Food, Arts and Crafts – Festival Food Court – Festival Village
Food is provided in many different forms by over fifty vendors. The beloved oyster is always available in ample supply and in a variety of presentations: raw, roasted, fried, smoked, steamed, in fritters or in a stew. In addition, one can enjoy clams, crabs, shrimp, Philly Steak, Oriental, hamburgers, hot dogs, roast beef and other goodies too numerous to mention. In addition to great food and desserts, visitors will delight in the infinite variety of crafts and artwork available throughout the town and within Festival Village. Among the many offerings are handmade furniture, stained glass, wood carvings, sculpture, pottery, leather goods and jewelry. GEICO Insurance is our 2011 Sponsor for Festival Village. An art exhibit and sale is held at the Middlesex Woman’s Club where Virginia artists offer their work.
For information concerning booth space for food or craft sales, contact he Concession Committee, Urbanna Oyster Festival, Drawer C, Urbanna, Virginia 23175 or call 804-758-0368.
Prince George Street Community Row:
This is Middlesex County’s representation of church, civic or novice demonstrators / education demonstrations of their crafts, i.e.: weaving, jewelry, candle making, photography, bake sales, local information and raffles. EVB Bank is our 2011 sponsor.
Wine Tasting at the Festival
Returning this year to the Oyster Festival will be a wine tasting event featuring several local Virginia Wineries, Virginia's wine artist Christopher Mize, and "boutique" oyster tastings from our local Rappahannock River Oysters. The Wine Tasting area is located on Virginia Street between the U.S. Post Office and the ABC Store, courtesy of IsaBel K. Horsley Real Estate, Ltd. Tasting hours are: 11:00 am – 5:00 pm Friday & Saturday. There is a $10.00 entrance fee, you will receive a wine glass and over 21 wristband; so
spend some time tasting and learning about Virginia Wines, and pairing them with local oysters.
Barboursville Winery
James River Cellars Winery
Lake Anna Winery
New Kent Winery
Saude Creek Vineyards
Urbanna Oyster Festival Firemen's Parade
This parade has proven to be a favorite of both young and old and is the crowning event on Friday of the Festival. The men and women participating in this year’s parade unselfishly volunteer their time to protect, serve and save lives. As the parade passes by, clap and cheer for these people and reflect on the job they do each and every day.
The Oyster Festival Parade
The Saturday Parade of the Urbanna Oyster Festival has become the focal point of the weekend. It has grown from an event featuring antique cars and floats to a parade encompassing a large Shriner’s contingency, numerous Marching Bands and beauty queens and their courts from across the state.
Many grand marshals have led the parade, including state officials, beauty queens, and lately, community leaders whom the Urbanna Oyster Festival Foundation wishes to honor.
Key participants in the parade are the Urbanna Oyster Festival Queen and Little Miss Spat, Khedive Temple Shriner’s and the U.S. Continental Army Band.
Many businesses and civic organizations from Middlesex and surrounding counties prepare floats and decorate automobiles for the viewing pleasure of the Oyster Festival visitors.
All units pass by the judges’ reviewing stand and awards are presented at the parade’s conclusion. This exciting parade begins at 2:00 PM and is one that should not be missed.
The Virginia Lottery Proudly Presents the 2011 Urbanna Oyster Festival Parade.
Oyster Festival Queen and Little Miss Spat - Friday, November 4, 2011
Each year, young ladies compete for the honor of being selected as the Oyster Festival Queen. The contestants are Middlesex County high school seniors and each contestant picks a first grade girl to compete in the Little Miss Spat contest. (A "spat" is a baby oyster!)
The queen contestants are judged on an individual community project, a written response to a random question, their high school transcripts and a judges' interview. The winner and the first and second runners-up receive scholarships.
This year's scholarship sponsors are: Bethpage Camp-Resort, Bon Secours Richmond Health System, Bristow-Faulkner Funeral Home, C&F Bank, Colonial Virginia Bank, Dr. C. Ben Lennon, EVB Bank, Gloucester Pharmacy, Grey's Point Camp, Rappahannock Concrete Corporation, Rosegill Development LLC, Ryman's A/C and Heating and Thurston Properties.
The Urbanna Oyster Festival Queen Scholarship Competition continues the tradition of serving the community's high school seniors as an excellent source of scholarships and character building.
The Crowning is held at 4:00 P.M. at Taber Park – Festival Village.
OYSTER SHUCKING CONTEST
Saturday, November 5, 2011 at 11:00 AM - in Fireman's Field behind the Firehouse.
Sponsored by: Revere Gas & Appliance and Rappahannock River Oysters, LLC
Since Urbanna is the home of The Virginia "official" Oyster Festival, it is only appropriate that some of the best oyster shuckers in the world practice their trade here.
The first Virginia Oyster Shucking Contest was held in Urbanna on Saturday, November 1982. The 1982 winner in the women's division was Pamela Page (Women's National Champion) with a time of 7:05. The 1982 men's champion was George Hodges with a time of 7:52. The 1983 women's champion was Mrs. Sara Hammond with a time of 6:57 and the 1983 Men's Champion was Sheppard Hammond whose time was 8:20. Sara Hammond of Church View went on to compete in Galway, Ireland in 1983 and placed third in the world! The Urbanna Oyster Shucking Contest has become an annual event in the Historic Port Town Urbanna, and the winner is declared State Champion and advances to compete in the National Oyster Shucking Contest in St. Mary's, Maryland. The National Champion then travels to Galway, Ireland to participate in the World Championship. Our own Deborah Pratt has made several trips to Galway, Ireland to defend her championship. Although the emphasis is on speed, other factors on which the contestants are judged include the amount of shell fragments, clean separation of the oyster from the shell and damage to the meat of the oyster. Come out on Saturday November 5th to meet our National Shucking Winner – Deborah Pratt, and try your hand at shucking oysters. Thanks to our Sponsors: Revere Gas & Appliance and Rappahannock River Oysters.
Oyster Shuckers: Sign Up at the Firehouse Stage Saturday morning.
Professionals: separate Divisions for men and women and Amateur Divisions.
The Oyster Festival Waterfront at the Urbanna Town Marina
Since its days as a crucial colonial port, Urbanna's waterfront has always been an essential part of the town's life. In its recent past, its docks were filled with Chesapeake buy boats and deadrises as watermen bought and sold oysters and crabs that they had harvested.
At the Urbanna Town Marina at Upton's Point, the Oyster Festival Waterfront will showcase the area's varied history and emphasize the heritage and conservation of the bay with boats and exhibits. Visitors can dance to music from the concert stage throughout the weekend, board traditional vessels, and learn about our Native American and colonial heritage, the traditions of the watermen and the oyster industry, and the preservation of the Chesapeake Bay. For children of all ages, Seaworthy Small Ships will return with their model boat building program and sail boat pond.
The Thursday before the Festival, November 3, is Oyster Festival Education Day, presented in cooperation with the Marine Science Legacy Program, when the waterfront is closed to the general public so that area schools have the opportunity to visit the exhibits. The waterfront will be open to the public during the festival on Friday and Saturday, November 4 & 5.
At the Town Docks:
F.D. Crockett from Deltaville Maritime Museum
Elva C from Reedville
Propwash (formerly Agnes Sterling) Dumfries, VA
Featured Exhibit:
Legacy Program through the Sponsorship of Chesapeake Bay Oyster Company and Adirondack Guide Boats.
For the Children: Seaworthy Small Ships
Thanks also to the following exhibitors:
Yorktown Watermen's Museum and Captain John Smith National Historic Water Trail
Friends of the Rappahannock
Chesapeake Bay Oyster Company
Tidewater Oyster Gardeners
Chesapeake Bay Governor's School
Christchurch School of Marine Science
US Coast Guard Auxiliary, Flotilla 62-Coastie
Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS)
Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Reedville Fishermen's Museum
Oyster Company of Virginia
For Education Day only:
Chesapeake Experience
David Stone Owl Sweet
Middlesex Museum
Shores and Ruark
Townes Site Engineering
Northern Neck Chantey Singers
Virginia Clean Marina
The dinghy dock is available for use during the festival.
Old Tobacco Warehouse / Visitor’s Center
Built in 1766, this is one of the oldest surviving mercantile structures in America associated with the sale of tobacco. Before the emergence of the Scottish factors, tobacco and other crops were shipped directly from the large plantations to England in exchange for goods on the return voyage. The Scots established stores where the tobacco was exchanged immediately for cash and credit with which to purchase imported goods for sale. Today, the Old Tobacco Warehouse serves as the Town of Urbanna Visitor’s Center. On display within this historic building is the historic John Mitchell’s Map, and visitors will be able to view hand-made model boats.
The Mitchell Map was used as a primary map source during the Treaty of Paris (1783) for defining the boundaries of the newly independent United States.
It was in this context that John Mitchell made his map. His purpose was to present to the British public an image of all of the colonies so that the true scale and extent of the French threat could be exposed. He completed his first draft in 1750.