U.S. Oyster Festival

Name: U.S. Oyster Festival
Start: 2025-10-19T11:00:00-04:00
End: 2025-10-19T18:00:00-04:00
Location: St. Mary's County Fairgrounds

Schedule

Sun Oct 19 2025 at 11:00 am to 06:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

St. Mary's County Fairgrounds | Leonardtown, MD

The iconic U.S. Oyster Festival returns to St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds on October 18 - 19, 2025, bringing together oyster lovers, top shuckers, and seafood enthusiasts from across the region. Tickets are on sale now at usoysterfestival.org.
Celebrating more than five decades of Chesapeake Bay heritage, the two-day festival has traditionally convened more than 10,000 attendees and will once again feature the U.S. National Oyster Shucking Championship, live music, family-friendly entertainment, and of course, the freshest oysters you can find, prepared almost any way you can imagine!
“For 59 years, this festival has been a proud tradition for St. Mary’s County and the Chesapeake Bay region,” said Julie Randall, U.S. Oyster Festival Chairperson and this year’s Oyster Queen. “It’s not just a celebration of our seafood—it’s a celebration of our culture, our community, and the incredible skill of America’s best oyster shuckers.”
The centerpiece of the festival is the U.S. National Oyster Shucking Championship, where elite competitors from across the country are invited to face off knife-to-knife for the national title. The winner will go on to represent the United States at the prestigious International Oyster Opening Championship in Galway, Ireland.
Beyond the competition, festivalgoers can enjoy:
- Oysters every way, every day
- Many other local food favorites
- Over 50 arts and crafts vendors with unique goods
- Live entertainment throughout the weekend
- Family activities including games, educational exhibits, and more
Hosted by The Rotary Club of Lexington Park, the U.S. Oyster Festival is the largest collaborative fundraiser in Southern Maryland, bringing together numerous local nonprofits to raise funds for scholarship and community support.