Much like the lobster pictured above, the Jasper Rotary Club was a little concerned when they had only sold 140 tickets to the Lobster Fest at the beginning of last week, but in true Jasper style the event ended up selling out, with about 240 people in attendance last Saturday night.

While there was a steak option, Rich Potter, Jasper Rotary Club’s president, said there were about 230 of the little red crustaceans prepared by “the master behind the scenes” Jean-Marie Peters and boiled up by Sean Walker and Thomas Bergeron from Maligne Lake Resort.

The event, which is the clubs biggest fundraiser for the year, managed to raise about $30,000 by auctioning a range of goods and packages, which included everything from a helicopter ride to a Grey Cup package in the fall. 

Potter said the money raised will go towards an array of charities, projects and people - both in the Jasper community, such as the Centennial Park renovations, and global projects such as the Belize Literacy Initiative, throughout the year.

Potter was pleased with the turnout, and said it was “just fantastic” that Jasper came through and supported the event.

He said there was a younger crowd this year, along with the usual “community-minded” people mixed in with some Hintonites. Even 20 people from the Jasper to Banff relay event joined the party after their function was finished.