There are now more than 150 oyster farms dotting Maine’s 3,500 mile long coastline. Oysters grow slowly in Maine’s cold waters, and that gives them more time to soak up the flavors in their home waters. Differences in the food they eat as well as the temperature and salinity of the water produce a wide variety of flavor characteristics from farm to farm. The Maine Oyster Festival celebrates oysters and the people who farm them from up and down the entire Maine coast!
The weekend kicks-off the evening of Friday, June 27 with a party at the Freeport Oyster Bar. Enjoy fresh Maine oysters, meet Maine sea farmers and festival organizers, relax and enjoy live music, beer, wine, and creative cocktails, too.
On both Saturday and Sunday, the festival opens at 10am in downtown Freeport. Raw oysters will be available from dozens of sea farms & mobile shuckers. Purchase your tasting tickets online or when you arrive for $3 each. Food trucks, some farms & mobile shuckers will also offer grilled, fried, or smoked oysters and other food (there will be non-oyster options) for sale directly by cash or credit cards.
What else is there to see and do at The Maine Oyster Festival?
•Enjoy two days of great live music.
•Browse over 25 Maine artisans exhibiting goods created from by-products of the oyster industry, or used to prepare and serve oysters.
•Families won’t want to miss our free kids activity booths for engaging, educational crafts and more.
•Chat with local nonprofits and government agencies to learn more about the work they do to promote ocean health and education.
•Inspired to shuck? Look for the Wanna Shuck pins worn by our sea farmers and shuckers to get a lesson from a pro.
•Don’t miss THE BIG SHUCK on Sunday, June 29 at noon when the professionals throw down for 2024 bragging rights on who is the fastest and best shucker in the state.
•Get out on the water and tour a real oyster farm! Head out with Seacoast Tours of Freeport to visit one of Casco Bay’s award-winning oyster farms, sample the freshest oysters direct from the sea, paired with a glass of wine or local microbrew.
•Freeport businesses join in the fun with special menus, lodging packages, activities, sales and events in celebration of our favorite bivalve!
Don’t miss our complimentary The Maine Oyster Festival shuttles! Although downtown Freeport has plentiful, free parking, our free Festival shuttles offer even more convenience for those who would like to park quickly and get dropped off right at the heart of the Festival.
For more information, tickets and merchandise, visit us online at TheMaineOysterFestival.com. More information is also available by emailing info@visitfreeport.com or calling the Visit Freeport Information Center at 207-865-1212.