Oysterfest 2024: Your guide to the annual Fulton festival
The 45th annual Oysterfest, a salute to the salty bivalves found in local waters, will be held on the waterfront at the Fulton Festival Grounds from Thursday through Sunday.
Each year the Fulton Volunteer Fire Department sponsors the festival, which includes a carnival, games, food, an oyster eating contest, live music and vendors. The festival grounds are at Fulton Beach Park on North Casterline Drive in Fulton.
The fire department has used funds from the event to purchase equipment and build a new fire station. Now, proceeds go toward equipment, training and maintenance.
There will be no fireworks show this year.
Whether you like them raw or fried, here's your guide to this year's Oysterfest.
How to get tickets
Tickets can be purchased online at fultonoysterfest.org.
Thursday general admission is $2 online or at the gate. Active and retired military may enter free Thursday with a valid ID.
For Friday through Sunday, tickets can be bought online or onsite for $5.
Children 12 and under can enter for free.
What will the weather be like?
Thursday night will have be in the low 70s to high 60s. Friday evening will be a bit warmer with temperatures being in the mid and low 70s to high 60s.
Saturday will be windy throughout the entire day with a high of 71 and a low of 59. Sunday will drop in temps a bit with a high of 67 and a low of 54.
With temperatures being on the cooler side, it is recommended to wear light jackets, long-sleeve shirts and hats. If you're not going to wear a hat, use plenty of hairspray to not have a bad hair day with the high winds Saturday.
Parade
The parade will start at 11 a.m. Saturday on Traylor Boulevard, proceed north down Fulton Beach Road and end at the Oysterfest grounds.
Food
Attendees can expect a plethora of oysters, but there will also be turkey legs, fried shrimp, hot dogs and more to munch on.
Carnival, arts and crafts
The rides and games at Oysterfest’s carnival will be open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday and 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday. Festivities continue from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
The arts and crafts tent, packed with local vendors, will be open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
Live music
This year's headliners include Dean Adamson, Riptide, Rowdy H. & The Pearl Snaps and DW & Dark Thirty.
For the full list of entertainers and when they'll take the stage, visit fultonoysterfest.org/schedule.
Contests
Plan on scarfing down oysters at the festival? Sign up for a contest to win big cash.
The men's oyster eating contest will begin 3 p.m. Saturday and the women's grouping at 2 p.m. Sunday. Cash prizes will be given to the top three finishers. First place will win $200, second $100 and third $50.
If you go
WHAT: 45th annual Fulton Oysterfest
WHEN: 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday
WHERE: 402 N. Fulton Beach Road in Fulton, Texas
COST: $2-$5
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John Oliva covers entertainment and community news in South Texas. Contact him at john.oliva@caller.com or Twitter @johnpoliva.
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This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Your guide to Fulton's 45th annual Oysterfest
