Lovers of raw oysters will double the fun Sept. 30 with two oyster festivals in Barnstable

Gwenn Friss, Cape Cod Times
·3 min read

If you are a big fan of bivalves, you will want to visit Barnstable on Saturday, Sept. 30, as not one but two of the town’s villages are hosting oyster entertainment.

Entertainment for people, not oysters.

It will be an opportunity to try oysters grown in slightly different waters. Many aficionados say that, like wine, oysters have a different terroir gleaned from the water in which they are raised.

In Cotuit

The first Cotuit Oyster Festival takes place from 1 to 6 p.m. at Kings Grant Racquet Club, 12 Old Kings Road in Cotuit. Tickets are available through www.eventbrite.com for a $3 fee. Admission is $15 for kids 12 and younger, $25 for adults.

In addition to local oysters raw on the half-shell, the festival will offer clam chowder, shrimp cocktail, littlenecks, burgers, hot dogs and more.

Those who love freshly shucked raw oysters on the half-shell are in for a treat Sept. 30 as two festivals are held in Barnstable.
Those who love freshly shucked raw oysters on the half-shell are in for a treat Sept. 30 as two festivals are held in Barnstable.

“Come out and celebrate Cotuit's famed seafood while enjoying the company of friends and neighbors, live music, and a variety of other food,” organizers wrote.

The Art Bus, courtesy of the Cotuit Center for the Arts, will be on site for kids to enjoy.

Festival proceeds will benefit The Cotuit Center for the Arts and the Cotuit-Santuit Civic Association.

Parking will be available at the Cotuit Center for the Arts and the old Cotuit Elementary school. Shuttles will be provided to and from each parking site and Kings Grant.

In Hyannis

Meanwhile, across town in Hyannis, “Cape Cod Beer's Oyster Fest: Shuck! A Day of Oysters & Beer!” takes place from noon to 8 p.m. at the brewery at 1336 Phinney’s Lane. General admission is $15 and you buy everything a la carte; a $65 VIP ticket includes six raw bar tastings, one beer ticket, a long-sleeve T-shirt and a commemorative pint glass with the “Shucks!” logo.

When asked about the return of this event, Cape Cod Beer co-founder Beth Marcus said in an email, “This event has become a staple for us. Over the years we have created such great relationships with the local oystermen, the hardworking folks at (Barnstable Clean Water Coalition) and so much more. We love being able to bring together so many people in the community for such a fun day that is all benefiting a great cause. And besides ― is there anything better than oysters & beer?!”

You might want to pace yourself here as Big Rock Oyster Company coordinates shellfish from seven local oyster farms: Cape Cod Oyster Company, Cape Cod Native Shellfish, Dunbar Aquafarm, Great White Oysters, Sandy Neck Oyster Company, Spring Creek Oyster Co. and Washburn Island.

The festival is a fundraiser for Barnstable Clean Water Coalition, which will have representatives there, as will Barnstable Association for Recreational Shellfishing.

There will be a beer garden with several types of beer. You can also shop for locally made products at a dozen vendors and buy food from JP’s Twisted BBQ, the brewery’s onsite food truck.

Gwenn Friss is the editor of CapeWeek and covers entertainment, restaurants and the arts. Contact her at gfriss@capecodonline.com. Follow her or X, formerly Twitter: @dailyrecipeCCT

Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans.

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Taste the terroir at these two Barnstable oyster festivals Sept. 30