The 68th annual Urbanna Oyster Festival, the area’s largest fall festival, takes center stage on Friday and Saturday, November 7 and 8. As always, there’ll be food, bands, dancing, waterfront exhibits, crafts, boats, the queen crowning, oyster shucking contest, and two parades.
The streets of Urbanna will be lined with food vendors vying for the palates of thousands of visitors. Oysters prepared with fl
air will be everywhere offering raw on the half-shell, fried and warmed in stews. The Middlesex Lions Club returns this year and will be serving its famous oyster fritters. But, save room for dessert. How about a funnel cake, a festival favorite?
After you’ve eaten your fill, take a rest at one of the festival stages for some continuous live music. Then stroll down to the Urbanna Town Marina for the waterfront exhibits that include educational displays and historic boats.
Walking will help work up an appetite, so mosey back to Festival Village, get something to eat and then visit the arts and craft booths.
A variety of entertainment has been booked for Friday and Saturday, and there will be parades on both days.
For adults 21 and over there will be craft beer tasting in Festival Village from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Oyster Festival wine tasting will again be on Virginia Street next to the Post Office from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. On Friday the festival starts at 10 a.m. and runs until midnight.
In the Festival Village there will be children’s activities, carnival rides and pony rides, clowns, games, arts and crafts, entertainment, good food and a rock climbing wall.
During the Oyster Festival, history comes alive at the waterfront. Festival-goers are welcome to board historic boats.
Up the hill above Community Row, the historic 1763 John Mitchell Map of Colonial America, and oyster history displays will be open at the James Mills Scottish Factors Store, which serves as the Urbanna Museum and Visitors Center.
Chowning
Near the firehouse, an antique auto show will be offered. The winners in each class will ride in Saturday’s parade. The Virginia Oyster Shucking Contest for both pros and amateurs begins at 10 a.m. on Saturday, November 8, behind the Urbanna firehouse.
A variety of musical entertainment has been booked for the Urbanna Oyster Festival’s multiple stages on both days of the festival. See our music listings.
Friday’s entertainment includes the Fireman’s Parade from 7-8 p.m. and the crowning of the Urbanna Oyster Festival Queen and Little Miss Spat at 4 p.m. at the firehouse. Saturday’s entertainment includes the Oyster Festival Parade at 2 p.m.
Parking is $20 on both Friday and Saturday. There are parking lots on both the west and east sides of town, and also some in-town lots for early-risers inside the town limits.
Visit www.urbannaoysterfestival.com for more on the official Oyster Festival of Virginia.
