The next few months, as the temperatures begin to chill, you certainly won’t be bored as there are a plethora of oyster festivals coming up in Chesapeake country. If we missed your favorite event, email [email protected] and find more in our calendar!
Fourth Annual Oysters, Blues, and Brews Festival: October 3
12 to 7 p.m. at Port Covington Marina in Baltimore, MD. Enjoy fresh oysters and seafood, cold beer, live music, local vendors, and family-friendly activities throughout the day with CCA. Visit ccamd.org/calendar for more information.
Yorktown Wine and Oyster Festival: October 3-4
12 to 6 p.m. at Riverwalk Landing in Yorktown, VA. An unforgettable weekend of fine wine, fresh oysters, live entertainment, artisan shopping, and breathtaking waterfront views along the York River. There are a few ticket options to choose from, including a Grand Tasting or a non-drinking ticket. Click to visityorktown.org to purchase tickets.
Westminster Oyster Stroll: October 10
12 to 4 p.m. Shop, slurp, and stroll through historic downtown Westminster! This annual festival features local oyster farmers, local Maryland distilleries, live entertainment, tasty food, local artisans, and fun for the whole family. It celebrates Chesapeake Bay farm-raised oysters while highlighting Westminster’s efforts to restore wild oysters to the Bay. This event directly supports CCA Maryland’s Living Reef Action Campaign. Visit westminstermd.gov for more details. General admission tickets are available for purchase on event day only and cost $15 (guests 12 and under are free).
60th Annual U.S. Oyster Festival: October 17-18
The U.S. Oyster Festival takes place at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds in Leonardtown, MD. Home of the US National Oyster Shucking Championship, plus a tasting tent, The Chesapeake Mermaid, fresh oysters every way, an opening party, live music, more than 50 local vendors, education exhibits, kid’s activities, community champions, dozens of craft beers (many of them local), an amateur shucking competition, and more. A one-day pass costs $13.78 for adults ($4.24 for youths ages 6-17 and free for children ages 12 and under), and a weekend pass costs $24.38 for adults.
CBMM OysterFest: November 7
10 a.m. to 4 at the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels, MD. Celebrate the Bay’s favorite bivalve at OysterFest, a day of fun for the whole family. The menu features fresh oysters served a variety of ways, plus other local fare, craft beer, and spirits. There’s also live music on two stages, an oyster stew competition, boat rides, a full schedule of demonstrations and presentations, children’s activities, and more.
Oyfest: November 7
12 to 5 p.m. at Union Craft Brewing in Baltimore, MD. OyFest is home of the Baltimore Oyster Eating Contest, also an opening DJ set by King Cole, Yacht Rock by Afternoon Delight, and all food and beverages are pay-as-you-go. A portion of all proceeds will be donated directly to the Oyster Recovery Partnership (ORP), and they will also take your slurped-up oyster shells on the way out. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Earlier that very same day, ORP will host Sprint for Spat, a 5K-ish fun run from Druid Hill Park to Oyfest. This FUNdraiser benefits ORP and features nautical costumes, oyster-themed challenges, interactive surprises, and plenty of laughs along the course. Every registration helps restore the Chesapeake Bay, and every participant becomes a Reef Builder with a personal fundraising page. Invite your friends, family, and coworkers to support your run—because every $10 raised helps ORP plant 1000 oysters. Your registration includes an official race T-shirt, chip timing, a finish-line beverage courtesy of Union Craft Brewery, and the chance to win awards for speed, costumes, fundraising, and more.