batiste Stoltz of the Funky Meters (Saturday, September 29, 7 p.m.) and trombone brass band Bonerama (Sunday, September 30, 7 p.m.) An additional contingent of top-notch South Florida-based acts performing on World Music Sunday include Marijah & the Reggae All-Stars (Sunday, September 30, 5 p.m.), Latin jazz veterans Oriente (Sunday, September 30, 6 p.m.), and Grammy-nominated traditional Cuban dance band Conjunto Progreso (Sunday, September 30, 6:30 p.m.)

Among the other festival highlights will be a Classic Car show on Friday night (6-11 p.m.), a sand-sculpting exhibition, the annual Best Chowder Contest among beach-area restaurants, arts & crafts activities for children utilizing eco-friendly materials and a volunteer beach cleanup (9 a.m. to noon on Saturday) followed by a Beach Cleanup After-Party with musical entertainment provided by the AMP Band (noon to 2 p.m.)

The festivities along the newly renovated Broadwalk will introduce visitors to the natural beauty of Hollywood’s award-winning coastline; charming assortment of retro beach shops, boutique hotels, luxury resorts and waterfront dining options ranging from casual to sophisticated; and a variety of free cultural offerings such as the Hollywood Beach Clambake. Named one of the country’s top nostalgic boardwalks by USA Today in 2005, the new-and-improved Broadwalk, along with a series of exciting high-profile public and private redevelopment projects, is helping to transform the quaint seaside city of Hollywood into a major regional tourist destination.

There is no charge for admission to the Hollywood Beach Clambake, which is presented by the Hollywood Beach Community Redevelopment Agency. Founded by Fiesta Tropicale of Hollywood, Inc., a 501C3 nonprofit organization, the Hollywood Beach Clambake is an award-winning event recognized by the Florida Redevelopment Association as “Best Festival.” Last year, more than 50,000 attendees flocked to Hollywood Beach over the three-day weekend for the fresh seafood and free concerts by renowned acts that included Edie Brickell & the New Bohemians. Past performers include Toots & the Maytals, Terrence Simien, Dick Dale, Chubby Carrier, Fingers Taylor and many more.

Festival hours are 5 to 11 p.m. Friday, September 28; noon to 11 p.m. Saturday, September 29; and noon to 9 p.m. Sunday, September 30 along the Hollywood Beach Broadwalk, just east of State Road A1A at Johnson Street.

Arrive by car, boat or bicycle. Paid festival parking is available at the Johnson Street municipal garage and surface lots, at the Oceanwalk Mall next to the Ramada Inn Hollywood Beach Resort at Hollywood Boulevard and A1A, and at the Hollywood Beach Marriott parking garage, 2501 North Ocean Drive. Parking is also available at the Anne Kolb Nature Center at West Lake Park.

On Saturday only, shuttle service will run from the Anne Kolb Nature Center at West Lake Park to the Oceanwalk Mall from 8 a.m.-11 p.m.

For the perfect weekend getaway, a variety of quality accommodations are available on Hollywood Beach, from quaint Superior Small Lodgings to the boutique-style Marriott Hollywood Beach, from the centrally located Ramada Inn Hollywood Beach Resort to the luxurious Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa. For more information on lodgings, please visit www.VisitHollywood.org.