At its peak at the turn of the 20th Century, 55,000 watermen were harvesting 120 million pounds of oysters. The most recent harvest was closer to six million pounds. The decline has been for a variety of reasons and some signs of a turnaround, if modest by historic standards, are giving some hope for the future.
In spite of the much smaller harvest, there will be plenty of oysters, in all their culinary varieties, for everyone attending the 47th Annual St. Mary’s County Oyster Festival, Saturday and Sunday at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds. The event is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Lexington Park and proceeds go to a number of local charitable organizations.
Saturday’s highlights include the U.S. National Oyster Cookoff. Nine finalists will compete for the $1,000 top prize, including the Bay Net’s own correspondent, Ellynne Brice Davis of Leonardtown. She writes: “Hello Everyone! Please wish me luck with my Spicy Oyster and Corn Chowder recipe as I compete in the National Oyster Festival Cookoff at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds this Saturday, October 19 at 11:15 a.m. I’m pretty sure that I’m the only St. Mary’s County contestant, so please cheer for the “home team” by voting for my recipe for the “People Choice Award”! My special ingredient is 1 cup of delicious Chardonnay from the Port of Leonardtown Winery! Hope to see you there!”
Entertainment on Saturday includes Horn’s Punch and Judy Show, St. Mary’s College Jazz Band Combo, Daughters of Veda, C.Bass and Rockfish, the Hamm-it Ups, Gary Rue and the Dance Hall Ghosts and Pond Scum.
Sunday features the National Oyster Shucking Contest with the women’s finals at 2 p.m., the men’s finals at 3:30 and the national championship, pitting the men’s and women’s victors at 5 p.m.
Entertainment on Sunday includes Jay Armsworthy and Easter Tradition, Joseph Norris, SuperMagicMan Reggie Rice, Southern Maryland Sound Barbershop Chorus, the Sam Grow Band, Gary Rue and the dance Hall Ghosts and the GeeZer.
Food available at the festival includes:
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