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Join us for the 68th Annual Urbanna Oyster Festival!
November 7-8, 2025
Join us for the 68th Annual Urbanna Oyster Festival!
November 7-8, 2025

Now Accepting Entries for the Official Commemorative Urbanna Oyster Festival Poster

The Urbanna Oyster Festival Foundation is pleased to open entries for the 2025 Poster Contest. This year’s theme is Urbanna Icons. The small port town that hosts the Oyster Festival is home to iconic and historical buildings, breath-taking scenery and a calming air that is good for the soul. We invite you to share your interpretation of the theme: what feels uniquely “Urbanna,” what view, place, or feeling defines the town and its culture? 

And we wouldn’t be disappointed if an oyster showed up somewhere in there 😉

Deadline for entries: May 31, 2025 with a winner announced by June 30, 2025

Prize: $500 and your artwork used as the official 68th Annual Oyster Festival poster and on official merchandise.

Guidelines for Entry:

Artwork may be created by amateur or professional artist(s) of any age.

Content should be representative of the Urbanna area and/or relating to oysters in some way.

Size of art should be 8” x 11” and no larger than 18” x 24”.

The Urbanna Oyster Festival reserves the right to modify the winning design in accordance with the printing process.

Acceptable mediums: photography, oils, acrylics, watercolors, pastels or mixed mediums
(Remember: colors should be bright or dark enough to reproduce as a print).

AI-generated images or artwork will not be accepted.

The Oyster Festival Foundation or any member(s) of the Foundation are not responsible for
damage of the artwork and will not be held liable for any such damage.

The winning artwork becomes the sole property of the Urbanna Oyster Festival Foundation, and cannot be reproduced, or made available for sale except by permission of the Urbanna Oyster Festival Foundation. 

The Foundation Marketing Committee reserves the right to modify the winning design in accordance with the printing process.

Provide artists name, mailing address, telephone number and a brief description of the work with your entry.

Regarding Physical Entries:

Physical entries (no copies or photos please) should be delivered to the Urbanna Oyster Festival
Foundation Office: 390 Virginia St. Suite C, Urbanna, VA. 23175 (804-758-2122).

Physical entries will be accepted Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Please package entries safely and appropriately, as we cannot guarantee against damage. Please attach on the back of each entry, a separate sheet of paper including the artist’s name, mailing address, telephone number and a brief description of the artwork.

For Online Entries:

You may submit entries digitally via the form below or by emailing to oysterfestmarketing@gmail.com, however, if your piece is chosen, the physical artwork must be delivered to the Urbanna Oyster Festival Foundation Office: 390 Virginia St. Suite C, Urbanna, VA. 23175 (804-758-2122).

(Note: If chosen, the physical art will need to be delivered to the Urbanna Oyster Festival Foundation office located at 390 Virginia St. Suite C, Urbanna, VA. 23175 (804-758-2122).

Examples of Posters from Years Past:

2024

2023

Email: oysterfestival@va.metrocast.net

Physical Address: 390 Virginia Street, Suite C, Urbanna, VA 23175

Mailing Address: Drawer C, Urbanna, VA 23175

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For more information on accommodations, things to do and other events in the area, see:

Urbanna.com

VirginiasRiverRealm.com

Explore Middlesex App

Oyster Festival Parade Entry Form

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.

Sponsor Interest Form

As we look forward to our 68th anniversary, November 7-8, 2025, we turn to you, our community partners, to help us put on one of the best Oyster Festivals yet. Year after year we are humbled by the commitment of our volunteers, our vendors, our advocates, and you, our sponsors. Your love for this little town, and this big Festival, make our jobs well worth it. To see our town full of excitement and pride each November brings us joy and gives us motivation to keep working toward the next one. Your monetary support allows us to do things like bring in well-known or locally-grown bands, look out for the wellbeing and safety of our attendees, and put on events like the Antique Car Show and Saturday’s Oyster Festival Parade. It ensures our local schools and visitors alike are exposed to the importance of oysters and water-restoration to the local economy. It means high school seniors have financial support in pursuing higher education.

From the mission of the Urbanna Oyster Festival Foundation, partnering with us means you are aligned with:

• Providing cultural, educational and recreational events for the enjoyment of the community

• Provide leadership, education and training for festivals, event leaders and volunteers

• Promote an appreciation of the history, maritime tradition, and the seafood industry

• Provide a venue for fundraising for civic and non-profit organizations

• Encourage the participation of artists, writers, and craftsmen in festivals and other events

• Encourage involvement of educational organizations and other non-profit groups

• Enhance the quality of life of the local economy and promote visitation and economic development

We appreciate your consideration in partnering with the Urbanna Oyster Festival for our 68th anniversary. To ensure you get the most out of your sponsorship we would like to secure your placement by August 31, 2025.

View & Download the Sponsorship Package

Vendor Interest Form

By filling out the form below you are expressing interest in participating in the Urbanna Oyster Festival as a vendor. You may be contacted by the Urbanna Oyster Festival office with any additional questions and next steps. If you prefer to contact us directly, you may call 804-758-2122 or email at oysterfestival@va.metrocast.net.

**Please note this form is not a formal application and you are not guaranteed placement until contacted and confirmed by the Urbanna Oyster Festival.

Volunteer Interest Form

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!