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Fest Organizer Barbara Austin |
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Oyster salute!
’Fleetian fest features host of taste treats, contests & entertainment
By Elspeth Pierson
Banner Correspondent
Thousands of shellfish lovers will descend upon Wellfleet’s Main Street for the seventh annual Wellfleet OysterFest this weekend. Organized by the non-profit organization Wellfleet Shellfish Promotion and Tasting (SPAT), the fest is a two-day shellfish bonanza featuring great eats, good brews, over 90 local regional artisan craft booths, and plenty of fun for both kids and adults.
Events over the course of the weekend will include a nature walk on Uncle Tim’s bridge, a tennis round robin, cooking demonstrations, an appearance by Gambini the Clown, a 5K road race, kayak competitions, oyster grant tours, and lots of live music. Of cultural interest, the Wellfleet Historical Society will be keeping its doors open all day on Saturday and Sunday for a special exhibit, “Shellfishing in Wellfleet: 19th-20th Century,” and both evenings at the Wellfleet Public Library, Kevin Rice will present the musical, poetic and dramatic story of his oyster follies, “Bye-Bye Bulgaria and Other Tales of a Summer Ending.”
New this year will be SPAT’s effort to share the festival spotlight with Wellfleet’s littleneck clams.
"Wellfleet oysters are recognized around the world," says Lisa Brown, president of SPAT. "We want to remind people that Wellfleet is a shellfishing community, not just an oyster community. Our waters produce exceptional shellfish, and thanks to our dedicated farmers, Wellfleet littleneck clams are also earning a national reputation for excellence."
With the clams clamoring for attention, the famous Oyster Shuck-Off will feature a heat of littleneck shucking for the first time on Sunday afternoon, making the already anticipated event even more exciting. After the contest, Louisiana dance band Red Beans and Rice Revue will take the stage to wrap things up for the weekend. The band has a reputation for feel good music and a special recipe for “letting the bon temps roulez,” as they say down on the bayou.
When all’s said and done, proceeds from the festival will be set aside to fund SPAT’s educational initiatives, including an ongoing scholarship in collaboration with Nauset Regional High School, and a grant awards program for people pursuing careers in shellfishing or those whose creative and educational work increases awareness of the industry in Wellfleet.
Based on the success of last year’s fest, organizers predict this year’s event will be better than ever. From its humble beginnings in 2001 as a celebration with a few hundred locals with a common appreciation for good oysters, the weekend has now grown into a gathering of over 10,000 people. Despite rumors that the number of oysters available might have trouble keeping up with the hungry crowd, SPAT board member Alex Hay says there’s nothing to worry about.
“There will be plenty of oysters to go around,” he promises.
Cheers to that.
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Oct 11th, 2007