Fall Oyster Festivals
Since October has an “r” in it, oysters must be in season (at least that’s what the old adage says), so it’s time to head over to one of the many fall oyster festivals around the country where this crustacean is honored and eaten in large quantities.
If you are an oyster fan, you simply can’t miss the excitement of an oyster festival. Every locale has a distinct oyster variety and each oyster aficionado has their own favorite. From Wellfleet, MA to Oyster Bay, Long Island, you’ll find a fitting fest to enjoy somewhere near you. Oyster shucking contests as well as cook offs are the norm – everything from fried oysters to oyster stew will be on the menu. For the true connoisseur, however, a few dozen or more on the half shell will usually be the only true way to relish these shelled delicacies.
Do oysters truly have aphrodisiac qualities? Bring a few dozen home in the cooler from these fall seafood festivals and find out for yourself.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Chincoteague Island Oyster Festival - Chincoteague, VA - Oct 12 to Oct 12, 2024
Oysters and other food, beer, raffles and more.
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.
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.
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.
Wine and Oyster Festival - Montross, VA - Sep 21 to Sep 22, 2024
Great wines, delicious local seafood, arts & crafts, and more!
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.
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.
Hilton Head Oyster Festival - Hilton Head Island, SC - Nov 10 to Nov 11, 2023
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.
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.