The One Annual Winter Festival Every South Carolinian Should Bundle Up For At Least Once
Are you ready, South Carolina? The pinnacle of winter food festivals in the Palmetto State is quickly approaching and it’s one that shouldn’t be missed. If you’ve never attended the world’s largest oyster festival, then you’re in for a pleasant surprise – even if you don’t like oysters. This one-day winter festival in South Carolina began way back in 1982 and it gets bigger and better every year. Be sure to add it to your calendar for February 6, 2022!
As you might guess by the name, this event brings folks together to celebrate the bivalve mollusc we know and love, living here in the best coastal state in the nation.
The festival serves them up perfectly steamed and piled high above the rim in buckets. How many buckets full can you down in an afternoon?
Aside from shucking and then scarfing down piles and piles of oysters, you'll also be pleased that the event includes a variety of activities in which to participate or simply watch.
But don't overlook the catering team. Watching them keep up with the demand for buckets and to cook up 80,000 pounds of oysters for the several thousand people who snag an entry ticket (yes, they're LIMITED) is a show unto itself.
If this is your first time, you'll probably want to bring a chair. Everything else is provided, unless you want your own oyster knife and glove (not a bad idea in light of the pandemic).
Most people pack into the event as the gates open and then stay all day long. So far, the forecast looks promising — with temps possibly pushing up into the mid 60s for the day of the event.
Over on the Main Stage the traditional Oyster Shucking Contest takes place at 1 p.m. Then, at 1:30, enjoy sensational bluegrass music from Andrew Beam.
A second stage over in the kids area will feature theater performances for the kiddos.
Bring the whole family! The kids area also features two bouncy houses (to allow for different age groups in each), jugglers, an aerial performer, cookie decorating and oh-so much more.
Children 10 and under are free this year. All other general admission tickets are an affordable $22 each. And parking is absolutely free. Get your tickets here soon before they sell out.
And even though this is being billed as a totally cashless event, it would be very thoughtful and generous if you brought along some cash to tip the catering staff.
The 2022 Lowcountry Oyster Festival is only days away. It takes place on Sunday, February 6, 2022 at Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant. The gates open at 10 a.m. and the festival ends at 5 p.m. Learn more from the official website for the festival’s organizer, the Lowcountry Hospitality Association.
Bundle up and have fun at this winter festival in South Carolina this year!
Address: Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens, 1235 Long Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464, USA
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Robin Jarvis is a travel writer and editor for OnlyInYourState.com with a bachelor's degree in Journalism. Her love for travel has taken her to many parts of the world. She's lived in the Carolinas for nearly three decades and currently resides in Charleston. When she's not working, she loves to cook with friends and check out new adventures. General questions and FAM tours: rjarvis@onlyinyourstate.com.
