OCTOBER 5–6 | SHELTON, WASH
2024 WASHINGTON STATE SEAFOOD FESTIVAL & WEST COAST OYSTER SHUCKING CHAMPIONSHIP
welcome to the 2024 ANNUAL WASHINGTON STATE OFFICAL Seafood Festival
Oysterfest!
Since 1982, OysterFest has been a premier event and economic force in Shelton, WA. Although food & drink is paramount to this event, there is much to see and do including family activities, educational displays, music, and the much celebrated regional shucking competition.
The Washington State Seafood Festival (OysterFest) is hosted and presented by the Skookum Rotary Club of Shelton. Annually, members and their families create an event that helps hundreds of non-profits locally and globally.
“You can feel good that each dollar spent at OysterFest goes back into the community to support great causes.”
Don’t miss the excitement on the Shucking Stage. Saturday and Sunday oyster shuckers compete for cash prizes and national recognition.
Throughout the festival, exhibits demonstrate how important water quality is to our communities. Agency displays and more has made the Washington State Seafood Festival a much anticipated family event. Thank you for making it all possible, we couldn’t have it done without you – vendors, exhibitors, and attendees.
Oysterfest is produced by
GETTING HERE
OysterFest is hosted at the Shelton Airport north of Shelton off Hwy 101 (Map: 250 W Sanderson Way.) There is parking and room for RVs on site.
HOW FAR DO YOU GO?
from Olympia 23 miles from Tacoma: 53 miles from Seattle: 82 miles from Portland: 134 miles
SHUTTLE SERVICES
Free Shuttle service to OysterFest available in the following locations and plan to stop every 20-30 minutes at: Kamilche Transit Center-Little Creek Casino Shelton Matlock Park & Ride
Olympic College - Shelton Campus
Hours of Operation: Saturday 10am6:30pm, Sunday 10am-5:30pm
PARKING IS FREE
Handicap parking is available near the gates. Exit Hwy 101 on to Sanderson Way and follow signs to OysterFest
CASH MACHINES
There are ATM’s located at the event. Thank you PUD#3 and Hood Canal Communications for hosting wifi! Some areas are able to take credit cards like souvenir tent, ticket booth and some vendors. Beer garden is cash only.
PLEASE LEAVE PETS AT HOME
Pets ARE NOT ALLOWED with the exception of service animals.
HOURS & ADMISSION
OysterFunk: October 4, 6 - 10 PM (doors open at 6, music is from 7-10) Beer, wine, oysters and food available.
OysterFest: October 5 & 6
Saturday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM Sunday: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
INFORMATION
Visit oysterfest.org or join us on FB at #OysterFestWA for updates. Send us a message if you have questions. Tickets are available online, at the gate, or with by scanning the QR code above.
The OysterFest Program is created by Rachel Hansen, NW Event Organizers, in partnership with Shelton Skookum Rotary, with the support of KMAS 1030 AM, 103.3 FM and Tracing the Fjord Magazine. For details or questions call 360-427-5599, email rachel@nwevent.org, tracingthefjord.com
Mason Health announces new open MRI for patient comfort and safety!
Patients have traveled far and wide for the comfort of Mason Health’s open- eld MRI, which the District brought to the community in 2013.
Mason General Hospital Foundation is fundraising this year to help Mason Health purchase an upgraded open- eld MRI, prioritizing patient comfort and safety.
Friday, Sept. 27 at Little Creek Casino Resort to help us raise funds for the open- eld
Some of the MRI’s top attributes include:
· Supporting patients up to 660 pounds on a nearly 3-foot-wide table
· Unique table technology that permits left – right lateral movement, giving patients a more comfortable position
· Excellent image quality using multichannel radiofrequency (RF) technology and Fuji lm RF coil technology
The OASIS Velocity High-Field Open MRI gives providers and technologists an unobstructed view of patients, with an advanced magnet design and imaging capabilities to handle all patients with con dence, without compromising on performance or e ciency.
The machine promises fast exams, high-quality images with a seamless work ow.
Scan the QR code to learn more about the new MRI
Message from the Goo
JERRY OBENDORF
Grand Old Oyster (GOO)
Welcome to the 43rd episode of the “West Coast Oyster Shucking Championship and Washington State Seafood Festival”. That’s the official title so you can understand why we just call it OYSTERFEST.
Thank you for attending and supporting the dozens of local non-profit groups who do good works in the community, the region, and internationally.
The basic tenants of OysterFest have always been:
1. To be a fun, family event, sponsored by SKOOKUM ROTARY and supported by a variety of Service Clubs and organizations throughout Mason County.
2. To be a profitable event for charity.
3. To increase the awareness of the excellent seafood resource in Mason County, thereby promoting the shellfish industry.
4. To increase the awareness of Mason County by increasing tourism to the area.
5. To expand community service activities in the area from the profits of OysterFest.
Keep that in mind as you sample your way through OysterFest and the dozens of unique foods. You are helping the Boy Scouts, youth groups, Kiwanis and other civic groups, tribal groups, sororities, senior activities, scholarship funds and others. That might help justify just one more bite. All proceeds go to charitable causes.
Also for your enjoyment are several topical educational booths and displays, kids activities, beer garden, wine tasting and of course the Oyster Shucking Contest.
Admission is $15 for adults. Parking is free and Sunday is family day with reduced admission charge. Shuttle bus service is available. If you have questions, just ask any Skookum Rotarian in the blue polo shirt.
Thank you for coming. Your support is appreciated.
Photo credit: Cooper Studios
REMEMBRANCE | 1951-2023
Huynh Thi Xinh Dwelley IN
With gratitude for the memories and a deep sense of loss we honor, the legacy of our friend who dedicated herself to serving so many causes in Mason County.
Xinh was blessed with wisdom, kindness, humor, and a genius at creating miraculous flavors in the kitchen – especially with seafood!
5 time West Coast Oyster Shucking Champion (OysterFest)
National Oyster Shucking Champion (Maryland)
Celebrated chef & restaurateur with three published cookbooks
She left her imprint on the hearts of so many and her smile will shine on through time.
With love, Gary & Judith
OysterFest: 43 years of community engagement
For over four decades “OysterFest” has been a keystone event in Mason County. Although food and drink anchor the festivities, there is much to see and do for families at this celebration that has a profound impact on many local non-profits. So much to be proud of since Dick Oltman pitched the idea in 1982.
A fellow Rotarian and travel agent, Oltman was finishing a Masters Degree in tourism, he proposed to develop a fall community festival for Mason County to compliment the long-standing Forest Festival held in the spring.
Skookum Rotary Club was barely six years old and had experienced a string of hardworking, low profit projects, some of which had lost money. Oltman approached them in the spring of 1982 and suggested they host this new festival that fall.
They agreed to the idea and began in earnest to plan the event. Weather records weren’t as thorough in 1982, but the engineers in Skookum Rotary found that there was a consistent drop in rainfall the first weekend of October. Thus began the dates for the next 40plus years!
Every participating organization in the event has a vested interest in the success of OysterFest to fund their charitable projects.
OysterFest is a major fundraiser for over thirty local non-profit organizations.
The first OysterFest went beyond expectations. Skookum Rotary hoped that if family and friends of the vendors showed up, they may cover costs. Instead they ran out of tickets at the gate! Vendors saw long lines of hungry patrons, and many had to send volunteers to Shelton for more supplies.
The first 35 years OysterFest was at the Mason County Fairgrounds but in 2012 the facility was closed and OysterFest moved to Sanderson Field.
Art & Photography was included until the event had to move to the present location that has no climate controlled or secure structures. The Cook-off also has since been difficult to manage on the make-shift runway event set up. For many years, Friday before OysterFest was “Kids’ Day.” Mason County 4th graders learned about water quality, safety, ecology, environmental concepts, and health. The school education program was discontinued in 2017.
Richard Oltman | 1928-2017
A major component of the event is the annual Oyster Shucking Competition. Held throughout the weekend, the champion shucker is awarded a trip to the national oyster shucking contest in Leonardtown, Maryland. That winner can compete at the international oyster shucking contest in Galway, Ireland. OysterFest had one of their shuckers go on to compete in Galway, but for the most part shuckers now opt for cash prizes instead of the trip.
There have been many great memories over the years: a skydiver landed on a Mason County Commissioner; drilling a hole in the asphalt to drain a puddle actually let ground water flow in to make the puddle deeper; smoke from forest fires nearly shut the event down; visiting Senator Scoop Jackson got stung by a bee and that made politically news –and there are many more!
Volunteers are the key to this event. Although Skookum Rotary members and their families perform many event duties, other items including parking and setup are hired out to local
non-profit groups, thereby leveraging event dollars into the community even more!
Food vendors are all local nonprofits and include Kiwanis, several Boy Scout troops, Senior Activities, church groups, sororities, lodges, scholarship funds and others.
The weekend opens on Friday evening, Oct 4, with fellow Rotary Club, Shelton Rotary hosting OysterFunk, an evening of food and entertainment for those 21 and over. Other local Rotary Clubs participating Saturday and Sunday include Salish Rotary operating the wine tasting and North Mason Rotary serving shrimp melts.
The main event runs Saturday, 10 AM to 6 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM, October 5 & 6.
Last year included over 10,000 attending, over 400 RV’s camping, a couple thousand volunteers and contributed about $200,000 to local charitable efforts.
Visit oysterfest.org to learn more about the event.
Members of Mason Health’s Medicare Wellness Team: From right to left, Tanise Gardner, RN; Linda Cook, MA-C; Holly Laaksonen, RN; Kayla Crawford, RN; and Teryssa Toppano, MA-C
Project Share’s Shuck & Share 5K Walk/Run
Hundreds of walkers/runners show up each year to participate in the Shuck & Share 5K Walk/Run, happening on OysterFest Sunday. Proceeds from the race help fund Mason County PUD 3’s Project Share program. All participants in the Shuck and Share are given an admission ticket to OysterFest on Sunday.
Join us this year for a special milestone at the Shuck & Share 5K Run, marking the 10th anniversary on Oysterfest Sunday, October 6, 2024, at 8:00 AM. The event will once again take place at the Huff and Puff, conveniently located across from Shelton High School. This flat, scenic 5K loop has become a beloved tradition, attracting hundreds of runners and supporters each year.
Since its inception in 2014, the Shuck & Share 5K has played a crucial role in supporting Mason PUD 3’s Project Share program. This initiative assists low-income households, prioritizing those facing high energy burdens in accordance with the Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA). Thanks to the generosity of donors and the funds raised through this event, Project
Share has provided $175-$500 in annual assistance to over 400 families each year. As other sources of aid diminish, Project Share remains a vital lifeline for our community. The Shuck & Share 5K has grown to attract around 100 runners annually, generating approximately $3,000 for the Project Share program. This success is due in large part to the dedication of Mason PUD 3 employees, local community members, and about 30 local businesses that sponsor and volunteer for the race.
Whether you’re a PUD 3 customer or a supportive community member, you’re welcome to join in the fun and make a difference. Register for the 5K at pud3. org/run or visit Shuck & Share 5K (runsignup.com). If you prefer to contribute by
donation, please make checks payable to “Project Share” and mail them to PO Box 2148, Shelton, WA 98584. Let’s make this 10th anniversary a memorable one, as we come together to support a cause that has touched so many lives.
Shelton Rotary’s OysterFunk kicks off OysterFest
Friday, October 4th, the official kickoff to OysterFest weekend starts with Shelton Rotary’s preFUNK party. Enjoy food, drink and live music featuring the local No Doubt and Gwen Stefani tribute band HellaGurl!
This year, Shelton Rotary is proud to be featuring local beer and cider from High Steel Beer Co., Potlatch Brewing Company, and Whitewood Cider Co., as well as food from local vendors.
Not only is OysterFunk a great way to start the celebrating for OysterFest, all of the money raised through goes directly back into the community. Proceeds from the evening support scholarships for students in Mason County as well as provide much needed funding to multiple non-profits in Mason County.
Located on the OysterFest grounds (250 W Sanderson Way) at the weekend Microbrew stage, doors open for OysterFunk at 6 PM with live music beginning at 7 PM. The event is strictly 21 and older, and ID will be required for entry. Tickets are just $5 and available at the door. There is no charge for parking.
Thank you Green Diamond and Bruce Titus Ford Shelton for your support of OystetFest 2024!
Nearby lodging and on site camping at OysterFest
Less than 30 minutes from Olympia, OysterFest makes a great day trip, however, with camping on site and surrounded by hiking destinations and pristine waterways - fresh and salt -consider staying the whole weekend.
October is a great time to visit the Hood Canal area. The weekend crowds have returned to their schedules and many places to stay have availability and even reduced rates. Consider reserving a waterfront cabin on the canal for your whole group.
Hike, fish, or kayak and enjoy spectacular mountain views and beach access during your visit to OysterFest. On most public beaches, and even at some weekly rentals, you are able to harvest clams and oysters. Visit explorehoodcanal.com for a wide selection of lodging options.
Have your own RV or enjoy tent camping? OysterFest is hosted on the north side of the Shelton airport and the festival area is surrounded by dry RV and tent camping. Many groups of friends annually create their own little camp communities. Camping is available all weekend; (Thursday & Sunday $25/ FRI-SAT $50/including two adult tickets to OysterFest). OysterFest
Entertainment at OysterFest
With two stages offering music in a variety of genres, attendees will find entertainment that suits every taste.
The Bistro Stage is located in the main booth area section of the OysterFest grounds. Although alcohol is available in the Bistro Tent, kids and families are welcome sit and enjoy performances in the covered areas surrounding the Bistro stage. This stage is more intimate with a gentler atmosphere.
The Microbrew Stage is in the Beer Garden and is strictly 21 and older.
ID is required to enter the area. This area is not covered and the music is louder than the Bistro Stage.
The Shucking Schedule is published near the shucking stage. The Kids’ Professor Baboozle Stage is located on the main walk area of OysterFest. A schedule of daily shows is posted on site.
Band Schedule 2024
Bistro Stage (all ages) 10:00 - 12:00
12:30 - 3:00 Lady Drinks Whiskey 3:30 - 6:00 Hilary Scott and AJ Bistro Stage (all ages) 10:00 - 12:00 David Pierik 12:30 - 3:00 Swing Fever Band 3:30 - 6:00 Shelltown Strummers
Food vendors at OysterFest volunteer their time to create mouth-watering delights (seafood and non) in support of a local organization. Vendors & exhibitors are non-profit organizations with proceeds benefiting Mason County groups.
That means that every bite gives you a burst of karma! So go crazy.
Need some ideas? How about the Squaxin Island Tribe salmon & fry bread? Grilled to perfection, the slab of seasoned salmon perfectly complements the crispy hot fry bread. Proceeds go to assisting tribal elder members. For those who prefer non-seafood there are many options including hamburgers, hot dogs and pulled pork sandwiches.
FOOD AT OYSTERFEST
TENT A:
Squaxin Island Tribal Elders
Salmon Dinner & Frybread
Prince of Peace Catholic Church
Strawberry Shortcake, Lemonade
Great Bend Center for Music
Coffee, Donuts, and Information
Shelton Rotary
Xinh’s Curried Mussels/Chicken/Shrimp & Rice
North Mason Rotary Club
Shrimp Melts
Steph’s Helping Hands
Frozen Cheesecake, Cheesy Bread, Cold Coffee
Mason County Concert Association
Cookies
Mason County Association of Realtors
Oyster Rockefeller
S4 Stevens Racing
Cotton Candy, Kettle Corn, Funnel Cake
Hood Canal Lodge #288
Mesquite Burgers
Mason County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition
Olympic Mountain Ice Cream
Little Skookum Community Club
Fresh Squeezed Apple Cider
The Youth Connection
Harry Martin fried oysters, oyster fritters, hot dogs.
Shelton Presbyterian Church
Bacon Wrapped Scallops
BASKET JOIN
TENT B:
Union City Masonic Lodge 27
Pulled Pork Sandwich
Skookum Rotary
Pop & Water
Mason County VFW Post 1694 & Auxillary
Baked Potatoes and Trimmings
Sanderson Field RC Flyers
Crab-wiches
Shelton Wrestling Club
Fish and Shrimp Tacos & Soft Pretzels
TENT C:
Scouting America Troop 9110B
BBQ Oysters on Half Shell
Shelton Schools Foundation
Marinated Mussels with Garlic Bread
Gethsemane Ministries
Deep Fried Clam Strips
SHS Class of 2026 Boosters
Oysters In A Bag , Steamer Clams, Clam Chowder
Young Life
Bacon Wrapped Oysters
Mount Moriah Lodge # 11
Shrimp Gumbo
Brinnon Food Bank
Eggrolls/Lumpias, Shrimp Egg Rolls, Potstickers, Noodles, Rice, Thai Ice Tea and Lemonade
Marissa Ann Goodell Shining Star Scholarship
Pacific Oyster Shooters
Jolly Jesters
Fish & Chips and Deep-Fried Mushrooms
Kristmas Town Kiwanis Troop 9112G
Iced Coffee, Italian Sodas, Spritzers, Shortbread, Popcorn, Toffee/Brittle
Kristmas Town Kiwanis Troop 9112B
Coconut Shrimp
SHUCK & SHARE 5K RUN
Save the Date for the 10th Annual 5K Run/Walk Sunday, October 6, 2024
Race starts and ends at: Huff-n-Puff Trail 3600 Shelton Springs Rd. Shelton, WA 98584
All profits support Project Share, an assistance program helping low-income families with their electric bills.
OysterFact
FOUR A DAY: Oysters are rich in vitamins A, C, D and B-12. B-12 is well-known to help people lose weight and sharpen their memory. Eating four oysters a day gives you a complete daily supply of copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus and zinc.
How quick are you at shucking?
Insert, twist, flick, repeat. Sounds simple, right? But if you have ever attempted to shuck an oyster you will know that isn’t easy. Competition shuckers know just where to insert the knife to coax the shell open and avoid a shattered mess or a stabbed artery.
OysterFest is a great opportunity to learn a few tips on shucking, but watch carefully, they move quickly! Over the two days contestants vie for the title of the fastest shucker or the best half-shell shucker or both titles.
Shelton’s championship is a preliminary event to the US shuck-off at St. Mary’s Oyster Festival in Maryland. The National Oyster Shucking Championship Contest® features the fastest men and women shuckers competing for cash prizes. National winners can compete internationally in Galway, Ireland.
The West Coast Shucking Champion goes through more than 6,000 oysters (thank you Taylor Shellfish!). Shuckers draw a tray of two dozen oysters by lottery, arranging them in preparation.
If they want a switch, an oyster basket is passed around from which they can choose more favorable alternates. As the contest begins, the shuckers hold their knives at head height to indicate readiness.
The shuckers open and place each oyster, completely severed from the shell, on its unbroken half-shell. Speed is the primary factor on Saturday. Cash prizes are awarded each day – Saturday’s
Speed Shucking: 1st $500, 2nd $250, and 3rd $100. Sunday, speed is still a factor, but even more so is presentation in what are called the Half-Shell Trials.
Sunday Half Shell Competition: 1st $750, 2nd $500, 3rd $250, with a $250 cash prize for best presentation. Each contestant must not only shuck 24 oysters, but present in the half shell.
Try your shuck luck!
Interested in competing in the West Coast Oyster Shucking Competition at OysterFest? You can! The shucking competition is open to everyone. If you apply on or before September 21 the Early Bird Entry Fee is just $15/person. After, entry fee is $30/person. Only one fee is required to participate in both Speed and Half-Shell competition. Visit oysterfest. org for the shucking entry form and we’ll cheer you on in October at the main event!
Oystermyth
DO JEWELRY PEARLS COME FROM OYSTERS?
No. Pearls used in jewelry are produced in clams and mussels, not oysters as commonly believed.
Bring your curiosity!
OysterFest exhibits intrigue & inspire
A hallmark of OysterFest are exhibits that showcase the beauty and delicacy of the Puget Sound ecosystem. Attendees enjoy opportunities to learn about the tidal zones and protect and enjoy our local waters.
Puget Sound Estuarium’s marine touch tanks are a perennial favorite with creatures gathered in local waters exclusively for these exhibits. Observe how the animals interact in the habitat and ask questions from volunteer marine educators.
In addition to the marine touch tanks, explore exhibits on aquaculture, water quality, natural resources, and public safety.
The Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association works on behalf of its member to illustrate a spectrum of issues in their booth including environmental protection, shellfish safety, regulations, and provide public information materials and answer questions.
The Mason County Noxious Weed plant exhibit educates the public on the impact of noxious weeds and offers advice on which native plants can help home owners protect their waterways. The Mason Conservation District also provides information to assist residents by providing a link between landowners, industry, and government agencies and presenting technical and financial assistance to residents willing to implement conservation best practices.
Also on-site with information is Washington State Department of Health’s Shellfish Program. Their mission is to educate and prevent illness in people who eat Washington-grown molluscan shellfish. If you have any questions about when and where oysters, mussels, or clams are safe to eat; how you should handle them; or what seafood eaters with special health conditions should be aware of – stop by the DOH booth to get all your questions answered!
The Mason County PUD 3 also provides an educational display at OysterFest. Stop by their booth in the Souvenir Tent for hints to reduce energy use and information on electricity safety. In addition there are multiple booths displaying the local programs supported by funds generated at OysterFest as well as important work and humanitarian efforts of the Skookum Rotary Club and Rotary International. Take the time to see what your OysterFest dollars and donations go. Check out all the exhibitors and their locations in the map and schedule available at the ticket and information booths or view the list online at oysterfest.org.
EXHIBITS AT OYSTERFEST
Mason Conservation District
Mason County Noxious Weed Control Board
WSU Extension
Evergreen Elementary PTSO
Mason County Public Health
Washington State Department of Health Shellfish Programs
Washington Sea Grant
Special Services PTSO Developmental Preschool
Scouting America Troop 9110B
Sportsman Association
Turning Pointe PUD 3
Mason Transit
Mason County Chapter of People First of WA
Kitten Rescue of Mason County Habitat for Humanity
Mason Health - Practice Greenhealth
Mason County Search and Rescue
Sound Learning
Camp Victory
Explore Hood Canal - Mason County Tourism
Hama Hama Fire District 17
Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group
Puget Sound Estuarium
IT'S ALL ABOUT THE
OYSTERS
From the moment of purchase, insure your oysters are kept cold with ice or covered with a damp cloth in the fridge to keep them moist. Make sure your shellfish are very fresh before purchasing. Tap on the shell: a live oyster will be closed or close up, a dead or dying oyster will gape and stay open. Here's a few oysters you may meet in Washington and how to care for them.
OLYMPIA
Washington's native oyster, the Olympia is small with a metallic finish in its taste. Olympias were harvested from the 1800s until about 1915. Raked from shallow bays in Puget Sound and Willapa Bay, this wild fishery eventually collapsed from over harvesting and pollution. Efforts are now underway to reintroduce wild stock of this species.
PACIFIC
Native to Japan, Washington farmers have been interested in the Pacific oyster since 1904, however they didn't begin importing seed in commercial quantities until the 1930s. This practice of importing seed lasted for over 45 years. The Pacific is now an important commercial species on the West Coast. Beginning in the 1950s researchers began to study Pacific reproduction to reduce the dependence on seed imports. Since the 1970s local shellfish growers have relied on hatcheries for production.
VIRGINICA
The decline of the Olympia oyster opened the door for the import of the Virginica from the east coast in the early 1900s. The eastern oysters did not adapt well to NW waters and experienced large die off when transplanted. However, Virginicas are still raised by WA shellfish farmers.
KUMAMOTO
The Kumamoto has a small deep cup and a sweet meat that is prized by raw oyster consumers. Brought to WA from Japan’s Kumamoto Prefecture, they are unable to reproduce in Northwest waters so farmers rely exclusively on hatchery stock. The prized cup of the Kumamoto oyster and its limited supply has growers altering growing practices to create cupped Pacific oysters to meet half shell market demands. Farmers use flip or tumble bags to chip the shell of the Pacific and force it into a deeper cup. Specialty oysters with names such as Kusshi, Shigoku, Sea Cow, Blue Pools, Chelsea Gems, and Baywater Sweets, are the result.
KEEP IT SAFE
Live oysters (as with all shellfish) should be stored under well-ventilated refrigeration in an open container. Place a damp towel on top to maintain humidity. Never store shellfish in water. They will die and may spoil. Oysters should be tightly closed and should not open when tapped. Generally shellfish that close their shells completely can be stored for up to seven days. This includes oysters, littlenecks, butter clams, and cockles. Exception: Mussels can be stored for three to four days. Shellfish that cannot completely close their shells can be stored for three to four days. This includes horse clams, softshell clams, geoducks, and razor clams.
Shellfish removed from their shells should keep in a refrigerator for up to three days. In a freezer, they should keep for up to three months. Cooked shellfish can keep in the refrigerator for up to two days and in a freezer up to three months. Shellfish taken from the freezer and thawed in a refrigerator keep for up to two days. Once thawed, do not refreeze.
Olympia Oyster
More the Merrior
Merrior is a word used to describe flavor of the oyster based upon the location where it was grown. Tastes can range from salty to floral, some have fruity notes, mineral flavor or even hints of spice or mushrooms. Can you taste the difference?
Coined nearly two decades ago by Greg Atkinson, food writer for The Seattle Times, after slurping Pacific oysters, the term refers to the French word “mer” (which means “sea”). Combined with the suffix “-oir” (which usually denotes a specific place) the word provide a marine equal to the word “terroir”— an established term for the way environ-
mental factors affect a crop, commonly used in tandem with wine or coffee. Each waterway has its phytoplankton yielding oysters with different meat colors and flavors. Oyster connoisseurs are able to detect the subtleties of each bay by tasting the meat and observing the shell. Although all Pacifics, oysters grown in Willapa Bay, Samish Bay, Hood Canal, or Hammersley Inlet and other South Puget Sound waterways taste different with unique merriors!
Merrior Lingo:
Brininess Seawater flavor
Sweet Mild & sweet
Salinity A fully saline oyster will have a very briny taste while oysters with low salinity taste sweet or buttery.
Texture Soft ,fleshy, or crisp on palate.
Finish Common are mineral, metallic, earthy, “kelpy,” cucumber, or melon.
DID YOU KNOW? Oysters are bivalves, mollusks that have a shell consisting of two hinged parts. Oysters use gills and cilia to process water and feed. Oysters have a small heart and internal organs, but no central nervous system. Lack of a central nervous system makes it unlikely oysters feel pain, one reason some people who otherwise are vegetarians are comfortable eating oysters.
Welcome to the OysterFest Wine Pavilion
What wine goes with a poached dill salmon, geoduck, or clam chowder? OysterFest believes the answer is a Washington State wine. To help make a perfect pairing, OysterFest annually hosts a tasting hall featuring Washington wines
Salish Sea Rotary Club is again excited to host the Wine tent at OysterFest 2024 featuring sixteen Washington wineries, one mead maker, and one local distillery.
The OysterFest Label Winery for 2024 is Prosser Vineyards and Winery. Crafted by hand, Prosser Vineyard and
Winery continues the traditions of making wine the old fashioned way, by hand. Only small adjustments were needed to perfect the award-winning methods originally tried more than a decade ago. Beginning his wine practice in California, Bill Jenkin and his wife Lisa have already made their mark in the Prosser Valley.
New to the Wine Pavilion this year are Treveri and Water from Wine.
Treveri opened its doors in November 2010 with a mission to put Washington sparkling wine on the map. Since its opening, Treveri wine has been served at White House State Department receptions and the Visit the Distillery in the OysterFest Wine Pavilion!
James Beard Foundation in New York. Producing an array of sparkling wines, including non-traditional varieties such as Riesling and Mueller-Thurman, Treveri focuses on 100% varietal sparkling wines, and is also launching a reserve tier of sparkling wine.
Water from Wine is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, with a vineyard and winery in Washington State. They partner with wineries to make wine, and then sell the wine online, at their winery, and through several key partners. 100% of the revenue from each bottle of Horse Heaven Hills Cabernet Sauvignon and Rose sold is donated to organizations working to provide clean water around the world. The organization’s partners with local leaders and community members in Africa, Asia, South America, and India, to establish lasting solutions to the global water crisis.
Salish Sea Rotary Club of Mason County stewards collaborations that celebrate natural resources, arts, culture, and youth. Every wine tasting you enjoy or bottle you purchase goes to support this mission.
TASTINGS IN THE WINE PAVILION
Hardware Distillery hardwaredistillery.com
Hoodsport Winery hoodsport.com
Horizons Edge Winery horizonsedgewinery.org
Leony’s Cellars leonyscellars.com
Maison de Padgett horizonsedgewinery.org
Marchetti Wines tmarchettico.com
Prosser Vineyard & Winery billstastingroom.com
Reeds Sweet Wine reedssweetwine.com
Stina’s Cellars stinascellars.com
Tanjuli Winery tanjuli.com
Three of Cups threeofcups.com
Treveri Cellars trevericellars.com
Two Loons twoloonswinery.com
Walter Dacon Wines walterdaconwines.com
Westport Winery
westportwinery.com
Wild Man Brewing wildmanbrewing.com
Water from Wine waterfromwine.org
Wynoochee River Winery wynoocheeriverwines.com
IN SEARCH OF OYSTERS?
FOLLOW
THE OLYMPIC PENINSULAOyster
trail
Want to immerse yourself in the local oyster scene?
While you are enjoying OysterFest, follow our trip ideas to explore more fresh oyster nirvana!
TWANOH BEACH
(26 MIN., 17 MILES | VIA SR 106 W)
Twanoh State Park’s saltwater shoreline and hiking trails. Gather shellfish (open yearround for oyster harvest) or simply take a walk along the creek as it meanders the hillside. There is a campground as well as historic buildings.
ALDERBROOK RESORT
19 MIN., 12 MILES | VIA SR 106 W)
Since 1913, generations of visitors have enjoyed this canal-side retreat. Along with a restaurant serving locally harvest oysters and clams, enjoy the dock, views and saltwater pool (10 E Alderbrook Dr., Union (360) 898-2200).
Note: Distances are from Shelton’ s Oysterfest.
UNION’S HOOK & FORK
(18 MIN., 11.5 MILES | VIA SR 106 W)
The best vantage point to view the Olympics Hood Canalé restaurant serves delicious pizza and hosts live music most weekends. Pick up fresh in the shell oysters at Union City Market which stocks everything from gifts and collectibles to fresh oysters and offers outdoor dining (Hook and Fork) with a view – and yes, grilled oysters!
HUNTER FARMS
(16 MIN., 10 MILES | SR 106 or 101)
As the road weaves around the Skokomish delta shoreline, you are treated to glimpses of the Olympics. Fall is a great time to visit Hunter Farms as they celebrate with a pumpkin patch and weekend events. Pet the animals, pick up produce and yes, fresh local oysters by the dozen.
CLIMB THE HAMA HAMA SHELL PILE
Family owned and operated, Hama Hama Oyster Company has been harvesting oysters and clams on Hood Canal for four generations. Their store and outdoor restaurant are located a shell’s toss from the tide flats.
POTLATCH STATE PARK
(20 MIN., 13.5 MILES | VIA US-101 N)
With just under 10K feet of Hood Canal saltwater shoreline, Potlatch State Park is which is popular swimming, camping, and for spring public shellfish harvesting of oysters and clams. Potlatch is a favorite with divers and kayakers, too.
Juan de Fuca Straits
HOODSPORT AND THE FJORD OYSTER BANK
(23 MIN., 15 MILES | VIA US-101 N)
Hoodsport is a seaside town perched on the western shores of the Hood Canal beneath the shadow of the Olympic Range. Here you will find shops (Canalside!) as well as two local wineries: Hoodsport and Stottle. Stop by the The Hardware Distillery and check out their newly opened gallery on the main drag, The Flywheel Gallery, featuring some great local art at reasonable prices and serving handcrafted cocktails! Nearby Potlatch Brewery is also a great place to take in the local views (and brews). Oysters? After a long hiatus the Xinh Dwelley inspired menu at the Fjord Oyster Bank is is finally available to oyster lovers from near and far once again! Try the icy ginger migonette on a raw dozen or grill a few with Xinh’s garlic & hoisin butter sauce! Fjord’s head shucker, Michael, will be sure to tell you all about each oyster served at the restaurant.
LILLIWAUP STATE PARK
(29 MIN., 19 MILES | VIA US-101 N)
On your way to the beach, stop in at the quaint and rustic Lilliwaup Store for a couple scoops of locally churned Olympic Mountain Ice Cream. Just past the bridge you’ll see a pull off and large gravel area for the public harvesting beach. You’ll need a Discover Pass to park and a license to harvest – but then you’re golden! Descend the steps and enjoy the view too. Clam, mussel, and oyster seasons OPEN for harvest yearround. This beach is mostly rocky and digging is difficult, but there are some butter clams, native littleneck clams, and Manila clams available at Lilliwaup State Park. This is an excellent oyster beach.
OCTOBER OYSTER SPECIALS
Room Service Oyster Kits & Oyster Master Classes at Mike’s Beach Resort
This October, experience oyster season on the Hood Canal at Mike’s Beach Resort! Add a Sea to Suite Oyster Kit with fresh oysters from our farm to your cabin rental. Join our Oyster Master Class to learn the art of shucking and discover the fascinating world of oyster culture. Book your stay today for a memorable seasonal adventure! Pet friendly too!
Oyster Palooza
Book your oyster getaway today for 10% off with code oysterfest24
(OYSTER PALOOZA TAKING PLACE 10/12, 10/19 AND 10/26)
EAGLE CREEK BEACH
(33 MIN., 22 MILES | VIA US-101 N)
This is a pretty little beach with great access and spectacular views of Hood Canal. No pass is need but parking is limited to a small area and along the shoulder on the east side of Highway 101 (the dirt lot across the highway is private property.). Clam populations at Eagle Creek are sometimes too low to harvest, but this is a great oyster beach. If the beach is open for harvesting during minus 2 foot or lower tides, this site provides some access to geoducks. Take care not to cover oysters with sand and mud while digging clams because this will potentially kill the oysters. Clam and mussel seasons OPEN for harvest August 1 through September 15, 2024 only. Oyster season OPEN for harvest year-round.
HAMA HAMA OYSTER CO.
(37 MIN., 26 MILES | VIA US-101 N)
This high energy destination serves oysters pulled from the last tide and prepared to order with an ever changing menu of seasonal local ingredients. In their retail shop you can purchase a variety of local products including salmon and oysters smoked on site. Reservations are available for their famous dining A-frames on the shore.
OLYMPIC OYSTER CO. & MIKE’S BEACH RESORT
(41 MIN., 29 MILES | VIA US-101 N)
Third-generation farmers, Matthew and Sara are serious about producing some award winning oysters on site for market and available at restaurants.
Guests staying on the active farm (aka Mike’s Beach Resort) stay in waterfront cabins and rooms, with view of the canal and have first dibs on some of the freshest oysters on the fjord!
TAYLOR SHELLFISH RETAIL STORE
(12 MIN., 9 MILES | VIA US-101 S)
Did you know that Taylor provides the oysters for the shucking contest at OysterFest? Stop in at their Shelton headquarters and visit their retail market. Taylor’s specialties include the Kumamoto (sweet fruity flavor) and the Virginica (Crisp, briny, and buttery). The company has been farming oysters on Puget Sound since the 1890’s. The store is open daily and stocks canned seafood and fresh local seafood in season.
LYTLE SEAFOOD
(1 HOUR, 18 MIN., 58 MILES | VIA US-12 W)
Full service fish market located near Ocean Shores and Seabrook. Offering locally grown oysters that are being served at many of the booths at OysterFest. The retail shop is open daily, 10-5PM.
CHELSEA FARMS
& OLYMPIA OYSTER BAR
(30 MIN., 22 MILES | VIA US-101 S)
Chelsea Farmsis a local South Puget Sound Farm located between Shelton and Olympia. Family run, they have made a priority of farming the Olympia Oyster, the native oyster that was on it’s way to extinction. Specialties include their Chelsea Gems and Bonitas, along with fresh clams and geoduck. Visit their Oyster Bar in Olympia to get an ultimate seafood experience!
PHOTO: SHANNON MANKE
Only our oysters surpass our views. Kayaking, boating, hiking, scuba, and harvesting your own shellfish are just a few things to fill your days on Hood Canal. For spectacular accommodations, road trips and unique adventure itineraries visit explorehoodcanal.com. Stop by Explore Hood Canal’s booth at OysterFest to discover what we can’t stop talking about. Book a stay on the #wildsideWA today.
Local shellfish
Our Local Bivalves
Get to know a few species
NATIVE LITTLENECK CLAM
Up to 3.5” with rounded shell displaying concentric rings and radiating ridge lines, cream, gray, brown, or mottled. White inside shell; found at 6-10” deep in gravel, mud, mid-tide level.
MANILA LITTLENECK CLAM (NOT NATIVE)
Up to 2.5”, oblong shell, Color can vary—typically gray,brown, or mottled and often times with what appears to be hand painted designs; some purple on the inside shell; found at 2-4” in gravel, mud, sand, typically above the half-tide level.
BUTTER CLAM
Up to 5”, shell with concentric rings (no radiating ridge lines), Yellow to gray/white colored; found at 1-1.5’ in sand, gravel, or cobble; lower intertidal or shallow sub-tidal zone. Butter clams retain marine biotoxins longer than other clams.
COCKLE CLAM
Up to 5” with round shell; prominent evenly-spaced radiating ridges fanning from hinge; mottled, light brown color; found at 1-2” in sand, mud in intertidal or sub-tidal zone.
PACIFIC OYSTERS (NOT NATIVE)
Up to 12”, white/gray oblong shell with irregular, wavy edges; found in intertidal zone; tumbled (farmed) Pacifics have cupped shape with fragile shells.
Forage on Washington’s Wild Side. Mason County’s saltwater bays and inlets along Hood Canal and South Puget Sound are renown for some of the tastiest and freshest bivalves in the Northwest. Visit for the pristine waters, open wilderness and public beaches stocked annually for families to enjoy!
LILLIWAUP STATE PARK
Full off on Hwy 101, stairway to beach at north opening of Lilliwaup Bay. Walk north or south when tide is out. Oysters and Clams. Eagles and osprey. Overnight RV camping permitted; no restrooms.
HOODSPORT
TAYLOR SHELLFISH
130 SE Lynch Rd Shelton (360) 432-3300
Taylor’s product line includes worldwide export of geoduck, clams, mussels and oysters. Headquartered in Kamilche, retail store is open daily. taylorshellfish.com
POTLATCH BEACH
OLYMPIA OYSTER
Up to 3”, rounded shell, white to purplish black and may be striped with yellow or brown; oyster’s flesh is a light olive green with a metallic flavor. Native oyster to the area and currently protected in wild habitats.
MUSSELS
Blue Mussel (native) up to 3”, California Mussel (native) up to 6”, Mediterranean non-native) up to 5”. Oblong shell, blueblack or brown, attaches to rocks, pilings, boats, gravel, or other hard surfaces in the intertidal zone with bissel threads.
GEODUCK
Up to 10”, 2.5 – 10 lbs. Gaping oblong shell with concentric rings; white shell with flaky brown skin; siphon and mantle are too large to withdraw; found at depth of 2-3’ in mud, sand, gravel in the sub-tidal zone (extreme low tides).
WALKER
EAGLE
EAGLE CREEK
beach when tide is out, obey signs. Excellent oyster beach. enough for swimming in summer. across from Eagle Creek Saloon.
HAMA HAMA OYSTER SALOON
35846 US-101, Lilliwaup
5th generation farm serves oysters prepared to order with an ever changing menu of seasonal local ingredients. Retail store and farm dining. hamahamaoyster.com
DEWATTO BAY
Small beach with dramatic view of the Olympics. Lots of ripe berries in late summer. From Belfair: take the Belfair-Tahuya Road to Dewatto Rd. Continue four miles to Dewatto. Parking limited.
BELFAIR STATE PARK
Nice beaches for walking and exploring with summer water temperatures surprisingly warm. Restrooms, camping and picnic facilities.
MENARD’S LANDING
Expansive beach (at low tide), picnic area, and views of the Olympics.
RENDSLAND CREEK, DNR owned clams and oysters open all year.
TWANOH
ALLYN
Gazebo, garden, play area, pier, restrooms and beach access with boat launch.
STATE PARK
Excellent camping, swimming, kayaking, picnic sites, and shellfish harvesting.
UNION CITY MARKET
5101 E State Route 106 | Union | (360) 898-3500
Art, gifts, seafood and grocery items and seasonal cafe within a working marina.
HUNTER FARMS
921 WA-106, Union | (360) 426-2222
Direct farm to market retail includes Hood Canal oysters at the general store located on the farm.
DNR 24/GRAPEVIEW, DNR beach clams and oysters open all year. Access by boat only.
CHECK. CHILL. COOK.
CHECK: Health closures and advisories: doh.wa.gov/shellfishsafety
Harvesting closures: wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfishing-regulation
Signs on the beach: Follow posted warnings and respect private property.
CHILL: Harvest shellfish on the outgoing tide and put on ice as soon as possible to prevent bacterial growth. Keep them cold until ready to eat. Cover in fridge with a wet cloth to prevent drying out.
COOK: Cook shellfish in summer months when Vibrio illnesses can occur. To kill Vibrio bacteria cook shellfish to 145° F for at least 15 seconds, cooking does not destroy biotoxins.
Do not harvest in areas with pollution closures. Ask your doctor before eating raw shellfish if you have any concerns about allergies, are taking medications, or have a weakened immune system (such as cancer, liver disease, or HIV). Shellfish are a great and healthy food. Avoid illness by following the 3 C’s above and enjoy!
NORTH BAY
Community park offers beach access, a picnic area and portable restroom and is very popular with kayakers, fishermen and local residents. Located on SR-3 at the south end of Allyn. The parking area is open only during the shellfish season.
Local Seafood
Here are a few locations that serve Hood Canal & South Puget Sound seafood on their menus.
Bistro at Lakeland Village
470 E Country Club Dr, Allyn (360) 277-4137
Boat House Restaurant 18340 E WA 3, Allyn (360) 275-2954
HOPE ISLAND STATE PARK
A 106-acre marine camping park reachable only by boat. Covered with old-growth forests and saltwater marshes, the park features a beach oneand-a-half miles long. Access by boat only.
CHELSEA FARMS OYSTER BAR
222 CAPITOL WAY N, OLYMPIA | (360) 915-7784
Eld & Totten Inlet, South Puget Sound
Chelsea Farm have made a priority of farming the native Olympia oyster that was on it’s way to extinction. Visit their oyster bar in Olympia for local seafood experience! chelseafarms.net
Burger Claim & More 24171 WA 3, Belfair (360) 277-5141
The Fjord Oyster Bank 24341 N US Hwy 101, Hoodsport (360) 877-2102
Hama Hama Oyster Saloon 35846 US-101, Lilliwaup (360) 877-5811
Hook & Fork 5101 E State Route 106, Union (360) 898-3500
Restaurant at Alderbrook 10 E Alderbrook Dr, Union (360) 898-2200
Spencer Lake Bar & Grill 1180 E Pickering Rd, Shelton (360) 426-2505
Squaxin Island Seafood Bar 91 West State Route 108, Shelton (360) 432-7120
Taylor Station 62 SE Lynch Rd, Shelton (360) 426-8501
Tides Family Restaurant 27061 US-101, Hoodsport (360) 877-8921
GARDEN Tending your own (sea)
Zachary Hansen | South Sound Mariculture
The sky was egg blue and large pillow-like clouds reflected the sunlight down on the water. I was loading oyster bushels into the boat—Hammersley Inlet shimmered and the wind was cool and the water along the shore had not been disturbed by waves or swell so you could see the seaweeds and the crabs and the oysters. Their view was distorted by the water’s rippled surface but the sunlight brought out the pinks of starfish and the greens of the algae, the bay was clear today. The tide had turned and it began to cover the warm sand and its dried surface. The tide is a blessing and a curse, it tells us when work on the beach begins and when it ends.
The work was over for the day. I loaded the oysters and took the boat to the dock and tied the oyster bags with rope, hanging them several feet under the surface to keep them in cool water. This is a safe farm practice for product harvested for the raw market and it helps lessen the mortality of the shellfish. After tying off market sacks of oysters and clams I started to clean up the dock and I rinsed the boat and checked to see the anchor lines of the dock were in good condition.
A local osprey chirped near the shore— it was flying from a nest near the farm, it often dives on fish harbored amongst the oyster racks; an older couple walked along the beach. The sound of outboard engines, ospreys, and voices travels well on the water and I could hear the couples’ conversation.
They stopped on their walk in the middle of my family’s beach and commented something like ‘I really don’t like any of this, it ruins the entire beach.’
She gestured towards my father’s tumble farm, a somewhat unimpressive structure of pipe and mesh bags that float with the incoming tides and fall with the outgoing ones. The couple stared at the farm for a moment, expressing their dislike for its aesthetic, and continued their walk. I was not far from them and I am sure they saw me, so I considered raising my voice to start a conversation.
I wanted to explain to them—while they stood on my property and showed disrespect to it and to my way of life—why this ‘ugly’ farm is important. I wanted to tell them how I had built this farm with my father, that over the years we have changed its design and the way we farm shellfish. Creating new methods to improve the oysters we sell, increase our seed volume and density, and make shellfish farming less labor intensive. I wanted to ask them where they were from, and if they ever worked in aquaculture. I wanted to know if they ate shellfish, specifically oysters. I stopped myself and realized their impudent, uninformed preconception of the way something looks allowed them the audacity to pronounce, while occupying the owner’s land whom they insult, their opinion. I shrugged off the comment and went back to work.
That couple continued their walk down the beach and they left with their words, but the opinions they have on aquaculture is carried on in their innate ability to speak where they have no place speaking—to vote where they have no right voting.
My family’s shellfish farm is in front of my home, and we act on our right as property owners to cultivate the sea.
We tend the soil for clams and cultivate the gravel and sand and clay to stop the beds from fallowing. We build submersible vineyards of rope and pipe and we wait patiently for the oysters in the spring to ripen, shucking them straight from the grow bag and tasting the merroir. A respected farmer told me they are like grapes of the sea.
These people who walk our beaches and take a yearly boat ride down the inlet will scoff at the barnacle covered farms, but they have it wrong. Someone worked during the frigid winter tides, their fingers numb and their gloves icy.
Someone worked during the height of the heat trying to save the harvest from the summer lows, scrapping barnacles and repairing brackets. These ugly, unnatural creations are hard fought for.
“We build submersible vineyards of rope and pipe & wait patiently for the oysters to ripen.”
Opponents to farming the sea should realize there is more to a pristine waterway than a bare beach; a beach that lacks biodiversity and habitat is one which the mud is black and slick and smells like rot.
EI KRISTEN & SON CONSTRUCTION,
Oystermyth
CAN YOU TELL MALE FROM FEMALES OYSTERS BY THEIR SHELLS?
No. Oysters change sex one or more times during their life span, you cannot tell by their shell what phase they may be in.
Oyster and clam farmers of the South Sound are your best advocates for the environment. Clean water and sustainability, two ideals often dominated by virtue signaling environmentalists, are values farmers hold dear for their own self-interest. Polluted water kills shellfish, it sickens the customers, and it closes harvest areas. Sustainability requires the industry to be wary of poor business practices and it ensures we have a future.
Consider the morality of the stance you make when asserting your values over another’s way of life. Take away a man’s work and business because you think a tumble farm ruins nature; tell him he is unnecessary while you dine on steamer clams and slurp raw oysters with your twenty dollar glass of wine; explain to him that the
automation of a floating farm in Oakland Bay is bad for local jobs (the man should not innovate but should stay in the mud on his knees, going home to a broken back and a sunburned neck).
Remember, you know better than these farmers. Your waterfront deck offers you a heightened understanding over their lives. You’ve spent so much time watching them work. As you cry that profit hungry aquaculture farms are killing nature and soiling its virginity, perhaps you should also demolish your house on the beach and plant your property in salal and trees.
Farmers are profit hungry and their own interests are their highest concern, but just as a cattle rancher defends his land from development and his rivers from pollution and his herd from wolves, the shellfish farmer cleans up
“Sustainability requires the industry to be wary of poor business practices and it ensures we have a future.”
his beach of garbage, advocates against the dumping of waste water, and grows a sustainable food source.
Do not treat the men and woman and companies in this industry as lesser. Taste the tender meat of a Pacific oyster and steam Manilas in lemongrass and dine on the prime bounty of the South Sound. Go to an oyster farm and see the structures teaming with life. See the habitat mussels create with their long lines of sponges and crabs and perch and watch the harbor seals bob between floating oyster bags, hunting for fish feeding in the shade of the farm. The marine ecosystem is vaster than our imagination, and our pres-
ence as farmers—although substantial to our lives and community—is laughable to that old soul of the Pacific Northwest.
I don’t want to force an oyster farm on anyone. Do what you wish with your waterfront but tend your own garden. Respect these individuals as they are your neighbors—they share your love for this area and they are not going anywhere.
Zach Hansen manages South Sound Mariculture on Hammersley Inlet which he owns with his family. He has worked the farm since he was eleven years old.
Month with an "R"?
YEP, TIME TO HARVEST LOCAL SHELLFISH.
Okay, so maybe that's a myth, but nobody can deny that shellfish are safer, firmer and generally "better" in the cooler months. Want to harvest your own bivalves? You are in luck! Each year, State biologists perform population surveys to stock public beaches with oysters and clams ready for the harvest! You will need a license, boots, a bucket, and a guide to public beaches. Visit wdfw.
wa.gov/places-to-go/shellfish-beaches or doh.wa.gov/shellfishsafety. Clam and oyster season are beach specific and may change annually. For a quick list of local beaches, visit shellfishtrail.org.
Pay attention to beaches that may be closed due to toxins, read posted warnings or call the Marine Toxins Hotline 1-800-562-5632 before consuming product. If you harvest clams or oysters, keep them on ice or eat them soon after harvest. Heed the rules for each beach. If you prefer to have the harvesting done for you, head over to a local farm retail store for a fresh selection. Taylor
Shellfish, south of Shelton has a full service retail store open seven days a week. Farther north, Hama Hama's retail store in Lilliwaup is a great spot to grab fresh from the beach oysters and clams. In Hoodsport, the recently re-opened Fjord Oyster Bank serves oysters, mussels and clams harvested from their farms on Hammersley Inlet. They also have fresh shellfish available for sale by the pound. October 5-6, make your way to OysterFest in Shelton, where you can try an array of shellfish in one place!
ARTIST PROFILE
PAT DENNEY, SHELTON
Annually OysterFest hosts a contest to design the commemorative event poster. This year's selection was local artist, Pat Denney. Pat also designed our cover image!
Originally from Centralia, Denney was raised on a farm. Her father was a painting contractor and a farmer, "paint was always available for young experiments in art," she recounts, and as any art is influenced by our experiences, my life has offered lots of inspiration and, of course, trying many mediums and mixtures in artistic creations."
Pat is a founding member of the Peninsula Art Association. PAA was formed 30 years ago. It is a gathering of local artists aimed at learning, encouraging each other, and sharing their artwork with the community. "I have been a part of that, as well as with other art venues and many instructors along the way, " continues Pat, "art really doesn't count if it isn't shared with others, so our club puts together a show each Spring.”
The OysterFest poster will be available at the event and you can also purchase Pat’s original watercolor paintings at the Flywheel Gallery in Hoodsport.
Your message on the radio and in print.
“Over 82% of Americans listen to the radio each week, including over 87% of U.S. adults 35-64, 82% of U.S. adults from 18-49, and 75% of 18-24 year olds.” statistica.com (2022)
Did you know that the KMAS 1030 AM/103.3 FM signal reaches as far as Tacoma, Bremerton, Aberdeen, and Centralia? (radio-locator.com). As the “Voice of Mason County” KMAS also reaches your friends and neighbors from Allyn and Shelton to Belfair & Hoodsport, as well as on their commutes to Bemerton, SeaTac, and Olympia. TRACING THE FJORD is proud to be a part of their family!
Radio is available 24/7 and is accessible to everyone.
The Fjord Magazine is celebrating 7 years of stories about South Puget Sound (Olympia, Allyn, to Elma and Matlock) and Hood Canal – from Port Gamble to Belfair!
Our FREE quarterly magazine is on the WA State Ferries and available for pick up at over 120 public locations, with 10K print copies & 15K + online downloads, the reach keeps growing!
Our readers, local & visiting, are your best prospects.
Thank you!
Each food booth is putting money back into community programs. Skookum Rotary Club and the Skookum Rotary Foundation are proud to use funds raised with your support to give back to the community with a variety of programs including:
• Community Grants/Projects
• Scholarships
• Music in the Park
• Read Across America
• Earth Day Projects
• OysterFest
• Christmas Giving Tree
Find out more about these programs and others at the club’s website: sheltonskookumrotary.org.
Need more information?
Call (360) 427-5599 or email PRINT & GRAPHICS: rachel@nwevent.org RADIO & EVENTS: jeff@nwevent.org, KMAS (360) 426-1030. tracingthefjord.com
Oysterfest for the whole family!
After you have had your fill of great food and drink, stop in at a few of the activities! There are plenty of exhibits for the whole family to see, touch, and experience at the 2024 OysterFest event.
There are fun activities for kids throughout the event including daily children’s entertainment on the Kids Stage, mini golf presented by local Boy Scout Troop, face painting, crafts, carnival games, remote controlled scale ships in a giant tank, and the famous Kristmas Town Kiwanis train rides.
There are plenty of hands-on fun activities including educational exhibits and, of course, the marine touch tanks are sure to delight the whole family!
With free admission for kids under seven and family discounts on Sunday, we hope you will bring the whole family to experience OysterFest, October 5-6 in Shelton WA.
Pair your seafood WITH
A GREAT MICROBREW
Pacific Northwest microbrews share the spotlight with food at OysterFest. Featuring a live music stage – rain or shine – the beer garden is a popular meeting spot. We are pleased to announce a wide selection of microbreweries joining the event this year! Beer tickets will be $8 this year and OysterFest souvenir pilsner glasses will be available for $8.
Oyster
FACT: The tiny crab we see in the oyster is a species of crab (Pinnotheres ostreum) that has evolved to live harmoniously inside an oyster’s shell. These dime-sized crabs, are much sought after by gourmands.
FACT: Oysters help waterways by eating algae, filtering out particulates and excess nutrients and creating habitat for other organisms to thrive.
A piece of OysterFest
The souvenir team at OysterFest have been hard at work all year designing great keepsake items to mark your weekend at Washingon’s premier shellfish festival in Shelton, WA. From commemorative wine glasses to warm fleecy oyster embellished hoodies, and everything in between, there is something for everyone. Visit the souvenir tent early in the day as favorite items always sell out fast! Cash and credit cards accepted.
SKYHIGHYIELD
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VOLUNTEERS MAKE IT HAPPEN
It takes a village
Whether it be helping out with root beer floats or slinging shrimp in gooey batter in the coconut shrimp booth, community volunteers value this opportunity to share stories and support the causes they feel passionate about. Thank you, Volunteers!
Hosted by the Skookum Rotary Club, a local chapter among a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers, Rotary’s mission is to see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
“ OysterFest is an opportunity to help build community and raise funds.”
Rotary’s 35,000+ clubs worldwide work together to provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.
The Shelton Skookum Rotary Club was chartered in 1976. Skookum is a Chinook word meaning strong. The club has produced OysterFest since it began in 1982.
Through the Skookum Rotary Foundation, OysterFest proceeds have been used to fund local and international projects including the annual Mason County Science and Engineering Fair; 8th Grade Academic Excellence; 11th Grade Academic Excellence; scholarships; Music in the Park, senior gardens; Business Week event, the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy;
Midnight Flowers; local Mason County 4H programs; Shelter Box; Polio Plus; Rotoplast Wells; and micro-lending projects as well as funding school buses in partnership with Durban Bay, South Africa Rotary.
A few organizations that have booths at Oysterfest
SOUND LEARNING
For over three decades Sound Learning has provided accessible education programs to a diverse community of learners (adults and out of school youth age 16+) who represent varied educational, economic, cultural, and language backgrounds in Mason and Thurston Counties. The organization offers diploma programs ( HS+ and GED), Academic skills upgrade to prepare for college, training, or a better job, and English for Speakers of other Languages. Visit Sound Learning in their education exhibit booth and learn more about their programs and how you can help – or they can help!
MASON CONSERVATION DISTRICT
Helping landowners be more responsible with their land. This type of help can help waterways that lead right to the beds of the great shellfish in our area.
The Conservation District’s mission is to promote the sustainable use, conservation & restoration of natural resources for future generations.
SQUAXIN ELDERS
Supporting elders for their activities & trip. Stop by their booth at OysterFest and take the time to learn about there history and be sure to try their delicious fry bread and salmon.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Partners to maintain and build affordable quality housing for those in need. Proceeds from Oysterfest will be used to further construction and maintenance.
MASON COUNTY SPORTSMAN’S ASSOCIATION
Low cost training in safe handling of firearms with emphasis on youth education. Annually they host the Shelton High School Rifle Teams and the Navy Junior ROTC Air Rifle Team. They also provide training for operation of firearms for hunters.
PENINSULA ART ASSOCIATION
Peninsula’s purpose is to sponsor and encourage cultural and educational activities in Mason County, Funds raised sponsor artistic exhibitions and programs of interest to artist and patrons of art: encourage participation and appreciation of the visual arts by all citizens.
LITTLE SKOOKUM COMMUNITY CLUB
Located at the Little Skookum Community hall on Lynch Rd, club dedicates their non-profit organization to community events and Skookum Hall Rentals.
Xinh Dwelley
TRIBUTE BY
JENNIFER COLEMAN, EDITOR, SCENIC WA
Last fall I had the opportunity to spend a day shucking oysters with a local legend, Xinh Dwelley. We found ourselves on the South Bay of Grays Harbor at Brady’s Oysters, enjoying the sun and breeze with fresh oysters harvested that very day.
Xinh offered to give me a hands-on tutorial for shucking, and she jumped right into the task showing me her skills and encouraging me to “just do it honey.” Her no nonsense style and radiant smile combined with her funny stories, full of little bits of knowledge about how to prepare local seafood made for a fun experience.
However, Xinh knows how to elevate the experience and showed me a simple recipe that resulted in mouthwatering BBQ oysters. Our creation that day included fresh peppers, green onions, and garlic, combined with soy and hoisin sauce then topped with grated Parmesan cheese. It was sublime! DEDICATED
Once I got her approval on my shucking skills, I was able to convince her to show me how to make her famous grilled oysters. Xinh assured me that there really is no wrong way to make oysters on the half shell. As long as the oysters are fresh, a splash of butter and garlic is one of the simplest ways to enjoy this delicacy.
Huynh Thi Xinh Dwelley
1951-2023
I’m reflecting on that beautiful day spent with a beautiful person and remembering Xinh’s lively zest for life and captivating storytelling.
Xinh’s story is one of overcoming and achievement, with passion that showed through in her cooking and her dedication to the shellfish industry. With a huge heart, engaging smile, and a personality that filled every room, Xinh was loved by everyone. She touched generations and left a lasting impact on all who were blessed to share her inspired culinary genius and the warmth of her welcoming smile. Over the last five decades her accomplishments are immense and astounding – managing her own restaurant, writing three cookbooks, and serving as a celebrated chef for numerous events, restaurants, media, and dignitaries.
Xinh began her culinary journey at age 15 as a chef for a U.S. Army base in South Vietnam. She married a U.S. soldier and immigrated to Olympia, Washington with her young son.
Her skills at oyster shucking made history at the first ever West Coast Oyster Championship. In 1989, her first-place speed led Xinh to win at the National level. In 1992 – with five 1st place finishes under her belt – she decided to retire from competing.
With the help of her employer, Taylor Shellfish, and Xinh’s astounding talent for cooking, she launched her first restaurant, Xinh’s Clam and Oyster House in Shelton in 1996. It quickly became a popular culinary destination in South Puget Sound.
Xinh won many awards, including Honorary Master Culinary Chef. She cooked for and alongside numerous celebrities, including Anthony Bourdain Mike Rowe, and Julia Child, and was often featured in articles and on television. She hosted many non-profit dinners for years until she closed her restaurant in 2017 due to failing health. Xinh remained active in the community helping with community fundraisers and cooking for OysterFest each year.
In recent years, Xinh published three acclaimed cookbooks, hosted many fund-raising dinners and in 2019 received the Flame Award from Mason General Hospital. She served as the Grand Old Oyster of Shelton’s annual Oyster Fest in 2022 and for the last year of her life she shared her recipes with locals and visitors at the Fjord Oyster Bank in Hoodsport, Washington. Xinh was featured on King5 Evening Magazine and was inducted into the Washington Chefs Hall of Fame by the Washington Chefs Association.
OysterFest’s Curried Mussel dish offered by the Shelton Rotary and the School Board’s Marinated Mussels are both enduring tributes to Xinh’s culinary genius.
Despite her countless adventures, awards and accolades, Xinh’s most cherished joys were her family and the friendships formed along her journey. She passed away on November 17, 2023 after a long and courageous battle against cancer. Thank you for sharing your love of cooking and talents with us all, may you rest in peace.
