CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — If you have a love for all things seafood then you're not going to want to miss the 44th Annual Fulton Oyster Fest.
The long-running event is back with fan-favorite oyster eating and shucking competitions.
The gates opened at 5 p.m. Thursday and the festival will go on for four days. The event has something for everyone -- including live music and carnival rides.
Money raised from the festival all goes back to a good cause. That being to help fund much needed equipment for the Fulton Volunteer Fire Department's everyday efforts.
Fulton Volunteer Fire Department Fire Chief Cody Morales told 3NEWS that the event started 44 years ago to buy the department's first "Jaws of Life." Since then, the festival has grown to over 50,000 attendees.
One of those attendees is Julie Speikers, who visited all the way from Minnesota to attend the festival.
"Its very impressive, I'm debating whether I want to try it or not," she said.
Steve Brahm is from the Chicago area and said that the Coastal Bend gave him a first experience he will never forget.
"Took about 30 pictures of that, quite fascinating," he said.
Russel Cole with the Fulton Oysterfest Committee said the event started out as normal idea -- and overtime -- grew to what it was today.
"This was a vision of my dad's 44 years ago. Come up with something to fundraise for the Fulton Volunteer Fire Department, a success every since," he said.
Morales said the festival's success continues to make an impact in the community through the volunteer fire department.
"We are a 100 percent volunteer fire department. This festival is about half of our budget for the year. All of our equipment is paid for, we don't finance anything," he said.
Morales said that he hopes the funds from the event can go to help his department buy a ladder truck.