Urbanna Oyster Festival
The Urbanna Oyster Festival has come a long way from hula hoop contests and beauty pageants. Begun in 1958, the festival attracted 2,000 people the first year and doubled that to 4,000 the next. From the very beginning, the oyster festival was a whopping success. Some aspects of the festivities have stayed constant—the parade, the antique car show—but a look back reveals change such as the addition of a cake walk in 1964 at Hall’s Esso. In 1972, the U.S. Army parachute team jumped from 12,000-feet in the air into the festival.
The country beyond Virginia learned about local bi-valve mania when weatherman Willard Scott wore an oyster festivalt-shirt and hat on the Today Show in 1981. An educational component for children was added in 1993 with the American Rover, a 135-foot tall ship from Norfolk, brought to Urbanna to be toured by school children.
“During its 60-year history, the oyster festival hastaken on many shapes and sizes. It continues to grow and change and that’s why people come back year after year,” says festival organizer Pam Simon. “It’s a festival of fun, reunions, marriage proposals and community involvement and togetherness.”
New for this year is the VIP Oyster Lovers Experience, which gives ticket holders access to three hospitality tents throughout the festival area: an oyster tasting tent at the Town Marina and two craft beer and wine tasting tent areas. Also included are private restroom facilities, six winetastings, six craft beer tastings and six oyster tastings. As if that weren’t enough, the ticket includes discounts atlocal businesses, VIP seating at Saturday’s oyster-shucking contest and a 2017 commemorative festival poster.
One sign of change at the Urbanna Oyster Festival is that it’s now earth-friendly. In an effort to be green, the festival planners recycle grease from vendors, re-purpose glassware from beer and wine tastings and work to dispose of cigarettes properly to help keep Virginia litter free.
Arguably the best part of the event is that visitors can shape their own Urbanna experience. From walking the festival to experiencing the different ways an oyster can taste, there’s no one right way to do it. Some will want to dance to the music while others gravitate to learning about the history of the town and the waterfront. Guests from bigger cities often come to experience small town hospitality and leisurely wander the shops, craft booths and art exhibits.
Simon has been a part of the festival for 17 years, going back to when Larry Shores Sr. and Rufus Ruark Sr. of Shores and Ruark Seafood were the first seafood packers to be named captains of the festival.
“It amazes me how the festival transforms and grows into new and better ideas, how everyone comes together to work hard for a fabulous two days,” she says. “The Oyster Festival has grown from a promotional event by Urbanna merchants to an arena for local fundraising. It’s our way of saying welcome and please come back.”
For additional details about the 60th Urbanna Oyster Festival, go to urbannaoysterfestival.com.