Raw oysters from the St. Mary's Waterman's Association are always a big hit at the St. Mary's Oyster Festival. Other venues serve scalded and fried oysters. Some come with crowd-pleasing special sauces.

Spectators enjoy freshly shucked oysters at the St. Mary's County Oyster Festival. Oyster Shucking contestants always share their shucked oysters with the audience in the stands.

Women's 2012 Shucking Champion Cathy Milliken of North Carolina and Men's 2012 Shucking Champion Mike Martin of Florida.

The St. Mary's Oyster Festival always features an amateur shucking contest. Here anyone of any age or gender who feel they can shuck a bunch of oysters are welcome to compete.

The 25th Hour Band played the 2012 St. Mary's County Oyster Festival. The band calls it's name an ideal--a concept that we shoot for--It is a magical time, the climactic last set of a smooth, powerful, soulful band, between midnight and 1:00am or…

The St. Mary's County Oyster Festival features a series of cooking demonstrations, not surprisingly featuring dishes made with oysters. Guests also get to sample the finished delicacies.

Locally grown oysters are always a hit at the St. Mary's County Oyster Festival. They are

The Kiwanis Club of Lexington Park is one of the many civic organizations that participates in the St. Mary's County Oyster Festival. The midway Kiwanis stand sells fresh and delicious Caramel apples, corn dogs, and cider among other items. A steady…

Cathy Milliken of North Carolina and the 2012 Women's National Oyster shucking Champion leads a cheer during the first heat of the Women's competition on Saturday. Her fellow second heat companions enthusiastically join in. The Saturday preliminary…

Scalded oysters are always a favorite among St. Mary's County Oyster Festival goers, but not the only way to eat oysters at the Oyster Festival. Other venues offer raw oysters, fried oysters, stewed oysters and oysters with a special secret sauce.

Makers of organic olive oil-based and other fine crafted soaps were present at the 2012 St. Mary's Oyster Festival. Several craft vendors featured their delicate soaps designed to please discerning bathers.

Each year, carnival rides offer thrills for both young and old at the St. Mary's Oyster Festival.

Rotarian and local business leader, Frank Taylor, is also the lead guitar and vocalist for the popular St. Mary's County band GeeZer. GeeZer specializes in classic rock and has rocked the St. Mary's Oyster Festival for the past two years.

Another Southern Maryland specialty, beside the oyster, is stuffed ham. Stuffed ham and other delights are also available at the oyster festival for those whose tastes do not always favor seafood.

The COUNTRY MEMORIES BAND is from Southern Maryland and featured the traditional sound of the old country classics combined with some golden oldies at the 2012 St.Mary's Oyster Festival. Lead vocalists, Ray & Karen Windsor, left some great…

Professional Watermen judge the presentation of competitively shucked oysters. Points are deducted from shucking time if the oyster is not completely separated from the shell, there is shell or other debris in the shucked oyster or the oyster's…