HAMPTON -- The 19th annual Seafood Festival came to a close Sunday with awards given out to restaurants that brought the tastiest food.

The "Best of the Festival" award was given to JR's Famous Steak and Seafood, while this year's "People's Choice" award went to Bon Appetit.

"It was a tough job this year," said head judge Cliff Pratt. "All the food was good."

Joining Pratt handing out awards to the winners was celebrity guest judge weatherman Al Kaprielian.

"I feel like I'm meeting a celebrity," said Miss Hampton Beach Lacy Jane Folger.

JR's won with its fresh scallops and steak and cheese, while Bon Appetit impressed the crowd with its array of seafood, including its greek salad with shrimp.

Other awards given out included "Freshest Catch Award" to the North Hampton Firefighters and "Best Dessert" to Bes Specialties for its strawberry shortcake.

La Bec Rouge, whose booth this year was decked out like a movie theater with the awning proudly displaying "Now playing: Oscar Winning Seafood," won this year's "Congeniality Award."

Organizers called this year's festival a success, but said they would not know how well it went until all the money is counted.

The festival, which was recently named one of the top 100 events in North America, is a nonprofit event put on by the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce.

"We did get hit (Saturday) because of the rain," said B.J. "Doc" Noel, president of the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce. "The rain was a deterrent, but it certainly didn't wash it out."

Organizers were forced to cancel the fireworks Saturday due to the rain from Tropical Storm Hanna, but Noel said it was still busy despite a downpour after 6 p.m.

"The food tents were packed and, of course, so was the beer tent," Noel said. "The rain did impact the sidewalk sales."

Noel said he was pleased with Sunday's attendance with thousands upon thousands of seafood lovers.

Clam chowder, lobster rolls, shrimp jambalaya and clam fritters were just a few of the most popular food items at the booths. Non-seafood favorites included sausages, pizza, steak and cheese subs and hot dogs.

Sunday's skydiving show caused some excitement when one of the skydivers unintentionally landed in the ocean. He was rescued by lifeguards who brought him back to shore.

"When I hit the water, my plan was to start swimming home and (head) to the nearest bar," said Fred Cotreau, co-owner of Skydive New England.