In a divided world people came together for a few carefree hours at the 67th Urbanna Oyster Festival.
There was music everywhere. Food and drink abounded. Two parades. A feeling of small-town America comforted those who remembered, and perhaps longed for, simpler times.
On crisp days with warm sun and cool shade they ambled past historic buildings, on streets decorated by autumn’s leaves, looking for their next “Oh Yeah” moment. Chris Ligon of Chesterfield found his at the Middlesex County Kiwanis Club oyster tent. Asked if the oysters were worth the wait, “Oh yeah,” was his answer.
Fritters
There were many other “Oh Yeah” moments as visitors found something delicious to eat.
Terry Castellow of Stormont was on his way to get a Middlesex County Lions Club oyster fritter. “Anybody who likes oysters wants a fritter,” he said, adding that “99%” of the people at the Oyster Festival come for the fritters. Oh yeah!
Samantha and Scott Williamson of Winchester were pacing themselves on Friday with anticipation of some raw oysters at their eighth Oyster Festival. “I’m saving my belly,” she said. “I’ll eat on the way out then take a nap.”
Friends
The Urbanna Oyster Festival is a homecoming. Chrissy and Jonathan Chasen of Charlottesville and Urbanna hosted about a dozen friends at their Urbanna home named “Serotonia River House.” They even have a logo for their shirts that reads, “Great Oysters, Great Drinks, Better Friends.” The tradition started in 2021. Oh Yeah!
The Urbanna Oyster Festival is a place where friends from afar gather. One group of friends from Ohio, Charlotte, Williamsburg, and Norfolk were enjoying the festival’s VIP Experience. “I love it,” said Scott Middleton.
Also part of the group was Marry Karen Vellines, who was at her third Urbanna Oyster Festival with a college roommate. “I love it,” said Vellines, “it’s a community event that welcomes everyone.”
Kathy Thiel said the VIP Experience not only gives a taste of their favorite spirits, but there are “nice” restrooms and places to sit and rest. Oh Yeah!
Look ahead and back
“We’re already excited and looking forward to introducing new ideas and venues to improve the festival experience for next year,” said Joe Heyman, who served as chairman of this 67th Urbanna Oyster Festival and several others in the past. “This festival was one of the smoothest and most successful we have ever had, thanks to the leadership team and the hundreds of volunteers and safety professionals who showed up to support their community. Many local businesses and residents support this festival in so many ways and we couldn’t do it without that support,” Heyman said.
“We didn’t have record numbers of visitors this year but many vendors reported record sales. After 67 years, being the oldest Oyster Festival in the country, maybe we’ve started to figure out how to do this!” Oh yeah!
