Hank’s Old Town Oysterfest: Hank’s Oyster Bar in Old Town, Alexandria dishes up fried, grilled, and raw oysters on Saturday, October 15. The all-you-can-eat OysterFest features an abundance of bivalves with sides like onion rings, Old Bay fries, and crispy calamari. Tickets ($90 per person) also include all-you-can drink beer, wine, and punch.
Brasserie Beck: Get your fill of local bivalves on Saturday, October 15 at Brasserie Beck. Guests can enjoy all-you-can eat Virginia oysters ($35 per person), live music, and $5 Wittekerke Wild Drafts from noon to 4 pm. Call for reservations 202-408-1717.
US Oyster Festival in St. Mary’s County: Love fresh seafood? Head out to St. Mary’s County for the 50th Annual US Oyster Festival, on Saturday, October 15 from 10 am to 6 pm, and Sunday, October 16 from 11 am to 6 pm. The big event is home to the US National Oyster Shucking Competition and Oyster Cook-Off. Festival attendees can enjoy live music, dancing, puppet shows, pay-as-you-go food, and more. Admission is $7 (kids 12 and under are free).
Shuck It!: Join Tony & Joe’s on the Georgetown Waterfront on Saturday October 22 for the 4th Annual Georgetown Shuck It! festival from 2 to 6 pm. Fest-goers can try local beers, wine, oysters, and music from Jumpin’ Jupiter & The Yachtsmen. Early bird tickets are on sale now for $65 (they’ll go up to $75).
Shucktoberfest: Blue Point Brewing Company and Union Market hosts the first-ever Shucktoberfest on Sunday, October 23rd from noon to 4 pm. The bash includes unlimited oysters from Rappahannock Oyster Company, all-you-can-eat snacks (clam chowder, fries), spiked beer cocktails, and bottomless Blue Point Brewing Company beer. In addition to the drinks and eats, fest-goers can enjoy live bluegrass music, lawn games, and a football viewing lounge. Tickets are $75 per person, all-inclusive.
59th Annual Urbanna Oyster Festival: The 59th Annual Urbanna Oyster Festival goes down on Friday, November 4 and Saturday, November 5. The family-friendly festival offers over 50 food vendors selling everything from oysters and crab to roast beef and hamburgers. Guests can also take in live music ranging from R&B to Classic Rock, an antique car show, oyster shucking contest, and craft beer tasting ($10). Admission is free; both food and beverages are priced individually.
Oyster Riot 2016: Head to Old Ebbitt Grill and celebrate their 22nd Oyster Riot on Friday, November 18 and Saturday, November 19–one of DC’s oldest and biggest oyster festivals. Shuckers prepare thousands of bivalves paired with special, oyster-friendly wines; unlimited eats and drinks are included in the $150 ticket price. Live music and a festive crowd accompanies the fare. Ticket times are available for Friday evening (7 to 10 pm) or two sessions on Saturday (1 to 4pm and 7 to 10 pm). Want to do some good? Attend the matinee riot on Saturday, as a portion of the proceeds will go to Oyster Recovery Partnership.
Sydney is an editorial fellow at Washingtonian Magazine, where she writes about history, news, food, and events. A recent graduate of the College of William & Mary, she is interested in writing and videography. You can follow her on Twitter @sydneykmahan
