October is a Big Month for Oyster Festivals 2023!
Oyster Festival 2023 are upon us. As the crisp autumn air settles in, October brings with it a feast for the senses that seafood enthusiasts eagerly await all year. Across the United States, this month is synonymous with bountiful briny delights, lively entertainment, and coastal traditions that unite communities in celebration. Whether you’re a seasoned shucker or simply a fan of mouthwatering maritime cuisine, October’s oyster festivals offer something for everyone.
One of the highlights of this season is the 42nd Annual NC Oyster Festival, returning to Ocean Isle Beach on October 21-22, 2023. Nestled at the OIB Town Center Park, this festival sets the stage for a weekend filled with oyster-shucking showdowns, devouring contests, and savory stew competitions, all set against a backdrop of live performances by talented artists. But this festival is just the tip of the oyster shell, as October unfolds a tapestry of oyster-centric celebrations from coast to coast.
From Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, to Oyster Bay, Long Island, and even the charming Cape Cod town of Wellfleet, Massachusetts, oyster enthusiasts will find an array of festivals to tickle their taste buds and immerse themselves in the rich maritime culture of the United States. Join us as we embark on a flavorful journey through the nation’s October oyster festivals, celebrating the culinary traditions and the sea’s bounty that unites us all.
42nd Annual NC Oyster Festival
October 20th-22nd, 2023
Ocean Isle Beach, NC
The 42nd Annual NC Oyster Festival returns to Ocean Isle Beach on October 21-22, 2023. The festival will occur at the OIB Town Center Park, 11 E. 2nd Street, Ocean Isle Beach, NC. The festival will feature various events, including an Oyster Shucking Contest, an Oyster Eating Contest, and Oyster Stew Contest. There will also be live entertainment throughout the weekend, with performers such as Ryan Perry, Terry Douglas, Gary Lowder and Smokin’ Hot, Chocolate Chip & Company, and Too Much Sylvia.
To participate in one of the contests, you must go to the NC Oyster Festival website to sign up. A free shuttle service will run non-stop during festival hours, with free parking and pick-up at the following locations: Lowes Foods (7278 Beach Dr.) and Odell E Willamson Municipal Airport (6080 Beach Dr.). Limited handicapped parking is also available.
Admissions: 5$ per adult; Free for children 12 and younger
Parking: Free parking at Lowes Foods (7278 Beach Dr.) and Odell Williamson Municipal Airport (6080 Beach Dr. ). The Ocean Isle Pier (1 W 1st St.) offers parking for a fee.
Wheelchair Accessibility: There will be limited handicapped parking at 2 W. 3rd St. Look for event signage. A golf cart shuttle service will transport from there to festival grounds. The NC Oyster Festival is navigable for wheelchairs.
First Flight Rotary Club Oink and Oyster Roast
October 7th, 2023
Kitty Hawk, NC
The First Flight Rotary Club of the Outer Banks is presenting the 22nd Annual Oink & Oyster Roast in Kitty Hawk, NC, on October 7, 2023, from 12-4 p.m. The event will feature homemade local North Carolina barbecue, steamed oysters, fixings, door prizes, music, and family fun. To attend the event, buy tickets from any First Flight Rotarian or visit the official website. All proceeds from the event go directly to support Dare County charities.
Admissions: Pre-order tickets 50$ adult and
Parking:You can park at the Longboards Island Grill parking lot, where the event is held, but space is limited. You can also park at nearby locations, such as the Kitty Hawk Post Office or the Kitty Hawk Elementary School, and walk to the event. Alternatively, you can use the free shuttle service provided by the First Flight Rotary Club, which runs from various locations in Kitty Hawk and Kill Devil Hills to the event.
Wheelchair Accessibility: The event is at the Longboards Island Grill parking lot, which has handicap parking and courtesy shuttle available. The event also has handicap restrooms and a tent/vendor area that is accessible by wheelchair.
40th annual Oyster Festival
Saturday & Sunday October 14th and 15th, 2023
Long Island, NY
The 40th Annual Oyster Festival in Oyster Bay, Long Island, is set to take place on October 14th and 15th, 2023. This festival is one of the largest on the East Coast, attracting more than 200,000 attendees yearly. The event will feature various activities, including vendors, entertainment, shows, carnival rides, and oysters galore. Volunteers and culinary pros will work at the food court, cooking and serving dozens of unique oysters, clams, and other seafood concoctions, along with traditional festival fare.
The festival will be held at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park in Oyster Bay, with the rides and midway for the carnival at Beekman Avenue and Shore Avenue. The Oyster Festival Oyster Shucking Record is held by Rodney Dow, who beat Andy Schuller in a shuck-off in 1985. The two men had both shucked 57 oysters in the allotted time. Dow shucked another 22 oysters in 2 minutes to win the shuck-off.
Admissions: Free
Parking: Take advantage of FREE parking and FREE SHUTTLE BUS service. Parking in the village of Oyster Bay is VERY limited. Park in officially designated parking lots for FREE shuttle bus service to the Festival (listed below).
Park & Ride: East Williston, Albertson, Roslyn, Greenvale, Glen Head, Sea Cliff, Glen Street, Glen Cove or Locust Valley. Eastbound service (goes to the Festival). See the MTA Special Schedule for the Oyster Bay Line, October 15 and 16. Westbound service (returning from the Festival) is available with departures.
Wheelchair Accessibility: Limited handicapped parking will be available and handicapped shuttle buses are available.
Wellfleet Oyster Festival
October 14th & 15th, 2023
Wellfleet, MA
Wellfleet SPAT is an organization devoted to sustaining the legacy of Wellfleet’s shellfishing community. They are the producers of the annual Wellfleet OysterFest, which is a two-day family festival that takes place on the weekend after Columbus Day, October 14-15, 2023, in Wellfleet, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The festival is held on Main Street and features a variety of activities, including live music, arts and crafts, educational programs, and, of course, plenty of oysters. Tickets for the Wellfleet OysterFest are on sale now and can be purchased on the Wellfleet SPAT website.
Admissions: No ticket No entry. No tickets sold at gate, you have to buy tickets online. Adults 23 $ and kids under 12 are free (they still get a ticket). You can purchase tickets on these links Saturday, October 14th 2023 and Sunday, October 15th, 2023.
Parking: Free parking & free shuttles are available at all of the ocean beaches. Plan ahead to include wait time for the shuttle. BUS SERVICES END AT 6pm, plan accordingly. Paid parking is available from private citizens & Wellfleet Harbor/the pier, on a first come
first serve basis. Shuttle buses start at 9:30 at area beaches & the pier
Wheelchair accessibility: Drop off is available at the corner of Main St. & Bank St. Specific Handicap Parking is available at Mayo Beach parking lot with a handicap
shuttle to the corner of Main St. & Bank St. in town center.
Annual Chincoteague Island Oyster Festival
Saturday, October 7th, 2023
Tom’s Cove Park, Chincoteague Island, Virginia
A one-day event that celebrates the arrival of oyster season on Virginia’s Eastern Shore. You can enjoy fresh oysters in every form, as well as clams, shrimp, and other local seafood favorites. There is also live entertainment, a raffle, and a best decorated area contest. The festival takes place on Saturday, October 7, 2023 from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm at Tom’s Cove Park in Chincoteague Island, Virginia. Tickets are $60 per person (children under 5 are free) and include all food and beverages (beer available for purchase). You can buy tickets online or at the gate, the tickets have a limit so they encourage you to get them quick.
Admissions: 60 per person; Children under 5 are free
Parking: Parking instructions here
Wheelchair accessibility: Handicap parking and courtesy shuttle are available at the festival grounds.
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