Fall Seafood Festivals

Hilton Head Oyster Festival - Hilton Head Island, SC - Nov 8 to Nov 9, 2024
Shuck and slurp at the Oyster Festival at Shelter Cove Community Park. Buckets of oysters and a variety of stewed, steamed and fried oysters. Live entertainment stage and a kid zone with bounce houses and other activities.

Urbanna Oyster Festival - Urbanna, VA - Nov 1 to Nov 2, 2024
No admission fees to this pay-as-you-go walking festival. They close downtown for loads of vendors, crafts, foods and visitors, and yes, oysters! This is Virginia’s official oyster festival. Highlights include Friday night’s Firemen’s Parade, Saturday’s Virginia State Oyster Shucking Contest and the right-out-of-Norman-Rockwell Oyster Festival Parade.

Essex Clamfest - Essex, MA - Oct 26 to Oct 26, 2024
Food and fun with lots of vendors, entertainers, and arts and crafts. The highlight is the annual Clam Chowder Tasting competition in Memorial Park. Chowder tasting admission is $10

OysterFest at Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum - St Michaels, MD - Oct 26 to Oct 26, 2024
Celebrate the Chesapeake oyster featuring Sip, Slurp, & Savor! Live music, boat rides, retriever demos, oysters and local fare, oyster stew competition, cooking demos, childrenÂ’s activities. Rain or shine.

Naples’ Stone Crab Festival - Naples, FL - Oct 25 to Oct 27, 2024
A weekend of food and fun with activities both on land and in and around the water, starring the stone crab. Free admission!

Shrimp and Grits Festival - Jekyll Island, GA - Oct 25 to Oct 26, 2024
A coastal favorite, the Jekyll Island Shrimp and Grits Festival combines the classic southern dish with family-friendly entertainment, artists market, live music, kids’ zone, food, a craft brew fest, and more. Traditionally held in September, it will be moving to November in 2020 – upcoming dates are November 6-8, 2020, November 5-7, 2021, November 4-6, 2022

Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival - Richmond Hill, GA - Oct 25 to Oct 26, 2024
A community fair featuring seafood, live music and crafts.

Harvest on the Harbor - Portland, ME - Oct 24 to Oct 26, 2024
Culinary creations from Maine’s top chefs. Events include sampling at the marketplace, the Maine Lobster Chef of the Year Competition, and Grand Tasting on the Harbor (wine, beer and spirits with views of Casco Bay while enjoying morsels from notable Maine chefs). 21+ events

NC Oyster Festival - Ocean Isle Beach, NC - Oct 19 to Oct 20, 2024
Local cuisine, arts and crafts, children’s activities, live music, oyster stew cook-off and the oyster shucking contest. Describes itself as a food festival, arts festival, oyster festival and a music festival. Admission is $5 (cash only) and free for children.

Tilghman Island Day - Tilghman, MD - Oct 19 to Oct 19, 2024
Arts and nautical crafts, boat building demonstrations, oyster shucking, crab picking and a look at the life of a waterman. The watermen’s boat docking contest is always a highlight

Wellfleet OysterFest - Wellfleet, MA - Oct 19 to Oct 20, 2024
Annual event celebrating oysters, clams and shellfishing. Oyster shuck-off competition, cooking demonstrations, arts and crafts, live music, road race and children’s activities. Proceeds fund a local scholarship, community grants and other local initiatives.

U.S. Oyster Festival, Maryland - Leonardtown, MD - Oct 19 to Oct 20, 2024
An annual festival at St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds. Lots of great food and oysters cooked in many different and unique ways. Also live entertainment, demonstrations, and fun for over 50 years.

Santa Barbara Harbor & Seafood Festival - Santa Barbara, CA - Oct 19 to Oct 19, 2024
Enjoy the freshest seafood, maritime exhibits, live entertainment, and more at the annual day-long festival in Santa Barbara’s historic working harbor. Presented by the City of Santa Barbara in partnership with the Commercial Fishermen of Santa Barbara and the Santa Barbara Harbor Merchants. Free admission. Activities for all ages.

Bowen’s Wharf Seafood Festival - Newport, RI - Oct 19 to Oct 20, 2024
Enjoy fresh, local seafoods and desserts, live music, kid’s activities like face painting and pumpkin painting. Free admission.

Long Island Oyster Festival - Oyster Bay, NY - Oct 19 to Oct 20, 2024
This is a huge festival with over 200,000 attending this two day event. It features the tall ships, midway rides, pirate shows, oyster eating and shucking contest, food court, and lots of live stage entertainment. Free parking and free admission, and the profits from many activities including the food court support local charities.

Poquoson Seafood Festival - Poquoson, VA - Oct 18 to Oct 20, 2024
2 stages of live entertainment, plus workboat races on the Chesapeake Bay kick-off the festival. Plenty of fresh seafood and arts & crafts.

Chincoteague Island Oyster Festival - Chincoteague, VA - Oct 12 to Oct 12, 2024
Oysters and other food, beer, raffles and more.

Little River ShrimpFest - Little River, SC - Oct 12 to Oct 13, 2024
22,000 visitors for a shrimp cook out, kids activities, over 150 vendors, fresh local seafood, and two stages of live entertainment. Held at the Little River Waterfront

Dungeness Crab & Seafood Festival - Port Angeles, WA - Oct 11 to Oct 13, 2024
Enjoy the foods of the Olympic Peninsula with celebrity chef cooking demonstrations, Chowder Cook-Off, Grab-a-Crab Derby, local wine and beer, craft vendors, live music, and more. Free admission!

Louisiana Gumbo Festival - Thibodaux, LA - Oct 11 to Oct 13, 2024
Annual event in the Gumbo Capital of Louisiana, with music, rides, food and more. Free admission, free parking.

National Shrimp Festival - Gulf Shores, AL - Oct 10 to Oct 13, 2024
Fresh from the Gulf seafood during this four-day event that attracts over 300,000 people. More than 80 hours of musical entertainment featuring a lineup of national, regional and local acts with blues, Motown, southern rock, jazz, zydeco and country. 50 local and regional vendors have food lining the boardwalk at the public beach with mouth-watering delights. 200 pounds of shrimp per day will be prepared by some of the area’s best chefs in their award-winning recipes and given away for people to sample at different tasting times that will be posted on the outside of the sponsor tent. Activities this year include Outdoor World and Singing for Scholarships. Families can enter the Annual Sand Sculpture Contest on Saturday. Kids can take part in the Children’s Activity Village, including face-painting, karaoke and much more. Runners and walkers can enter the 10K and 5K races. Art lovers will have almost 200 booths of fine art and arts and crafts vendors.

Fall Fest with Oysters - Rock Hill, MD - Oct 5 to Oct 5, 2024
A celebration of family, community and oysters. Enjoy music, crafts, food and fun on Main Street in Rock Hall which includes a kids’ court and more, rain or shine

Ocean State Oyster Festival - Providence, RI - Oct 5 to Oct 5, 2024
Celebrating fine Rhode Island oysters, music, and craft-beer. An Oyster Fan ticket gets you a half-dozen locally sourced oysters from an array of RI-based growers; a local micro-brewed beer, glass of wine, or spiked ginger beer. Live music & DJ’s. Proud member of the Ocean State Aquaculture Association (OSAA) with the goal of raising awareness about aquaculture industry and protecting Narrangasett Bay.

St Mary’s Seafood Festival - St Marys, GA - Oct 5 to Oct 5, 2024
Formerly the Annual Rock Shrimp Festival, this festival in historic St. Marys continues its long-standing tradition of family fun with a full day of events, including kids’ activities, a themed parade featuring decorated floats, fire trucks, tractors, golf carts and more. Downtown will be overflowing with all-day entertainment, demonstrations, arts and crafts vendors, food trucks and restaurants with delectable seafood!

Oystoberfest - Richmond, VA - Oct 5 to Oct 5, 2024
Oysters the way you like them in a fun, family-friendly festival in RichmondÂ’s Historic Ginter Park. Oysters are the main event. TheyÂ’ll have fried, steamed, grilled and, of course, RAW oysters – brats and hotdogs taÂ’ boot. Craft Beers, fine wines and other refreshments will be available. A day full of live music, and a Kidszone.

Crab Carnival - West Point, VA - Oct 4 to Oct 5, 2024
Parades, carnival, live bands, vendors, crab and more.

North Carolina Seafood Festival - Morehead City, NC - Oct 4 to Oct 6, 2024
The rich cultural traditions of eastern North Carolina are yours to absorb with music, craftsmen, artists, storytellers and more, plus boat builders, net hangers, crab pot makers and more who share their crafts, as well as the opportunity to discuss issues with policy makers, commercial fisherman, educators and others to preserve the state’s seafood industry. Fill your belly with some of the best seafood, including Down East” clam chowder

Oysterfest - Shelton, WA - Oct 4 to Oct 6, 2024
Annual event for 40+ years with West Coast Oyster Shucking Championship & Washington State Seafood Festival. Food pavilion, live music, microbrews and more on the first weekend in October.

Historic Bluffton Arts and Seafood Festival - Bluffton, SC - Oct 1 to Oct 20, 2024
Where fine art & the bounty of the sea come together. This festival is a week long event offering activities showcasing the locally harvested seafood, delicious Low Country cuisine, rich history, Southern hospitality, and art of the area. Highlight is the Streetfest on the second weekend which includes a juried fine art show featuring over 100 artists from 10 different states displaying and selling their art, delicious food provided by the area’s premier restaurants and caterers and great music and entertainment.

Fall Seafood Saturday - Etlan, VA - Sep 28 to Sep 28, 2024
Grab a bottle of wine, some fine oysters and crab cakes, find a seat, and enjoy a great afternoon at DuCard. Admission tickets are $10 in advance and $15 at the gate (food and wine not included). Formerly called the Fall Oyster Festival

Pemaquid Oyster Festival - Damariscotta, ME - Sep 28 to Sep 29, 2024
More than 10,000 oysters are served annually at this event to benefit the Edward A. Myers Marine Conservation Fund. Held on the banks of the Damariscotta River at Schooner Landing Restaurant & Marina. Other food options available. There is also an entertainment stage, educational exhibits and other locations. Noon to dusk, rain or shine.

Clearwater Super Boat and Seafood Festival - Clearwater, FL - Sep 27 to Sep 29, 2024
Last year over 180,000 people filled the beaches and shores of the 2.5 mile race course, including those on over 2500 boats, as they watched super boats race each other over the three-day festival.

Destin Seafood Festival - Destin, FL - Sep 27 to Sep 29, 2024
A free event on the Destin Harbor Boardwalk with three stages of live music and fresh seafood by food vendors and local restaurants. Since 1978.

Pensacola Seafood Festival - Pensacola, FL - Sep 27 to Sep 29, 2024
Over 100,000 attend this three day event in downtown Pensacola.  Named one of the Top 20 Festivals by the Southeast Tourism Society.

Festival of the Sea - Point Pleasant Beach, NJ - Sep 21 to Sep 21, 2024
The Festival of the Sea has been one of Point Pleasant Beach’s premier event for more than 40 years. The seafood festival is held downtown on both Arnold and Bay Avenues. Local restaurants and vendors provide the large crowds with delicacies such as crab cakes, shrimp skewers, paella, soups and bisque’s, lobster, and other seafood items. Don’t like seafood? No problem, there are plenty of other varieties of food to sample! They also have hundreds of craft vendors featuring hard to find and unique items. For entertainment, there is a stage set up on that plays host to local musicians and other acts. The festival begins in the shopping district between Rt 35 South and Rt. 35 North and goes all the way down to the Point Pleasant Boro border.

Oktoberfest at Settle Down Easy Brewing - Falls Church, VA - Sep 21 to Oct 5, 2024
Three weekends of celebrating Oktoberfest! Second weekend is Oysterfest and third weekend is Brat-oberfest

Wine and Oyster Festival - Montross, VA - Sep 21 to Sep 22, 2024
Great wines, delicious local seafood, arts & crafts, and more!

Biloxi Seafood Festival - Biloxi, MS - Sep 14 to Sep 14, 2024
A giant festival featuring great seafood, live music, children’s games, arts & crafts and more. Celebrate Biloxi’s rich culture, heritage, and more.

Kiwanis Club of Williamsburg Annual Shrimp Fest - Williamsburg, VA - Sep 14 to Sep 14, 2024
All you can eat shrimp, hush puppies, coleslaw, baked beans, plus enjoy adult beverages and craft beer, live music, kids games, face painting, bounce house, cornhole and raffle along the banks of the James River. 100% of net proceeds stay in the community supporting local charities.

Maryland Seafood Festival - Annapolis, MD - Sep 14 to Sep 15, 2024
Open rain or shine, the festival features live toe-tapping music, kids fun, vendors arts and crafts, great food and drink, cooking demonstrations, and lots of contests.

Stone Street Oyster Fest - New York City, NY - Sep 14 to Sep 14, 2024
Stone Street Oysterfest is the largest oyster festival of its kind in Manhattan and features freshly shucked oysters, live music and DJs, as well as ice-cold drinks from the restaurants and bars on the street. If oysters aren’ your thing, there’s plenty of other food options available throughout the event.

Downbeach Seafood Festival - Ventnor City, NJ - Sep 14 to Sep 15, 2024
Family friendly event featuring all the best seafood NJ has to offer. Formerly the Atlantic City Seafood Festival until it moved to Ski Beach in Ventnor.

Ohio Fish and Shrimp Festival - Urbana, OH - Sep 7 to Sep 21, 2024
Get your fill of mouth-watering seafood selections while enjoying a live music stage, multiple vendors, games and activities for the whole family.

Rhode Island Seafood Festival - Providence, RI - Sep 7 to Sep 8, 2024
Annual event with drinks, seafood and live music. Since 2011.

Pittsburg Seafood Festival - Pittsburg, CA - Sep 7 to Sep 8, 2024
An outdoor event for the last 30+ years. Features great food including BBQ, fish, seafood, and plenty of music, arts and crafts, amusement rides, jet ski races, a beer pavilion, and lots more fun.

Original Lobster Festival - Long Beach, CA - Sep 6 to Sep 8, 2024
Fresh live Maine lobsters at the Rainbow Lagoon. Dance, enjoy the food court, check out the arts & crafts booths, watch live sports on the big screen, sing some karoake, and more. Formerly called the Murrieta Lobster Festival.

Norwalk Oyster Festival - Norwalk, CT - Sep 6 to Sep 8, 2024
Enjoy oysters, live music, craft beer tasting and more hosted by the Norwalk Seaport Association.

Seafood Festival and Craft Show - Westport, WA - Aug 31 to Aug 31, 2024
A family feast with fresh fish, oysters, live music and local crafts, and more. Just a few blocks from Corvettes on the Marina, which runs the same day.

Seafood Festival - Guntersville, AL - Aug 30 to Aug 31, 2024
The Saint William Seafood Festival has been ongoing for over 45 years.  You are going to love the Cajun boiled shrimp, Gumbo, chicken and catfish dinners. It began in 1971 under the leadership of the late Father Patrick Murphy. The festival has continued as the primary fundraiser for the church. The Seafood Festival is now at the Foley Center on Gunter Avenue.

National Hard Crab Derby - Crisfield, MD - Aug 30 to Sep 1, 2024
Features live entertainment, music, parade, fireworks, carnival rides, beauty pageant, races, contests and lots of family fun with crafts, arts, and more vendors. Famous for the crustacean race from which it gets its name

Louisiana Shrimp and Petroleum Festival - Morgan City, LA - Aug 29 to Sep 2, 2024
This festival began in 1936 and has only grown and improved. Parade, food, music, arts & crafts, festival king and queen.

Holly Point Art and Seafood Festival - Deltaville, VA - Oct 21 to Oct 21, 2023
Wander through 60 vendors selling unique art creations and a car show. There will be a variety of seafood, festival food and beverages with live music throughout the festival day. Peruse the museumÂ’s boat building and maritime exhibits, walk the nature trails donned with beautiful sculptures and fall leaves, step aboard the antique boats displayed on the water, take a creek cruise, and enjoy the childrenÂ’s garden complete with a model trains. Bring your kayak or paddleboard and use the museumÂ’s launch to explore the local marine life.

Chowderfest - Beach Haven, NJ - Sep 30 to Sep 30, 2023
Saturday Merchants Mart features blow-out bargains from dozens of Southern Ocean County Chamber of Commerce members. Enjoy live music, specialty foods, and cold beer, and special activities for the kids. Merchants Mart is a free event that goes on rain or shine. Sunday is the Chowder Cook Off Classic, a ticketed event at the Taylor Avenue ball field, Ninth Street and Taylor Avenue in Beach Haven (across from SchoonerÂ’s Wharf and Bay Village).

Oyster & Sausage Oktoberfest - Chantilly, VA - Sep 16 to Sep 16, 2023
Think savory sausages sizzling on the grill, plump oysters freshly shucked, and a variety of craft beers that’ll have your taste buds dancing the polka all day long!

Irvington Crab Festival - Irvington, VA - Sep 16 to Sep 16, 2023
All the steamed crabs you can eat, plus barbecue, hot dogs, and soft drinks included and beer for purchase. Held at the Irvington Steamboat Era Museum

Crabfeast - Chambersburg, PA - Aug 26 to Aug 26, 2023
Get ready for all-you-can-eat hardshell crabs! Crabfeast features tons of delicious food along with small games of chance, an auction and more. Proceeds are used for downtown revitalization.

Guinness Oyster Festival - Red Bank, NJ - Sep 25 to Sep 25, 2022
A street festival featuring live music on two stages and local restaurant food booths with a wide variety of food options such as lobster rolls, filet mignon sandwiches, mini-ruben’s, friend and raw oysters and of course plenty of Guinnes beers.  Family friendly event with lots of vendors and activities for the kids.

Brews and Bivalves - Laurel, MD - Oct 9 to Oct 9, 2021
A day of craft beer, oysters—buck-a-shuck, fried, grilled, and baked, Casino-style and fundraising fun to benefit the Oyster Recover Partnership. Plus, new beer releases, live music, local ice cream (made with Jailbreak Brewery beer), and more.

Grand Haven Salmon Festival - Grand Haven, MI - Sep 18 to Sep 18, 2021
Postponed. Normally: Enjoy the fishing contest, 5k/10k run, salmon cook-off, kid zone, art fair, live music, and foods from great local restaurants.

Chowder Days Festival - Mystic, CT - Oct 10 to Oct 12, 2020
Enjoy a bowl of hot chowder, live music and other activities at Mystic Seaport.

St. Marks Stone Crab Festival - St. Marks, FL - Oct 26 to Oct 26, 2019
Live music, family fun and fresh from the Gulf stone crabs are the hallmarks of this Florida festival.