Join us for the 69th Annual Urbanna Oyster Festival!
November 6-7, 2026
The Marine Science Legacy Program brings knowledge and understanding for the Chesapeake Bay ecology, history and future to Middlesex County area students. Oyster Festival Education Day is a day of hands-on learning at the Urbanna Waterfront on the Thursday before the festival. Students learn from experts and through activities like
The 2026 Queen and Little Miss Spat competition brings 4 duos to the firehouse stage on Friday, November 6, 2026 in hopes of winning this year’s title. They’ve spent the last few months building relationships with their partners, raising money and awareness for personal and community causes and preparing for
The Urbanna Oyster Festival Foundation has named Sarah Hammond Stokes, 86, of Urbanna as captain of the 2025 festival. A Middlesex County native, Stokes surprised a field of women oyster shuckers in 1983 at the Virginia oyster shucking contest in Urbanna, winning the female championship and earning a trip to
We congratulate Lauren Ahnemann on her winning design for this year’s contest. Posters will be available for purchase both days of the festival at the information trailer. Also be on the lookout for this year’s official t-shirt featuring her design. Info and merchandise tents are on the corner of Rappahannock
The Urbanna Oyster Festival has been named Best Festival in Eastern Virginia in Virginia Living’s 2025 Best of Virginia Readers’ Choice Awards. This is the fourth consecutive year the festival has received the top honor in the overall festival category, a testament to its lasting legacy and widespread appeal. Held
EVERY VIP TICKET HOLDER IS GOOD FOR ONE DAY ONLY 10AM TO 5PM!
MUST BE 21 YEARS + PHOTO ID IS REQUIRED. TICKETS AVAILABLE ONLINE ONLY.
What’s Included With Your VIP Ticket:
Access to three hospitality tents throughout Urbanna during the festival – Town Marina, Craft Beer Tent & Wine Tasting Tent
Exclusive VIP tables & seating
Support from a festival concierge to help you navigate the event
Private restroom facilities
Bottled waters
Six wine tastings
Six beer tastings
Two oyster shooters
Six oyster tastings
Discounts at local businesses
Commemorative Urbanna Oyster Festival poster
By filling out the form below you are expressing interest in participating in the Urbanna Oyster Festival Parade on the Saturday of Oyster Festival at 2:00PM. Upon approval, you will receive a detailed parade information packet in October. If you have any questions, please call the Festival office at 804-758-2122.
NO objects are to be thrown from any parade vehicle, floats or marchers. NO stopping along parade route. Air cannons, loud explosive devices and other objects are prohibited. Current political campaign candidates are NOT permitted in the parade or along the parade route, nor do we allow any political advertisements or promotional materials in the parade. Please Keep in Mind this is a Family-oriented event and parade. We are a Virginia Green Festival.
Partnerships with local and regional organizations allows The Urbanna Oyster Festival to continue to operate and present a weekend of entertainment to the 50,000 people that attend annually. This year we look forward to both celebrating our 69th anniversary and the 250th anniversary of the United States. We hope you’ll consider working together to bring this event to life on November 6-7, 2026. Sponsor package details are available for download, or by contacting the UOF office at 804-758-2122 or urbannaoysterfest@gmail.com.
All vendor spaces are filled for the 2026 season we’ll announce when they’re open for the 2027 season.
The Urbanna Oyster Festival would be nothing without our volunteers and festival support, and we need your help this year more than ever! We invite you to become a festival at the Urbanna Oyster Festival!
