By Kaaren Valenta

A little rain –– okay, a lot of rain –– fell in Newtown last Saturday, but nothing apparently stops a die-hard lobster lover.

About 2,300 people attended the 16th annual Lobster Fest held by the Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire and Rescue Company on Friday and Saturday nights. B.J. Halstead, who along with Anthony Capozzeillo coordinated the event again this year, said the people came despite the weather.

“Actually, it went pretty good,” he said.  “We served 1,700 lobsters and 600 steaks. We used all 50 cases of corn, nine bushels of clams, and about 600 pounds of potato salad.”

Although the weather cooperated on Friday evening, by Saturday the downpour started. The firefighters responded by putting up canopies to protect the ticket sellers and moving the line of people waiting in the serving line indoors.

“It stopped raining about 10 on Saturday evening and the people stayed, finally leaving about 1 am,” Mr Halstead said. “On Friday they had cleared out by 10 pm.”

To the Max played music for every generation both evenings.

Lois Pratt won the ten-pound lobster that was raffled off on Friday evening.

“We cooked it for her,” Mr Halstead said. “She had a lot of lobster to eat this week.”