Last year, staff at The Market served 6,000 pounds of seafood during the first seafood festival.

This year, they’re doubling the food offerings -- 12,000 pounds of seafood at 10 cooking stations, as well as Columbus’s largest oyster bar.

“We had such an overwhelming response,” said Stephanie Woodham, director of public relations at the downtown seafood restaurant.

Seafood fans who attend the festival from noon to 10 p.m. Saturday can expect a menu that includes jambalaya, fish sandwiches, fried and boiled shrimp, oysters on the half shell, Italian Chicago sausages with peppers, grilled corn and sweet potato fries.

Woodham said she hopes the oyster bar will be popular.

“It’s hard to get good fresh oysters,” she said.

Once you buy a ticket, prices for food range from $1 to $8. The festival will also have soda, beer and wine for sale, ranging from $2 to $4, as well as a wine tasting tent.

While you eat, you can also watch SEC football or listen to one of the three live bands playing throughout the day. Kids can play in the kids zone or take a shot at the dunking booth. There will also be fundraisers for AFLAC’s Children’s Cancer Center and Blood Disorder Service, as well as the Uptown Market Thanksgiving, the Market’s annual initiative to provide Thanksgiving meals for struggling families.

Entry tickets are $5 at the Market until the restaurant closes on Friday and are $10 the day of the festival. Kids 12 and younger get in free.

“Definitely eat seafood galore,” Woodham said.