JOIN US FOR THE 66TH ANNUAL URBANNA OYSTER FESTIVAL!

November 3-4, 2023

HIGHLIGHT EVENTS

The Urbanna Oyster Festival's

OYSTER FESTIVAL EDUCATION DAY

November 2, 2023

@ 2:00pm

The Oyster Festival Foundation has established the Marine Science Legacy Program as an educational outreach designed to bring an understanding of the Chesapeake Bay, its ecology, its history, its heritage, and its future to Middlesex County area students and as well as to the general public who attend the Urbanna Oyster Festival. The program provides active environmental learning through in-service opportunities, local field trips both on and off the water, and educational enrichment within the classroom and the school.

Through this program, 4th and 7th graders, as well as Middlesex High School students, attend on-the-water field trips with Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Every Thursday before the Festival begins, Oyster Festival Education Day brings the expertise of local non-profit, government, and private organizations to local students with a focus on watershed science and history. It is a cooperative effort of the Marine Science Legacy Program, the Oyster Festival Waterfront Committee, and the Oyster Festival Foundation.

The featured programs for Education Day include the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum’s sailing log bugeye Edna E. Lockwood and costumed historical interpretation of Urbanna’s Historical Tobacco Port by the Colonial Seaport Foundation.

Other Education Day exhibitors include: Living Classroom Foundation’s Mildred Belle, Reedville Fishermen’s Museum’s Claud W. Somers, Friends of the Rappahannock, Virginia Gamefish Tagging Program, Tidewater Soil Water and Natural Resources Conservation District, The Fairfield Foundation, Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School, Christchurch School, and Middlesex Elementary School

Chesapeake Bay Foundation Boat Trips and the Education Day featured exhibit are supported by a “License Plate Grant” from the Chesapeake Bay Restoration Fund which is financed through the purchase of Chesapeake Bay License Plates. Applications for the plates can be obtained at www.dmv.virginia.gov.

November 3, 2023

The Urbanna Oyster Festival's

QUEEN & LITTLE MISS SPAT COMPETITION

November 3, 2023

@ 4:00pm

Follow along with the 2023 Urbanna Oyster Festival’s Queens & Spats on Facebook!

The Urbanna Oyster Festival Queen and Little Miss Spat competition is a long-standing tradition that dates to 1960. What would become the Urbanna Oyster Festival was only four years old when the first Oyster Festival Queen and Little Miss Spat were crowned on a flatbed trailer on the day of the festival.

As the Oyster Festival has evolved over the years, so has the selection of the Queen and Little Miss Spat (a spat is a baby oyster). What was once a beauty pageant is now a scholarship-based competition. The Queen contestants must be high school seniors and residents of Middlesex County. Each Queen contestant mentors a first-grade co-contestant as her Little Miss Spat.

The Queen and Little Miss Spat competition starts early in the spring, continues through the summer and extends until the crowning takes place on Friday of the festival.

The Queen contestants are judged in five areas:

Individual community service project.

Individual judges’ interview.

Academic achievement.

A spontaneously written response to a random question.

Overall participation in the competition.

The Little Miss Spat contestants are judged separately from the Queen contestants in the following areas:

Participation at an ice cream social and a tea party.

Individual judges interviews.

Overall participation.

The Urbanna Oyster Festival's

FIREMAN’S PARADE

November 3, 2023

@ 7:00pm

In 1939, Urbanna residents met to organize the first Volunteer Fire Company in Middlesex County. After its organization, the new department purchased its first piece of equipment, a 500-gallon Ford pumper. The 1940 Ford, still owned by the department today, was the first and only fire truck in Middlesex.

By 1986, the Parade on Saturday has gotten so large that festival officials decided to have a “Firemen’s Parade” on Friday night. This exciting parade will feature over 80 units from all over the state including everything from giant ladder trucks to small brush trucks, ambulances and historic fire vehicles from the past. The men and women participating in this parade, unselfishly serve to protect property and save lives.

This exciting parade event begins at 7:00 PM on Friday—it’s a parade you won’t soon forget!

The Urbanna Oyster Festival's

LIVE MUSIC SCHEDULE

FRIDAY LINEUP

Robert Keyes

Multi-facet Solo Fingerstyle Guitarist

10:00AM - 11:00AM

Location: The Scottish Factor Store

Morgan Stewart

R&B and Soul

10:00AM - 01:00PM

Location: The Festival Village

Chris & Jane

Americana

10:00AM - 11:00AM

Location: The Waterfront

Warren Ahrens & Betsy Green-Shafer

Acoustic Guitar: Folk/Americana/Oldies

11:00AM - 12:00PM

Location: The Wine Area

Robert Keyes

Multi-facet Solo Fingerstyle Guitarist

12:00PM - 01:00PM

Location: The Scottish Factor Store

Chris & Jane

Americana

12:00PM - 01:00PM

Location: The Waterfront

Sweet Justice

Classic Rock

01:00PM - 04:30PM

Location: The Festival Village

Warren Ahrens & Betsy Green-Shafer

Acoustic Guitar: Folk/Americana/Oldies

01:00PM - 02:00PM

Location: The Wine Area

Robert Keyes

Multi-facet Solo Fingerstyle Guitarist

02:00PM - 03:00PM

Location: The Scottish Factor Store

Chris & Jane

Americana

02:00PM - 03:00PM

Location: The Waterfront

Warren Ahrens & Betsy Green-Shafer

Acoustic Guitar: Folk/Americana/Oldies

03:00PM - 04:00PM

Location: The Wine Area

Exit 38

Rock N' Roll/Southern Rock/Motown

08:00PM - 12:00AM

Location: The Firehouse Stage

November 4, 2023

The Urbanna Oyster Festival's

VIRGINIA STATE OYSTER SHUCKING COMPETITION

November 4, 2023

@ 11:00am

Signups for this year’s competition begin at 10 AM on Saturday, November 4. See below for official rules.

Since Urbanna is the home of The Virginia “official” Oyster Festival, it is only appropriate that some of the best oyster shuckers in the world practice their trade here. The first Virginia Oyster Shucking Contest was held in Urbanna on Saturday, November 6, 1982. The 1982 winner in the women’s division was Pamela Page (Women’s National Champion) with a time of 7:05. The 1982 men’s champion was George Hodges with a time of 7:52. The 1983 women’s champion was Mrs. Sara Hammond with a time of 6:57 and the 1983 Men’s Champion was Sheppard Hammond whose time was 8:20. Sara Hammond of Church View went on to compete in Galway, Ireland in 1983 and placed third in the world!

The Urbanna Oyster Shucking Contest has become an annual event in the Historic Port Town Urbanna, and the winner is declared State Champion and advances to compete in the National Oyster Shucking Contest in St. Mary’s, Maryland. The National Champion then travels to Galway, Ireland to participate in the World Championship. Our own Deborah Pratt has made several trips to Galway, Ireland to defend her championship. Although the emphasis is on speed, other factors on which the contestants are judged include the amount of shell fragments, clean separation of the oyster from the shell and damage to the meat of the oyster.

Place: 340 Virginia St, Urbanna, VA 23175,

The Urbanna Oyster Festival's

ANTIQUE CAR SHOW

November 4, 2023

@ 9:00am

This Urbanna Oyster Festival year brings back an old tradition that was first in the Oyster Festival in 1958 – the Antique Auto Show.  Please visit the area located on the corner of Waverly and Virginia Streets (across from the fire station) to view these vintage beauties.  The auto show will be on Saturday starting at 9:00 a.m.  This will be a People’s Choice voting event.  The winners in each class category will be featured in the Saturday Oyster Festival Parade at 2:00 pm. 

Download The Registration Form, Here.

The Urbanna Oyster Festival's

OYSTER FESTIVAL PARADE

November 4, 2023

@ 2:00pm

The parade is led by the Grand Marshal and Captain and features the 2017 Oyster Festival Queen and Little Miss Spat and their Courts. Many businesses and civic organizations from Middlesex and surrounding counties prepare floats for the viewing pleasure of the Oyster Festival visitors. Local high school bands wow the crowds while competing for trophies in the parade competition. The Shriners bring Samira and hillbillies, 3-wheelers, go-carts, and mini trucks racing around the parade delighting the crowds. A special recognition to the Shriners Norfolk Khedive Temple for over 30 years at Oyster Festival! Also, a special salute to our iconic Mr. Oyster (Underwater Explorer’s Club) for over 30 years of greeting visitors of all ages, now joined by Ms. Oyster! All units pass by the judges’ reviewing stand and awards are presented at the parade’s conclusion. A true slice of Americana, this parade is an Oyster Festival highlight not to be missed!

Best Viewing is on Marston Ave or Prince George St.

Download The Entry/Registration Form, Here.

The Urbanna Oyster Festival's

LIVE MUSIC SCHEDULE

SATURDAY LINEUP

Robert Keyes

Multi-facet Solo Fingerstyle Guitarist

09:00AM - 10:00AM

Location: The Scottish Factor Store

Scuffletown

High-Energy Acoustic Roots

10:00AM - 02:00PM

Location: The Waterfront

Rappahannock Crossing Bluegrass Band

Bluegrass

10:00AM - 12:30PM

Location: The Festival Village

Warren Ahrens & Betsy Green-Shafer

Acoustic Guitar: Folk/Americana/Oldies

11:00AM - 12:00PM

Location: The Wine Area

Robert Keyes

Multi-facet Solo Fingerstyle Guitarist

11:00AM - 12:00PM

Location: The Scottish Factor Store

Rappahannock Crossing Bluegrass Band

Bluegrass

01:00PM - 02:00PM

Location: The Festival Village

Warren Ahrens & Betsy Green-Shafer

Acoustic Guitar: Folk/Americana/Oldies

01:00PM - 02:00PM

Location: The Wine Area

Robert Keyes

Multi-facet Solo Fingerstyle Guitarist

01:00PM - 02:00PM

Location: The Scottish Factor Store

Rappahannock Crossing Bluegrass Band

Bluegrass

03:00PM - 05:00PM

Location: The Festival Village

Scuffletown

High-Energy Acoustic Roots

03:00PM - 05:00PM

Location: The Waterfront

Warren Ahrens & Betsy Green-Shafer

Acoustic Guitar: Folk/Americana/Oldies

03:00PM - 04:30PM

Location: The Wine Area

Robert Keyes

Multi-facet Solo Fingerstyle Guitarist

03:00PM - 04:00PM

Location: The Scottish Factor Store

EXPERIENCE THE FESTIVAL AS AN EXCLUSIVE VIP OYSTER LOVER!

BUY YOUR VIP TICKETS!

Date: November 3-4, 2023

Friday, November 3rd – 10:00AM to 8:00PM

Saturday, November 4th – 9:00AM to 5:00PM

Place: Various Location in Urbanna, VA

Click here for more information