“Shell” We Head to Oysterfest?

The year was 1979. Dick Oltman was a graduate student with a simple goal of completing a thesis that became the model for what is now Oysterfest.

Decades later, thousands of people from the Pacific Northwest and beyond make their annual visit to this event filled with great food, beer, wine and more. Oltman’s original vision was to “celebrate its bounty of the sea and its accomplishments in developing the shellfish industry in the area,” and Mason County sure does go all in. Everything, from the competitions to the music, is about the grand oyster.

First, there’s the shucking competition, a bit of an unusual contest of skill that’s open to anyone. Try your hand at sharpening a knife and detaching the muscle inside—you just might win the cash prize. Plus, the oysters are delivered to the crowds afterward, so you can at least taste your victory if nothing else. Then there’s Oysterfunk, live music and dancing onsite. As for the food, local vendors offer shrimp dishes, crab, clam chowder and plenty of desserts. And because no wine pairs better with geoduck than Washington state wine, the Salish Sea Rotary Wine Pavilion also takes place during this festival, meaning local wineries come and showcase their best for tastings and purchasing.

Learn more at oysterfest.org. To plan your trip, visit explorehoodcanal.com.