6th annual Beaufort Oyster Festival set for this weekend
By Mike McCombs
The Island News
There have been some bumps in the road this year, but the 6th annual Beaufort Oyster Festival takes place this Saturday and Sunday, Jan. 17 and 18, at Henry C. Chambers Waterfront Park in downtown Beaufort, and according to organizers, things are going really well.
“Things are going great,” said Ashlee Houck, Executive Director of the Beaufort Area Hospitality Association, organizer of the Oyster Festival. “We’ve had a few little hiccups, of course with the downtown [street] closure but we’ve pivoted. That’s what we do within our organization. We make lemonade, you know, when we’re handed lemon.
“[The 5K] has been pushed up farther on Bay Street, so there are no issues there, and everywhere else has accessibility like the marina parking lot and throughout downtown. The fence, of course, is up in Waterfront Park, so you know you can’t access the promenade, but that’s no issue. You can still see the beautiful water and it’s more about the oysters than it is anything.”
The oysters
Once again, the Beaufort Oyster Festival will feature 100% locally harvested oysters, other Lowcountry seafood and local food vendors, and local beer by Shellring Ale Works.
“Sutton Construction they always do our fire roasted authentic local oysters,” Houck said. “Mike Sutton has has been doing this for us every single year for the past five years, and you know he does the wet burlap sacks and all that so we’re really excited for that. And then we have Sea Eagle [Market]. They’re local watermen, they go out they get the oysters they bring them in and then, of course, they cook them, steam them, fry them up and do them every other way.”
There will be other food vendors and food trucks, as well, and something new.
“We got something really cool this year” Houck said. “We’ve got the Culinary Institute of the South coming in with the Technical College of the Lowcountry. They’re gonna be there Saturday. We’s got Mother Smoking Good, Food Savvy, so we are covering all the bases whenever it comes to food. All of them will have some oyster dishes, but we’re also gonna have corn dogs, turkey legs, barbecue, some various soups … so we’re covering all the bases on on food.”
Tickets
You can pre-purchase your tickets and skip the lines — tickets will be ready for easy pickup at Will Call at the festival. Tickets can be used as currency at the festival to purchase food, oysters, beverages and swag.
The pans of roasted or steamed oysters are 20 tickets or two for 30 tickets. Tickets are $1 apiece, plus applicable fees if ordered online at https://bit.ly/49zlcpd.
Judging
Of course, there’s a judging element to the Festival. On Saturday morning at 11, the judges will get together at Saltus River Grill and begin judging submitted local oyster dishes.
“This is a 100% local festival,” Houck said. To participate in the festival, you have to serve oysters that are from water surrounding Beaufort County.”
Each participating vendor will prepare an oyster dish to submit, and then the judges will do the official tasting there from about 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.. Around 2 p.m., organizers will announce a winner.
This year’s Beaufort Oyster Festival judges are Cathy Martin, Editor at Southpark Magazine; Patricia King, Savvy Traveling; Tom Petaccia, an unpretentious palate; and travel journalists Cele and Lyn Seldon.
Oyster Boogie 5K Run
Start the festival at 8 a.m., Saturday with the annual Oyster Boogie 5K, a USATF Certified 5K Race. Beginning and ending at the intersection of Bay Street and Newcastle Street, the race is run through downtown Beaufort and across the Woods Memorial Bridge, enjoying the views of the magnificent Beaufort River.
All ages and running levels are welcome. The cost is $40. The race is supported and management by Grounded Running. Signup at https://bit.ly/4jHygOa ends Thursday, Jan. 15 at 4 p.m.
Coastal Expedition boat tours
Coastal Expeditions will offer an Oyster Festival Ecotour from the Downtown Beaufort Marina at 10 a.m., Saturday. On the hour-and-a-half cruise, guests will learn about the oyster and the salt marsh estuary. Tickets are $40 per adult and $20 per child and are available at https://bit.ly/4bunQPI.
Cornhole Tournament
Participants must bring their own partner for the double-elimination tournament that begins at noon on Sunday. Cost is $60 per team, cash on site. Rain or shine, there is a covered area if needed.
Sign ups begin at 11 a.m., bags fly at noon. Bring your own bags or some will be provided. All skill levels welcome. RSVP via scoreholio.
Live music
There will be live music throughout the duration of the Beaufort Oyster Festival.
Saturday schedule
10 a.m. to noon: Southbound 17 — High-energy country and Americana to start the day.
Noon to 2 p.m.: Black Lion Reggae — Feel-good reggae rhythms by the waterfront.
2 p.m. to 5 p.m.: The Deckhands Band — Coastal rock and favorites to close out Day 1.
Sunday schedule
11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Campfire Tyler — Acoustic vibes with a Lowcountry flair.
1 to 3 p.m.: Boondockers — Country, rock, and crowd favorites to wrap up the weekend.
3 to 5 p.m.: Sean Hickey — Crowd Favorites.
A reminder the event is rain or shine. There are no refunds, no coolers allowed, and no smoking. Well behaved pets, however, are welcome.
Houck says a successful event would mean “some decent weather, and I would say at least 5,000 people throughout the weekend.”
“A successful oyster roast for me is I want our local businesses to benefit. … We we don’t hold a craft fair or anything with educational vendors there. We have our food vendors that are serving up the oysters and all the yummy food. We have great entertainment, but we also push people to go take the oyster boat tour with Coastal Expeditions. We also push them to go shop on Bay Street, in Port Royal, and throughout town. Explore the area. Whether you’re a local or you’re a tourist, we want you to get out, and that is why this festival was founded.”
Mike McCombs is the editor of The Island News and can be reached at TheIslandNews@gmail.com.
