THE COASTAL BEND MAGAZINE • Early Summer 2018 67 TheCoastalBend.com Aransas Pass Shrimporee Friday-Sunday June 8th-10th—One of the biggest town fairs on the Gulf Coast, Shimporee in Aransas Pass is all about celebrating the noble shrimp, on which much of the Coastal Bend’s mariculture industry has been built over the years. Dozens of live musical acts, as well as fun events like the Sexy Legs Contest, will be featured on the HEB Stage, and hundreds of artists and vendors from across Texas will assemble under giant merchant tents. Shrimporee hosts some of the best cooks in the Coastal Bend who will offer a vast array of shrimp preparations, as well as other fresh seafood, barbecue, plus every kind of carnival food—from smoked turkey legs to funnel cakes. Like so many Texas coastal communities, Aransas Pass is in recovery mode and needs your support. AransasPass.org Community Festival Live Comedy Mesquite St. Comedy Club May 31-June 2: Carlos Mencia has been a mainstay in the comedy world for more than 20 years, and returns this spring. June 22-23: Mike Epps is best known for playing“Day-Day”in the Friday movies, and brings his hilarious stand up act to Mesquite Street in June. July 6-7: Caroline Picard“The Cajun Queen”is a loud and untamed voice of the Boomer generation. Sept. 21-23: Pauly Shore & Friends featuring the 1990’s comedy legend and a recurring act at Mesquite Street. LaughDowntown.com Pauly Shore Mike Epps Caroline Picard Carlos Mencia