The fifth annual New England Hot Sauce Fest raised a record $18,546 for two local marine conservation organizations.
About 2,000 ticketed guests attended the festival at Strawbery Banke Museum in Portsmouth on Aug. 1. As a result, the Seacoast Science Center and the Blue Ocean Society for Marine Conservation each received a check for $9,273.
The annual festival was founded by Gabe DiSaverio, owner of The Spicy Shark hot-sauce company in Portsmouth. Previously held at Smuttynose Brewing Co. in Hampton, the festival was forced to relocate following the sale of the Smuttynose property earlier this year.
“We couldn’t be more thankful for the spicy support from the greater Seacoast community, helping us raise the most amount of funds we ever have in five years for Blue Ocean Society and Seacoast Science Center,” DiSaverio said in a statement. “We had a major curveball thrown in January with needing to change venues, and couldn’t have found a better new home than Strawbery Banke in our hometown of Portsmouth.”
About 30 Northeast hot-sauce companies offered samples at the event. There were also food trucks, beer, a DJ, contests, and kids activities.
Over the last five years, the festival has raised nearly $44,000 for its two beneficiaries. Jennifer Kennedy, executive director of the Blue Ocean Society, said the community support shown at the festival will make a “real difference” for her organization.
“These funds will have a meaningful impact on our research program, helping us study whales and other marine life while also supporting student interns who are gaining important hands-on experience in ocean research and education,” Kennedy said in a statement.
The event will return to Strawbery Banke next summer.
“We can’t wait to be back in 2027,” DiSaverio said.
