The Oyster Festival is a big deal in Whistable, with records of celebrations starting during the Roman Empire when Ceasar's troops discovered a love for south coast oysters. Festivities continued during Norman times with the feast of St. James of Compostela, and was resurrectedin the 1980s to be (largely) the festival we love today.
Now a days, the festival takes place in 2 main areas of Whiststable; the Grading Shed and Long Beach. Much of the event is free, with ticekts available for certain activities.
For family fun, head to Long Beach to join in with the free fun and games such as Pirate Pottery, Parrott Treasure Hunt, kit flying and Chalky Chalk chalk painting - you can read the Long Beach schedules for the weekend here. There's also the Landing and Blessing of the Oysters on Saturday morning to officially mark the opening of the festival.
For slightly more grown up fun on the beach, there's a tug of war on Sunday and a big splash sea swim. Things then wind down on Sunday evening with the special Victorian tradition of Grotter Building - making small stacks of pebbles with candles inside which let of a beautiful glow along the beach at dusk. There's also a fireworks finale.
Whilst all of the above the is free to take part in, you can buy tickets for a guided foraging walk to learn all about the wonders and special properties of the plants along the coastline.
Meanwhile, the rest of the festival happens at the Grading Shed, situated at East Quay Venue with plenty of food and drink, and of course the famous Oyster Eating Contest. How quickly do you think you could eat 6 oysters and drink half a pint of beer?! If you fancy your chances, you can buy tickets here to enter, alongwith tickets for an ice cream making workshop, and tours of the oyster beds.
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