Join us for the United States Oyster Festival on the third weekend in October at the St . Mary’s County Fairgrounds. Your support permits the charitable efforts of many St. Mary’s County organizations.
The 2016 U.S. National Shucking Grand Champion, Honor Allen of Panama City, Fla., holds double plaques as the Men’s winner and the Grand Champion. He stands to the right of Annie Bonifacio, the 2016 Woman’s Champion. The are joined by King Oyster, Bob Merritts, and the men’s and woman’s shucking finalists.
The 2016 U.S. National Oyster Shucking Champion, Honor Allen, won the Grand Championship once again in 2017 with a record final time of 2 minutes 12.16 seconds. Allen, 23, is from Panama City Florida and holds a number of shucking titles leading to his National victory. Honor successfully competed in the Galway, Ireland International Oyster Opening Contest in 2017 and will do so once again in 2018.
Hidemi Walsh of Centerville, Va captured the 2017 U.S. Oyster Cook-off Grand Prize. She proudly displays her Grand Prize winning Hors d’oeuvres dish, “Miso-Mayo Oyster Gratin“. All dishes are prepared in timed competition.
St. Mary’s County Fair Grounds – 42455 Fairgrounds Rd, Leonardtown, MD 20650
Finishing touches on a winning oyster dish
Oyster Break
Oyster Delivery
Gourmet Oyster Tasting
Culinary Detail!
Ready to Shuck
Jazz and Oysters!
An Oyster Valentine
Buy Local!
Fastest heat time
Oyster habitat on a Chesapeake estuary
Special Face Painting (Thanks to Dwayne Crawford)
the awesome oyster!
Tis the Season
Happy Holy Days!
Seasonal Delight!
Judging the U.S. National Oyster Cook-Off
Sharing the Wealth
I knew I could ... I knew I could!
French Oysters at market
2017 Shirt Design
15 States, 30 Shuckers and counting
Next weekend!
Favorable Festival Weather
Annual Sign Beautification
T-Bone and Heather - Festival Broadcast again in 2017
Greatly expanded gourmet Oyster Tasting Room in 2017
A little something for everyone in the craft buildings!
Honk if you love oysters!
Outstanding U.S. Ambassador to Galway Oyster and Seafood Festival
Oysters - Fun to eat!
Here's to the many Volunteers who serve humanitarian needs via the Oyster Festival!
Have some oysters
Champions!
Cooking us a few oysters
Practicing to compete in the Opimist's raw bar
Having fun over oysters!
Branded Oyster Tasting room will be back in 2017
Classy way to enjoy oysters!
Flashback - 30 years ago
A sampling of brews to be served in 2017
Working the Oysters in the 2016 championship heat
Our Newly Crowned Queen Oyster
Men's Finalist Gardner Douglas works the oysters.
Winning 2016 Dish - "Coconut Curry Oyster Soup"
2016 Women's Final Shucking Heat.
Another Win!
Honor Allen, U.S. National Champ, comes in 4th in Chinese Oyster Opening Competition (Thanks: Debbie Reynolds)
backfin impromptu rhythm section
Tools of the Trade
Displayed at Sotterley Plantation
Judging the Oysters
County Commissioner President James Guy observes skilled watermen judge shucked oysters at the U.S. National Oyster Shucking Contest.
Adding finishing touches to a Cook-off winner!
Regionally inspired crafts
Kiawanis' fall treats - Corn Dogs, Carmel Apples & Cider
Great seafood stew! Great cause!
Secret Sauce!
Savoring raw oysters
Tasty Oysters
The Watermen's Fried Oysters
A great festival headed for a greater 51st!
Superheros like oysters!
Gourmet Oyster Tasting Room
One of the many popular Oyster Festival Food Venues
2016 Champion Honor, doing the honors after preliminary heat.
Oyster Benedict - Best Hors D'Oeuvres in 2016 and presentation winner
Best Hors D'Oeuvres in 2016 and presentation winner
Crafts for the Grand Opening!
Oysters to go!
King Oyster - Planning a wonderful 51st Oyster Festival in 2017
Aw Shucks 😋
Irish music goes well with oysters
We love oysters!
Cooking oyster dishes against the clock!
Governor Meets Oscar Falco
Md. Governor Hogan meets the Patuxent River Naval Air Museum mascot, Oscar Falco, at the Oyster festival.
Practice makes perfect!
Oyster delivery!
Backfin was in the house!
Enjoying Oysters!
Champions!
Covering the Oyster Cookoff
Maryland Public TV (Photo: Bill Moody)
National Competitor
Clementine Macon
Cooking up the "People's Choice" winning dish!
2016 Woman's Champion
Annie Bonifacio won the 2016 Woman's U.S. National Oyster Shucking Championship. She was also the 2015 Woman's Champion. Annie, the 2002 Woman's Champion, went on to become the youngest ever U.S. Grand Champion Oyster Shucker in that year.
Thanks for a wonderful Festival! See you next year!
Another successful Oyster Cook-Off
Soon!
Any way you like 'em!
Official 2016 Oyster Festival Commemorative Coaster
Ready to eat
Rockin' at the Festival!
An Irish Oyster!
It's all about time and presentation!
Serenading the Bake Sale!
2015 People's Choice Winner
Robert Johnson's "Old Line Creole Oyster Stew" won the 2015 People's Choice Oyster Cook-Off Award.
Anne Bonifucio! Your 2015 Female Oyster Shucking Champion with King Oyster.
Foundation 4 Heros at the Festival
2015 Oyster Festival shirt design
Oyster Delivery!
Your 2016 King Oyster, King Bob Merritts, is crowned!
Frying Oysters for You!
Serving Oyster Cook-off dishes in style.
Finishing in the Amateur Heat!
mmmm! Oysters!
Aw Shucks! All Recycled.
Yum!
Annual Cookbook
The annual Cookbook features all the winning Cook-off recipes. The 2016 Edition will be Special.
Anticipation
Satisfaction
Irish Oysters
Galway International Oyster Opening Competition this weekend. Here are some Irish Oysters served there this week.
Irish National Champion
Congrats to Michael Moran, our Irish ambassador of good will, who once again won the Irish Oyster Opening Competition in Galway tonight.
Marching in Galway, Ireland
U.S. Oyster Shucking Champion, Duke Landry, accompanied by former King Oyster, Jim Davis, proudly carries the American Flag in the parade initiating the International Oyster Opening Contest in Galway, Ireland.
Readying for your visit
2016 Oyster Festival shirt design
Signs of the time
Landry returning to Ireland
2015 U.S. Oyster Shucking Champion, Duke Landry, will take on the best Oyster Openers in the World at Galway, Ireland once again this September. (Photo: Galway Oyster & Seafood Festival)
Back when a single oyster was a meal!
(Courtesy Historic Sotterley)
Readying for competitive oyster shucking!
BlueGrass! - Jay Armsworthy and the Eastern Tradition play the Festival
The 2016 U.S. National Shucking Grand Champion, Honor Allen of Panama City, Fla., holds double plaques as the Men’s winner and the Grand Champion. He stands to the right of Annie Bonifacio, the 2016 Woman’s Champion. The are joined by King Oyster, Bob Merritts, and the men’s and woman’s shucking finalists.
The 2016 U.S. National Shucking Grand Champion, Honor Allen of Panama City, Fla., holds double plaques as the Men’s winner and the Grand Champion. He stands to the right of Annie Bonifacio, the 2016 Woman’s Champion. The are joined by King Oyster, Bob Merritts, and the men’s and woman’s shucking finalists.
