Shucking, Sipping and Shuffling at World’s Largest Oyster Festival

By JULIA KANE

If bivalve molluscs make your mouth water then you would have been in heaven this past Sunday at the 2020 Lowcountry Oyster Festival. The world’s largest oyster festival held its annual event at Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant, SC.

Seemingly endless buckets of freshly steamed oysters were served up. A food court featured favorite local eateries and a kid’s area offered fun activities that made adults want to join in. For sporting types, “food-letes” competed in oyster shucking and oyster eating contests.

Shucking was serious fun at The 2020 Lowcountry Oyster Festival.

Local hot sauce company Red Clay brought the heat with their fiery handcrafted sauces, leaving no oyster high and dry.

Live music by The Bluestone Ramblers and The Ol’ 55’s had attendees singing and dancing to their acoustic harmonies until the festival and the fun came to a close. Note: As a Yankee, I cannot be held accountable for my dancing when they performed Dixieland Delight.

Blade & Bull brought the axes and the festival-goers who grabbed them brought the angst. Throwing them at the wooden bullseye provided some old school stress relief.

The food court boasted savory and sweet options from Dockery’s, Grace & Grit, Martin’s BBQ, Oyster House, Zeus Grill & Seafood, Red’s Ice House, Cachita’s Kitchen, Hyman’s Seafood, and Pies, Cakes & S’more. With all food prices ranging from $2 to $6, my wallet and appetite were highly satisfied. My waistline? Well…

Fresh, steamed oysters were served up at Boone Hall Plantation this past Sunday.

Heavy pours from Biltmore Wines and enough Bud Light to supply the entire 21+ population in the Lowcountry, had attendees coming out of their shells while sipping on cold beverages on a sunny Charleston day.

This year’s event benefitted: MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, Ronald McDonald House Charities, Coastal Conservation Association of SC, Shriners Hospitals for Children, Charleston County School District and Bread and Butter Charleston.

Don’t miss it next year. The Southeastern Tourism Society has placed this as one of the “top 20 events in the Southeast.”

For more on Lowcountry oyster roasts, including how to host one, check out our article ‘R’ You Ready For Charleston Oyster Roasts?

susan@susanmatthews.com