The 66th Urbanna Oyster Festival is set for Friday and Saturday, Nov. 3 and 4, and once again the event promises good times, delicious food, two parades, live music on three stages, historic buyboats, crowning of the Oyster Festival Queen and Little Miss Spat, the Virginia Oyster Shucking Contest and more. Admission is free, however, parking is $20.
Parades
The annual Fireman’s Parade is set for 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 3, and the Urbanna Oyster Festival Parade is set for 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 4.
The Fireman’s Parade will wind its way through town, while the Oyster Festival Parade will bypass the main part of Virginia Street. Both parades will assemble on the west side of town.
The Fireman’s Parade will feature 60 fire and rescue units, queens and dignitaries. It is sponsored by the Middlesex Volunteer Fire Department (MVFD) of Urbanna.
Out of the past
This year, Urbanna’s first fire truck, a 1941 Ford Oren, will open the parade by circulating alone on the parade route in a tribute to all first responders. This will be the first outing of the truck that has been revived recently after sitting idle for decades.
The Fireman’s Dance follows the parade on the Urbanna firehouse grounds at 330 Virginia St. from 8 p.m.-midnight with the band “Exit 38” (beer garden gates open at noon on Friday). The dance is sponsored by Carts Inc. with Budweiser, Bud Light, Michelob Ultra and Devils Backbone beers being served.
Saturday’s Oyster Festival Parade will have about 35 units, leading off with our honorees, grand marshal and captain, and queens and spats. And, about five or six high school bands will be marching in the parade.
History
Urbanna Museum and the historic James Mills Scottish Factor Store (formerly called the Old Tobacco Warehouse), which houses the Urbanna Museum and Visitor’s Center on Virginia Street just up the hill from Urbanna Creek, will be open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. both days of the festival. Go inside and see the rare John Mitchell Map, which is a first edition, third impression that was published 1755. This map was used to define the boundaries of America following the Revolutionary War. Find out the exciting history of why Urbanna has this priceless map!
Robert Keyes, a multifaceted solo finger-style guitarist, will perform on the front porch both days.
Community Row
The museum porch overlooks “Community Row,” sponsored by Primis Bank, which will be on Virginia Street between Cross Street and the waterfront. Community Row will feature crafts, demonstrations and exhibits from Middlesex artists and local nonprofit groups.
Car Show
An old tradition — an antique auto show — returns again this year. Classic vehicles will be on display at the corner of Waverly Road and Virginia Street across from the Urbanna firehouse on Saturday, Nov. 4, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This will be a “people’s choice” voting event. The winners in each class will be featured in Saturday’s Oyster Festival Parade. The car show is sponsored by Gloucester Toyota.
Food and crafts
More than 100 vendors will be open for business when the festival begins at 10 a.m. on Friday and goes until midnight with the dance at the Urbanna firehouse, and on Saturday the festival runs from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Bring your appetite. An array of foods will be available from more than 30 food vendors. The honored oyster is always featured in a variety of presentations — raw, roasted, fried, steamed and stewed. The famous Middlesex Lions Club oyster fritters return this year at its same location on Virginia Street near the intersection with Rappahannock Avenue.
In addition, visitors can enjoy crab soup, crab bisque, seafood chowder, clams, crab cakes, shrimp, fish, corn dogs, sausages, hamburgers, hot dogs, turkey legs, roast beef, funnel cakes, kettle corn, roasted nuts, ice cream, cotton candy, snow cones, candy apples and many other goodies.
In addition to great food and desserts, visitors will delight in the variety of crafts available throughout town. Among the many offerings will be stained glass, wood carvings, sculpture, pottery, dolls, brass, silver, leather goods and jewelry. Many craft vendors will be in Taber Park on Rappahannock Avenue at Festival Village.
VIP Oyster Lovers
The VIP Oyster Lovers Experience returns for its fifth year and has sold out for both days.
Included for VIPs are exclusive VIP tables and seating, support from a festival concierge to help navigate the event, private restroom facilities, bottled water, discounts at local businesses from Nov. 2023 to April 2024, VIP seating at the Virginia Oyster Shucking Contest on Saturday, Nov. 4, a 2023 Urbanna Oyster Festival commemorative poster, six wine tastings, six beer tastings, six oyster tastings, and a gift swag bag.
Plan ahead for 2024 and find VIP ticket information at urbannaoysterfestival.com. VIPs must be 21 years or older to purchase a ticket. An ID will be required.
Wine tasting
Returning this year is wine tasting featuring several Virginia wineries. The wine tasting area, courtesy of IsaBell K. Horsley Real Estate Ltd., will be on Virginia Street next to the Urbanna Post Office from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on both days of the festival. There is a $20 admission fee.
“Boutique” oyster tastings by Rappahannock Oyster Company of Topping, also will bring the flavor of its oyster-tasting room named Merroir that is located at Locklies Marina in Topping to the wine tasting. The taste of these aquaculture-raised specialty oysters varies from heavy salt, sweet, and mildly salty, depending on where they were raised. Their names give a clue to their flavor — Olde Salts, Rappahannock River Oysters, and Stingray Oysters. Chefs will prepare the oysters, pairing them with local wines from 7 Lady Vineyards, Jolene Family Winery, Mattaponi Winery; Saude Creek Winery, Wind Vineyards and Zoll Vineyards.
Craft beer tasting
The Craft beer tasting event will be at the far end of Festival Village. Craft beers include:
- Bold Rock
- New Realm
- Midnight
- That Damn Mary
- Devils Backbone
- Hardywood
- Landshark
The $15 admission includes a souvenir and four tastings. Brewery reps will be on hand to answer questions.
Fun for children
A Craft Zone will be available in the children’s activity area in Festival Village, where children ages 4-10 will get creative. Hands-on crafts available for children include paper bag puppets, foam animal hats, sand art, necklaces, face painting and many zoo animal-themed crafts. “Students are excited to be part of providing this high quality children’s experience!” said a festival spokesperson.
Magician/juggler Jonathan Austin will wow the crowd with his high energy and mesmerizing acts in the children’s area on Friday from 10 a.m. to noon and again from 1 to 4 p.m.
