Urbanna Oyster Festival

Let the Good Times Roll… A Weekend well spent with food, friends and family!
Nestled around the waterways of the Chesapeake, Potomac and Rappahannock River… is a small tidewater town populated by more boats than people… named Urbanna, VA. Although I was not born and raised in this small town, I have family here and during November the river home becomes host to many family members and friends from afar.
Each November, the town of Urbanna throws the country’s largest and longest-​running Oyster themed – food and wine festivals called the «Urbanna Oyster Festival!» The town’s streets are closed to vehicle traffic and become filled with oyster booths, seafood dishes, music and crafts. The festival highlight is the oyster itself and a shucking contest which draws spectators from around the world. The festival is held the first weekend of November each year, from Friday morning to ending Saturday night. For a town a little over 500 people, the annual festival’s attendance over the two days is in between 50,000−75,000. During the festival, the town is closed to traffic in the afternoon on Friday and for most of the day Saturday. Admission to the event is free of charge, although there is a fee for parking within the vicinity of the festival.
Home to the Oyster Festival for almost sixty years, Urbanna is synonymous with Chesapeake Bay oysters.
Food, Wine and Arts n’ Crafts… is the name of the game here! The food is provided in many different forms by over fifty vendors. The beloved oyster is always available in ample supply and in a variety of presentations: raw, roasted, fried, smoked, steamed, in fritters or in a stew. There is a plethora of eats to be had!
In addition to the oysters, one can enjoy clams, crabs, shrimp, Philly Steak, oriental food, hamburgers, hot dogs, roast beef and other goodies too numerous to mention. Local Virginia Wineries offer up some of the best libation and even though its not my thing the hand made Art n’ Crafts sold here invoke lots of great memories of the things my Nanna often crafted and loved. There is definitely a variety of crafts and artwork available for sale throughout the town and within Festival’s village. Among the many offerings are handmade furniture, stained glass, antiques, wood carvings, sculpture, pottery, leather goods and jewelry.
There is some of everything here at this festival for all ages. Hay Rides, Pony rides, amusement park rides and many outdoor games for the kids. For the adults, young and old… FOOD! Oh and did I say FOOD… No let me clarify GREAT INSANE FOOD!
I have never been so stuff! This weekend was truly a great one. The perfect mini-​vacation with family and friends! I mean… What better way to spend a holiday weekend and getaway from the «hustle n’ bustle» of the city?! Come here with a big appetite because the folks native to this town are the most generous, hospitable people and welcome you with open arms! Each home and restaurant visited, we were shoved food in giant proportions.
Small town charm and simple living is what you will find here in Urbanna, VA… and based on the local eats and this festival… they clearly don’t care about snobby paleo diets, low-​carb desires, obsessive compulsions to the gym or your waist line… as in the city! LOL.

I went in 2014 because my wife asked what I wanted for my birthday, and since I had never been to the Urbanna Oysterfest, we went. We arrived on Friday, since everyone suggests it. We paid $ 10 to park, $ 7 for 6 steamed oysters, and $ 8 for 6 fried oysters, and $ 10 for 8 crab balls (fried balls of crab dip.) I was expecting to find somewhere at the Oysterfest to pay a set price for all-​you-​can-​eat oysters but instead, was disappointed by oysters priced for out of towners. It was nice to walk around a town I had never been to before, but in the end, it was just another local festival except the food vendors also offered oysters… at a high price.
I think people would have a better experience getting 2 – 3 bushels of oysters, calling over some friends, getting some beer and hot sauce and standing around a grill. I know I will.

This is a family tradition. My Mom and Dad love the festival. They always have to get a Oyster Fritter and a Softshell Crab Sandwich from the Lion’s Club.
Plenty of walking to do, so be sure to wear comfortable shoes. Lots of local vendors with arts and crafts to buy. Live music. And don’t forget to walk down to the marina and see the boats!
We go on Fridays, from about 12 – 5. I would either plan to leave before 5 or after 8, as the firetruck parade pretty much shuts the road in and out down between then. I’ve never been on a Saturday, so no tips there :(
My only complaint is it’s getting a little too commercial, with the abundance of ‘fair food’ and the skyrocketing prices. I think I paid $ 15 for a keepsake refillable mug of rootbeer. LOL A dinner plate runs about $ 20. It’s very overpriced. I’d recommend either coming loaded, or walking around and exploring the options before deciding where to drop your dough. Also, parking was $ 10 on Friday and $ 20 on Saturday, I think. A little steep.

You really have to get in on Friday to enjoy the Festival. The fireman’s dance Friday night is a great time with the Janitors cleaning UP! The Janitors is the name of the band by the way.
During this celebration of the bivalve molluscs, you can find many different ways to consume them. Freshly shucked, roasted, steamed, on a biscuit, in a chowder, deep fried, frittered (is that a word?), you name it.
There are really three parts of the festival in my mind. Festival village, main drag and the waterfront. The Festival village is where most of the arts and crafts booths are. Here is where you will find the great booth of redneck belts and belt buckles and t-​shirts. Most of the fried food is in this area as well. Fried as in oysters, fresh pork rinds (crazy if you watch them), snickers, etc.
The main drag (Virginia St.) includes the firehouse, is lined with food vendors and is also the parade route. Many of the vendors will have oysters, but for those landlubbers, you’ll also find the likes of Thai, Chinese, burgers, and other fare.
If you walk by the Tobacco Warehouse, you’ll get to the waterfront. That is where you will find another band, the US Coast Guard, and a few places to eat more oysters. Do you see a theme here? Yes, that’s right, oysters.
If you drive, then get there before 5PM on Friday because that’s when they shut down the town to vehicular traffic for the parade. Otherwise, you’ll have to park in a field just outside of town and hoof it in.

The Urbanna Oyster Festival is truly one to catch — especially if you like oysters. They’re served raw, fried, steamed, stewed along with a variety of other food and snacks.
It’s definitely better to attend on Friday if possible to avoid the larger crowds on Saturday.