59th Annual Smelt Fry - April 9th and 10th

2010 Details - click here


56th Annual Smelt Fry at the American Legion Post #82

"All the Smelt you can eat"

Friday: April 13, 2007: 4:30 PM to 10 PM

Saturday: April 14, 2007: 5:30 to 9:30 PM

Memorial Building (Veterans Memorial Park)
435 North Lake Street
Port Washington, WI
262/284-4690

I don't want to discourage anyone from attending this esteemed gathering, but I went two years ago with a friend and the event was MOBBED by two or three busloads of staggering-drunk Shaw's patrons. I'm all for drunk. I'm all for Shaw's (oysters and fish tacos, at least). But the combination (people who have been boozing on a bus for hours and stopping at wineries along the way+fried smelt) is not a good one. Call ahead and find out if/when the busses are coming and ask if they'll let you in beforehand.

And if you go, be sure to stop at Ewig Bros. for smoked fish.

121 S. WISCONSIN ST.
PORT WASHINGTON, WI. 53074
PHONE: 262-284-2236
FAX: 262-284-1848

What are some other good smelt frys?

cccrush,

If you notice, the time on Saturday begins at 5:30. This is to accomodate the Shaw people who are mingling in the parking lot getting ready to leave by this time.

While I have never gone with Shaw, it is through their publicity that I learned of this fry. I like attending small town community events, so this fits the bill for me.

During Lent there are a lot of fish frys. Often they are mentioned on this board. There is a famous fish fry in Serbian Hall on the Wisconsin Fair grounds every Friday, which I haven't been to yet.

Regards,

57th Annual Smelt Fry at the American Legion Post #82

"All the Smelt you can eat"

Friday: March 28, 2008: 4:30 PM to 10 PM

Saturday: March 29, 2008: 5:30 to 9:30 PM

I plan to go Saturday at 5:30 PM after the Shaw party has departed.

Memorial Building (Veterans Memorial Park)
435 North Lake Street
Port Washington, WI
262/284-4690

Cathy2 wrote:57th Annual Smelt Fry at the American Legion Post #82

"All the Smelt you can eat"

Friday: March 28, 2008: 4:30 PM to 10 PM

Saturday: March 29, 2008: 5:30 to 9:30 PM

I plan to go Saturday at 5:30 PM after the Shaw party has departed.

Memorial Building (Veterans Memorial Park)
435 North Lake Street
Port Washington, WI
262/284-4690

Does this mean the Shaw party comes in on Friday??? Stays the night then leaves? Or do you mean the Shaw party comes in only on Friday and leaves Friday after 10pm?

If it starts at 5:30, how do the Shaw people leave? Just wanted to make sure how to avoid the Shaw people.

Hi,

The Shaw bus tour is Saturday. They are out of the VFW hall by the time it re-opens on Saturday evening at 5:30. The bonus of going on Shaw-day is their tartar sauce they leave behind.

They are usually still in the parking lot getting ready to load the bus when we arrive. They are gone by the time we leave.

Regards,

58th Annual Smelt Fry at the American Legion Post #82

"All the Smelt you can eat"

Friday: April 17, 2009: 4:30 PM to 10 PM

Saturday: April 18, 2009: 5:30 to 9:30 PM

Memorial Building (Veterans Memorial Park)
435 North Lake Street
Port Washington, WI
262/284-4690

59th Annual Smelt Fry at the American Legion Post #82

"All the Smelt you can eat"

Friday: April 9, 2010: 4:30 PM to 10 PM

Saturday: April 10, 2010: 5:30 to 9:30 PM

Memorial Building (Veterans Memorial Park)
435 North Lake Street
Port Washington, WI
262/284-4690

we have a group that fish for some & thin cook them .
down at the planeterium , right at the curve north side . it will be april something . group of about 40 does this every year.
also grill all kinds of stuff there

Cathy - is there any outdoor dog-friendly seating up there at that smelt fry over there?

Phil - how was your catch last year? There was nothing up along the north shore.

i think they got about 10 .not a good run
we had bought some to fry up

Louisa Chu wrote:Cathy - is there any outdoor dog-friendly seating up there at that smelt fry over there?

Hi Louisa,

I thought this may be of interest to you.

Across the street is Memorial Park with bench seating. Depending on the weather, it could be comfy. If it is cool to cold with wind off the lake, it can be chilling.

The Moms and I are planning to go. I just talked to them an hour ago. Mom2 smiled and said it is tradition! We then sang a bit from Fiddler on the Roof. Tradition!

Regards,

Boo... April 10th is Baconfest!

CrazyC wrote:Boo... April 10th is Baconfest!

This is an alternative activity for those who don't have a ticket.

I never heard of this, though it strikes me as brilliant:

Jon Rowley wrote:The experience is more about the smelt sandwich. Place fried smelt on a slice of that special rye bread they serve, add the American Legion cole slaw, fold the bread and you have a proper Port Washington Smelt Fry smelt sandwich.

I'm going with pictures to follow in a few weeks.

Regards,

philw wrote:we have a group that fish for some & thin cook them .
down at the planeterium , right at the curve north side . it will be april something . group of about 40 does this every year.
also grill all kinds of stuff there

the date set for my smelt fishing is april 23rd changed location to 31st