45 Years & Counting: OysterFest Continues to Bring Visitors, Support Community

For 45 years, OysterFest has brought people to Mason County each fall for a weekend centered around oysters, seafood, live music, family activities and community.

The 45th annual OysterFest returns October 3 & 4, but for many visitors, the weekend starts a night earlier with OysterFunk. Together, the two events bring visitors into Shelton, fill festival camping and local lodging, create opportunities for local nonprofits to raise money, and give businesses throughout the county a boost during the fall shoulder season.

Created and hosted by the Skookum Rotary Club, OysterFest celebrates the shellfish industry that has long been part of Mason County. It is Washington State’s official seafood festival and home to the West Coast Oyster Shucking Championships. In 2025, approximately 12,000 people attended, with visitors coming from throughout Washington as well as more than 10 other states and Canada. About half of the approximately 2,000 online tickets sold went to people living more than 50 miles away.

For many of those visitors, OysterFest is more than a day trip. On-site camping brings groups from across Washington and from states including Oregon, California, Arizona and Colorado. Groups return year after year for reunions, with some arriving as early as Wednesday and staying through Monday morning. During that time, visitors are spending money on restaurants, groceries, gas, shopping and other local businesses. Organizers estimate that at least $200,000 comes into the community through this spending, separate from the money raised by participating nonprofits.

That fundraising is another important part of the festival. Every food vendor at OysterFest must be a nonprofit serving Mason County, giving local organizations an opportunity to raise money for their work throughout the coming year. Scouting troops, schools, churches, youth groups, and service clubs have all benefited from the opportunity. Visitors can enjoy food from local organizations while knowing their purchases help support groups working in the community.

There is plenty to keep visitors around throughout the weekend, including the oyster shucking championships, live music, a beer garden, food vendors, exhibitors, and family activities. The festival also gives visitors a chance to learn more about shellfish and the industry that plays such an important role in Mason County.

Before all of that gets underway, OysterFunk gives adults another reason to make a weekend of it. Hosted by the Shelton Rotary Club, OysterFunk runs from 6:00-10:00p on October 2 and is open to guests 21 and older.

This year’s Friday night event features StirCrazy from Olympia, playing a mix of familiar ’70s, ’80s and ’90s songs that are made for singing and dancing. The beer garden will offer seasonal beer, wine, cider and non-alcoholic beer, along with local food trucks, including several vendors offering food specifically designed for OysterFunk.

OysterFest takes place October 3 & 4 at Sanderson Field. Saturday hours are 10:00a-6:00p, and Sunday hours are 10:00a-5:00p. Admission is free for children under 17, and parking is free throughout the weekend. Pets are not permitted on the festival grounds.

For tickets, camping information, schedules and more, visit oysterfest.org or pickup a copy of the official OysterFest magazine.