50th Annual Chincoteague Oyster Festival

CELEBRATING CHINCOTEAGUE 'SALTS' & THE BEGINNING OF OYSTER SEASON

The Chincoteague Oyster Festival is held to promote the seafood industry and mark the arrival of the oyster season. Come and enjoy oysters—raw, steamed, fritters, and single fried; clam fritters, clam chowder, shrimp cocktail, salad bar, hot dogs, hush puppies, and Boardwalk fries. Beverages are included in the ticket price with beer available for purchase. Island Boy, a festival favorite for over 25 years, will provide live entertainment for everyone’s enjoyment.  An Extravaganza Raffle is held with the winner receiving t-shirts, tickets, lodging, gift certificates for meals, and much more for the following year’s festival.  A favorite at the festival is the “Best Place/Space Award” which is given to the best decorated area.  There will also be a variety of souvenirs available for purchase.  This is an advance ticketed event that is typically sold out before festival day. 

10:00 am - Gates open (NO EARLY ENTRY FOR SETUP) Any items set up prior to 10am on festival day are subject to removal.

11:00 am - Appetizer tents begin serving - Clam Chowder, Shrimp Cocktail, Salad Bar, Boardwalk Fries, Hushpuppies, Hot Dogs

12:00 pm - Seafood tents begins serving - Raw Oysters, Steamed Oysters, Single Fried Oysters, Oyster Fritters, Clam Fritters Live music begins with Island Boy

4:00 pm - Festival ends

6:00 pm - Due to insurance liability purposes, all attendees and volunteers must exit the festival grounds  

In celebration of our BIG 5-0, we thought we would have some extra fun - so in addition to all the fun, food, and festivities that the Oyster Festival brings, we have added an 'Oldest Tshirt Contest' to see who has the oldest festival shirt (or sweatshirt).

Start digging through your festival shirt drawer and bring the shirt - not a picture of it - to the Best Space tent on festival day, to register. The person with the oldest shirt will win a fun plaque and 2 tickets to next year's festival on October 12, 2024!!

Don't forget about our fun 'Best Space Contest' too! We LOVE seeing everyone's creativity in decorating their festival space and dressing up in themed costumes! There is an amazing basket of prizes for the winners along with bragging rights until next year.

Registration for both contests will be at the Best Space Tent on festival day. Winners will be announced at the band stage at 4pm.

We are also bringing back an oldie but goodie - the Oyster Festival poster! They will be available at the Merchandise tent on festival day and in the chamber office, along with merchandise, the week of the festival. We will not be taking preorders or offering shipping.

We look forward to seeing you soon!

Tickets are $60 per person (Children under 5 are FREE)

Buy Tickets

Date:  October 7, 2023 10am To 4pm

Location: Tom’s Cove Park

8128 Beebe Road, Chincoteague, VA  23336

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