Steamed oysters, a cold beer, blue grass on a crisp sunny day ... Ahh, the sights, sounds and smells of a perfect oyster festival. (Really, is there any other kind?) You can find festivals at wineries, in the city, on the beach, in a park, along the river, after a motorcycle ride, and even at the end of a 5K run. The West Coast is brimming with oyster festivals this summer and East Coasters can look forward to some of the world's greatest oyster festivals in the Fall. Can you fit one or two in during your summer vacations? I've compiled a comprehensive list of oyster festivals in the U.S., Canada and the United Kingdom this year. I hope you can fit in at least one. Have fun!
2013 - 2014 Festivals:
CALIFORNIA
2013 - 2014 Festivals:
CALIFORNIA
San Francisco Oyster Fest. Sharon Meadow, Golden Gate Park. San Fran, CA. June 1, 2013
San Diego Oyster Fest. Marina Embarcadero North. San Diego, CA. June 15, 2013
Arcata Bay Oyster Festival. Arcata, CA. June 15, 2013
Central Coast Oyster Festival. Morro Bay Oyster Farm. Morro Bay, CA. Oct. 19, 2013
CONNECTICUT
Mohegan Sun Oyster Open. Uncasville, CT. Jan. 27, 2013
Milford Oyster Festival. Milford, CT. Aug. 17, 2013
Norwalk Oyster Festival. Norwalk, CT. Sept. 6-8, 2013
FLORIDA
Goodwood Museum & Garden's Oyster Roast. Tallahassee, FL. Mar. 1, 2013
Fort Pierce Oyster Festival, Ft. Pierce, FL. Apr. 6, 2013
Halifax Oyster Festival. Daytona Beach, FL. Apr. 27, 2013
Franklin County Oyster Festival. Eastpoint, FL. CANCELLED
Apalachicola Oyster Roast. Apalachicola, FL. Nov. 1, 2013
GEORGIA
Oyster Mardi Gras Fest. Atkins Park Restaurant. Smyrna, GA. Feb. 12, 2013
Steamhouse Lounge Oyster Fest. Atlanta, GA. Feb. 23-24, 2013
Georgia Conservancy Oyster Roast. Savannah, GA. Mar. 2, 2013
ILLINOIS
Springfield Oyster & Beer Festival. Springfield, IL. Sept. 7, 2013
Guiness Oyster Fest. Roscoe Village. Chicago, IL. Sept. 7, 2013
Royster with the Oyster. Chicago, IL. Oct. 8-12, 2012
LOUISIANA
Louisiana Oyster Jubilee. New Orleans, LA. Mar. 9, 2013
Amite Oyster Festival. Amite, LA. Mar. 15-17, 2013
New Orleans Oyster Festival. New Orleans, LA. June 1-2, 2013
St. Cletus Oyster Festival. Gretna, LA. Oct. 19-21, 2012
Violet Oyster Festival. Violet, LA. Oct. 19-21, 2012
MAINE
Pemaquid Oyster Festival. Damariscotta, ME. Sept. 29, 2013
MARYLAND
Chesapeake Oyster & Beer Festival. National Harbor, MD. CANCELLED.
Ducks Unlimited Annual Bull & Oyster Roast. Havre de Grace, MD. Apr. 20, 2013
Ryleigh's Oysterfest and Baltimore Oyster Shucking Contest. Baltimore, MD. Oct. 5-6, 2013
St. Mary's Oyster Festival. Leonardtown, MD. Oct. 19-20, 2013
Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum OysterFest. St. Michael's, MD. Nov. 2, 2013
MASSACHUSETTS
B&G Oyster Festival. Boston, MA. May 5, 2013
Island Creek Oyster Festival. Duxbury, MA. CANCELLED
Wellfleet Oyster Festival. Wellfleet, MA. Oct. 19-20, 2013
MISSISSIPPI
Pass Christian Oyster Festival. Pass Christian, MS. Jan. 25-27, 2013
MISSOURI
Schlafly Stout and Oyster Festival. St. Louis, MO. Mar. 8-9, 2013
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Piscatagua Oysterpalooza. Piscataqua, NH. Sept. 22, 2013
NEW JERSEY
Asbury Park Oysterfest. Asbury Park, NJ. Sept. 6-8, 2013
Red Bank Guinness Oyster Festival. Red Bank, NJ. Sept. 22, 2013
NEW YORK
Oyster and Wine Festival at Lieb Cellars. North Fork, Long Island, NY. Apr. 27, 2013
Stone Street Oyster Festival. Stone Street, New York, NY. Sept. 21, 2013.
Oyster Week. New York City and Long Island, NY. Sept. 21-29, 2013.
Aureole's Oyster Social. New York City, NY. Sept. 22, 2013
Empire Oyster. New York City, NY. Sept. 25, 2013
Oyster Frenzy. (Pro Oyster Shucking Contest). Sept. 28, 2013
Oyster Bay Oyster Festival. Oyster Bay, NY. Oct. 19-20, 2013
NORTH CAROLINA
Core Sound Waterfowl Museum. Harkers Island, NC. Jan. 25, 2014
Stumpy Point Oyster Festival. Stumpy Point, NC. Feb. 8, 2014
Dogwood Oyster Roast. Statesville, NC. April 26, 2013
First Flight Rotary Oink and Oyster Roast. Kitty Hawk, NC. Oct. 6, 2012
Airlie Gardens Oyster Roast. Wilmington, NC. Oct. 18, 2013
Burke Arts Council Oyster Outing. Morganton, NC. Oct. 19, 2013
NC Oyster Festival. Ocean Isle, NC. Oct. 19-20, 2013
Dixon Chapel Oyster Roast. Varnamtown, NC. Nov. 3, 2012
Pamlico-Tar River Foundation Oyster Roast. Washington, NC. Nov. 10, 2012
Save the Light Oyster Roast. Charleston, SC. Jan. 6, 2013
Music & Oysters for Wildlife. Awendaw, SC. Jan. 12, 2013
Oyster Roast at Dill Sanctuary. Charleston, SC. Jan. 13, 2013
Lowcountry Oyster Festival. Mt. Pleasant, SC. Jan. 26, 2014
Charitable Society of Charleston Oyster Roast. Charleston, SC. Feb. 2, 2013
Southeastern Wildlife Exposition. Charleston, SC. Feb. 16, 2013
Shuckin in the Park Oyster Roast. Moncks Corner, SC. Mar. 9, 2013
Pet Helpers Oyster Roast (Shuck Your Paws Off). Charleston, SC. Mar. 16, 2013
Beaufort Twilight Run & Oyster Roast. Beaufort, SC. Mar. 23, 2013
Spartanburg Ducks Unlimited Oyster Roast. Spartanburg, SC. Apr. 5, 2013
Hilton Head Oyster Festival. Hilton Head, SC. Nov. 9-10, 2013
Summerville Family YMCA Oyster Shindig. Summerville, SC. Nov. 9, 2012
Celebrity Chili Cook-Off & Oyster Roast. Charleston, SC. Nov. 23, 2013
South Carolina Oyster Festival. Columbia, SC. Nov. 24, 2013
Palmetto Society Oyster Roast. Charleston, SC. Dec. 7, 2012
PENNSYLVANIA
Berks County Celtic Festival. Mohnton, PA. CANCELLED
Annie Bailey's Irish Pub & Restaurant Guiness Oyster Festival. Lancaster, PA. Sept. 22, 2012
TEXAS
Oysterfest. Fulton, TX. Mar. 7-10, 2013
Fiesta Oyster Bake. San Antonio, TX. April 19-29, 2013
World Championship Rocky Mountain Oyster Festival. Throckmorton, TX. May 18-19, 2012
Austin Oyster Festival. Austin, TX. Nov. 9, 2012
VIRGINIA
Barrier Islands Center Oyster Roast. Machipongo, VA. Feb. 23, 2013
Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad Oyster Roast. Virginia Beach, VA. Mar. 24, 2013
Blue Ridge Oyster Festival. Roseland, VA. CANCELLED
Lynnhaven Oyster Roast, Virginia Beach, VA. Apr. 20, 2013
Chincoteague Oyster Festival, Chincoteague Island, Oct. 12, 2013
City Center Oyster Roast. Newport News, VA. Oct. 18, 2013
Urbanna Oyster Festival. Urbanna, VA. Nov. 1-2, 2013
Oyster Roast at Cardinal Point Vineyard. Afton, VA. Nov. 9-10, 2013
The Mimslyn Inn Oysterfest. Luray, VA. Nov. 10, 2012
TOGA Half-Shell Oyster Tasting. Gloucester, VA. Nov. 10, 2012
Watermen's Museum Oyster Roast. Yorktown, VA. Dec. 1, 2012
Oysters and Oldies Christmas Oyster Roast. Heathsville, VA. Dec. 1, 2012
WASHINGTON
Hama Hama Oyster Rama. Lilliwaup, WA. Apr. 27, 2013
PCSGA Shellfish SLURP. Olympia, WA. May 5, 2013
Jazz & Oysters (Watermusic Festival). Oysterville, WA. Aug. 18, 2013
Samish Bay Bivalve Bash. Samish Bay, WA. CANCELLED
Oyster Run. Anacortes, WA. Sept. 22, 2013
Flying Fish Oyster Frenzy. Seattle, WA. Oct. 27, 2013
Elliott's Oyster New Year Bash. Seattle, WA. Nov. 2, 2013
WASHINGTON, D.C
Oysterstock. April 22, 2012
Oyster Riot at Old Ebbitt Grill. Nov. 15-16, 2013
WISCONSIN
Milwaukee Oyster Roast. Milwaukee, WI. Apr. 20, 2013
Lund Shellfish Festival. May 24-36, 2013
BC Shellfish Festival. Comox. June 14-15, 2013
Ontario Oyster Festival. Toronto. July 21, 2013
Tyne Valley Water Oyster Festival. PEI. July 31-Aug. 4, 2013
PEI Shellfish Festival. PEI. Sept. 19-22, 2013
Clayoquot Oyster Festival. Tofino. Nov. 15-17, 2012
UNITED KINGDOM
Colchester Oyster Fayre Market. Essex, UK. June 1-2, 2013
Whitstable Oyster Festival. Whitstable, Canterbury, UK. July 20-26, 2013
Carlingford Oyster Festival. Carlingford, Louth, Ireland. Aug. 8-13, 2013
Hillsborough Oyster Festival . Hillsborough, N Ireland. Sept. 5-8, 2013
Clarenbridge Oyster Festival. Galway, Ireland. Sept. 13-15, 2013.
Galway International Oyster Festival. Galway City, Ireland. Sept. 27-29, 2013
Falmouth Oyster Festival. Falmouth, UK. Oct. 10-13, 2013
Anglesey Oyster & Welsh Produce Festival. Isle of Anglesey, North Wales, UK. Oct. 12-13, 2013
Did I miss one? Please let me know the name of the event, the event website, the date and the city.
