Crustacean Chase

Today, Friday, May 4th, 2007 marks the 250th annual running of the Maine Lobster Races here in glorious Aiken, SC. Okay, maybe it's not the 250th annual or even the 200th. I think they started it in the mid 1980s as a spoof on the running of the Kentucky Derby. Downtown Aiken will be blocked off as local restaurants and stores will be peddling their wares, a local band will take the main stage, and lobsters will be racing in separate heats to win their freedom (the winner of each heat is granted reprieve, the rest are given their hot bath to heaven).

As the night rolls in the family crowd will thin as the seedier citizens surface. There will be underage drinking and numerous public regurgitations. The smell of garbage cans containing half-eaten funnel cake and cans of domestic beer backwash will waft in contained areas. All in all the usual crowd will be there...Aiken events down town are like high school reunions: everybody knows everybody and a caste system of cliques and popularity is evident.

I'll try to post pictures this weekend...

Lobster Race!!!