Great Maine Lobster Eating Contest Gets Cracking

The fourth annual Portland LobsterFest, put on by the Falmouth Rotary, returns with the Great Maine Lobster Eating Contest on June 30 at the Maine State Pier on Portland's waterfront.

Tripp Richardson, the Great Maine Lobster Eating Contest champion who shucked and gobbled 10 lobsters in the designated 10 minutes at the 2011 contest, returns to defend his title at this year's contest. Richardson claims, "The trick to it, is not forgetting to chew."  Maine's Senator Olympia Snowe will serve as one of the judges for the lobster eating contest, following in the footsteps of Maine's Governor Paul LePage who served as a judge last year.

LobsterFest features fresh Maine lobsters, lobster rolls, corn, watermelon, and Capt'n Eli's Root Beer. Proceeds from the one-day festival benefit the Maine Children's Cancer Program and the Falmouth Rotary charities.
 

Ryan Cousins is a Junior Writer for The Daily Meal.  Follow him on Twitter @ourcuzreborn.