One way you can tell that I have spent a long time living in this area is the fact that one morning a few weeks ago, I stepped out of my front door on my way to the gym before 7 a.m. and was hit with one of the first nips of a chill in the air. My first thought was “Oh, I like this!” The second?
“Oyster season isn’t all that far off.”
The event will feature live music, activities for the kids and all kinds of food beyond oysters.
One of the many good things that have happened to me since moving to Lowcountry all those years ago is learning to appreciate quality oysters. Certainly food-wise anyway. Growing up in South Florida our culture was more crab, shrimp, and lobster than oysters. It wasn’t until I started spending time near Apalachicola, Florida, that I came to really get into oysters. When they are great, few things are better in my book.
It’s why the Hilton Head Oyster Festival is among my favorite events of the year and it’s around the corner – November 7-8 at Lowcountry Celebration Park.
If you have attended in the past, then you know the drill. If you haven’t, I consider it to be a beautiful cross-section of life in the Lowcountry, featuring live music, activities for the kids, and, of course, all kinds of foods beyond oysters. Seafood, BBQ, chili, and more are staples at the Oyster Festival – directly from the “something for everyone” file.
How fresh are these oysters?
“There was one year where we ran out on Friday, and Roy had someone go out early the next morning and harvest some more,” said Frank Soule, executive director of the Island Recreation Association, the group behind the event for the better part of three decades.
“I remember the first one was over at Palmetto Bay Marina. Captain Woody’s used to be down there. It was an evening thing that time.” he said. “It was so popular, someone suggested we turn it into a fundraiser.”
And so, they did. Last year alone, Island Rec donated more than $280,000 to a variety of island charities, including scholarships for their summer program and many others.
The Oyster Festival alone will account for roughly $30,000 to $40,000 of that total. Yes, it’s a big event that requires a ton of work year-round by a lot of dedicated people, but the benefits are far reaching.
Peel and eat shrimp is served at last year’s event.
Here’s the skinny on how to attend:
Friday night, they are offering an all-you-can-eat oyster roast from 5 to 8 p.m. at Shelter Cove Community Park. Admission is $60 per adult, $45 for those 12 and under. You can pool some money with friends and secure a table of 10 for $700. There will be live music and an overall good time.
Saturday is the main event. It will get going at 11 a.m. at Lowcountry Celebration Park (yes, different from Friday’s event). Admission is only $10, but food then become a la carte. A bucket of oysters will run you $30. Cost for other foods and beer will vary, obviously.
One important thing to keep in mind is that the Oyster Festival is entirely cashless. Cards or digital vouchers will be your only option to purchase anything. Don’t say you weren’t warned.
Saturday will also feature live music by local musicians Rock Candy (I’ve been trying to catch up with them for a minute), Soul Remedy, and CornBred.
It’s a full day of fun, rain or shine, with no refunds on your tickets if the weather doesn’t agree with you. They’ve thrown plenty of parties in the rain.
For more information and a few more details on what the Island Rec Center does in the area, check out islandrecenter.org