Labeled the Largest Shrimp Festival in Texas, the Aransas Pass Shrimporee has been serving up delicious Gulf Shrimp for more than half a century. And anyone that knows Aransas Pass knows the Shrimporee is as important to the locals as Independence Day is to the Nation. And for good reason. The community and the Texas shrimping/fishing industry are interwined and rich in history and culture. And in spite of a declining shrimp industry, thanks in part to skyrocketing fuel prices,  shrimp are still central to the local economy. Get ready for lots of arts and crafts, live music, attractions for the kids and, of course, shrimp of every size and prepared just about every way imaginable! You can enjoy shrimp eating contests, watch the parade, and celebrate the oldest Shrimp festival in Texas at the perfect time of the year. Historically, the shrimp festival is held a few weeks before the opening of the shrimp season. This provided the local shrimpers the chance to celebrate with the family before the often gruelling and always demanding season too them out to sea. The event will staged once again in the Johnson Community Park and spans three days starting on Friday. Expect a large crowd, as always, and consider parking in the nearby Wal-Mart parking lot or near the Chamber of Commerce building and and take the free shuttle to avoid delays. You can buy tickets for indivual days or purchase a three day pass for just $10. For more information, visit the Web site.