October 5- 6 Washington Seafood Festival | OysterFest

Each Fall, with the help of over 100 community organizations, Skookum Rotary stages its annual small town BIG event, OysterFest.

The Pacific Rim Oyster Open Speed & Half-Shell Oyster Shucking Contests are the centerpiece of the festival. Free live music for all ages is ongoing with an over-21 microbrew area and an all ages stage in the dessert tent.

Wine tasting is provided by over 20 Washington State wineries. Friends gather to visit with local vintners and sample the variety of over seventy wines. Tickets are redeemable at any of the winery tables for a sample pouring. Attendees are also able to purchase bottles of their favorite wines along with event souvenirs to take home.

Microbrews share the spotlight. From a delicate herbed seafood ceviche to corn on the cob and oysters prepared in every way imaginable – and since no vendor may duplicate another’s delicacy – you can be sure there’s something for every palate – come hungry & thirsty!

Skookum Rotary allows only other non-profit charitable organizations with proceeds benefiting the Mason County community to be a food vendor at Oyster- Fest. By making this requirement, Skookum ensures that it is a fundraising event for other organizations as well. What a way to pay it forward! The money raised is donated back to the community in the form of scholarships, sponsorship of water quality education programs, and many other local service works from food banks and homeless shelters to the annual Music in the Park concerts.

OysterFest features exhibits that showcase the beauty and delicacy of the Puget Sound ecosystem. The marine touch tanks are a favorite exhibit. With creatures carefully curated locally by divers exclusively for these exhibits, the ecosystem in the touch tanks is as close to nature as you can get without actually being there.

OysterFest is located on Sanderson Field, 1/2 mile north of Shelton, directly off US Hwy 101. There is plenty of parking as well as weekend camping opportunities. Locals know that the best way to get to OysterFest is through the free Shuttle Service. Free parking areas and pick-up points are located at the Shelton Civic Center, Shelton Yacht Club, Olympic College and Shelton High School. There is no charge to park or to ride the shuttle bus.

The cost of admission to OysterFest is $7.00; children under 7 are free. The gates are open from10:00 AM to 6:00 PM on Saturday and 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sunday.

Except for service animals, dogs are not permitted at the event. Maps, tickets, RV reservations, entertainment schedules, and more are available at oysterfest.org.

SPEED & HALF-SHELL SHUCKING CHAMPIONSHIP ■ 60 NON-PROFITS SERVING SEAFOOD/NON-SEAFOOD WASHINGTON STATE WINE & MICROBREW TASTING ■ LIVE MUSIC ON TWO STAGES WATER QUALITY EXHIBITS & ACTIVITIES ■ RV CAMPING FREE SHUTTLE SERVICE THROUGHOUT SHELTON