The Charlestown Seafood Festival began in 1985 as a one-day event with seven vendors set up on a World War II-era airstrip. Now the three-day event features 45 seafood vendors, more than 100 crafts booths, amusement rides, and live entertainment. About 30,000 to 35,000 hungry people attend. ‘‘I serve about 1,000 boiled lobsters over the three days,’’ says Doug Pettengill of D&L Lobster Express, ‘‘and about 1,000 lobster rolls and 10 to 12 bushels of steamers.’’ Paul Drumm of Kenyon’s Grist Mill, dishes out about 1,000 pounds of clam cakes made with his own stone ground yellow corn meal. ‘‘And that’s pretty conservative,’’ he says. He also serves ‘‘gallons and gallons’’ of clam chowder. ‘‘You have to have something to dunk your clam cakes into,’’ he says.

Ninigret Park, Old Post Road, Charlestown, 401-364-4031, charlestownrichamber.com, Aug. 1-3, Friday noon-10, Saturday 11 a.m.-10, Sunday 11-8, $7, ages 12 and under free, free parking.