Rather than holding a large public festival this year, the Rotary Club of Lexington Park, U.S. Oyster Festival organizer, has decided to host a series of small, controlled localized and ‘virtual’ events in its place, due to an abundance of concern for the well-being of their festival-goers and volunteers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

To uphold the traditional elements of the festival, the U.S. Oyster Cookoff and the U.S. Oyster Shucking Contest may be live-streamed or recorded, which offers the opportunity for the annual celebration to have a wider participation of cookers and shuckers from around the nation.   As plans are finalized, upcoming events will be posted on the Oyster Festival website and Facebook page.

Mark your calendars now!

October 17, at 1 p.m. – ‘Virtual Oyster Cook-off’ – watch Gywn Novak, former U.S. Oyster Cook-off Judge and owener of No Thyme to Cook prepare the leading oyster recipe submitted for the competion.

October 17, at 3 p.m. – ‘Virtual Oyster Shucking’  – watch as shuckers from Maryland, Florida and around the state display their talents live.