Advertisement
The iconic U.S. Oyster Festival returns to St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds on October 17 - 18, 2026, bringing together oyster lovers, top shuckers, and seafood enthusiasts from across the region. Tickets are on sale now at usoysterfestival.org.This year, we celebrate 60 years of USOF! Our two-day festival has traditionally seen more than 10,000 attendees each year. It features the U.S. National Oyster Shucking Championship, live music, family-friendly entertainment, and of course, the freshest oysters you can find, prepared almost any way you can imagine!
The centerpiece of the festival is the U.S. National Oyster Shucking Championship, where elite competitors from across the country are invited to face off knife-to-knife for the national title. The winner will go on to represent the United States at the prestigious International Oyster Opening Championship in Galway, Ireland.
Beyond the competition, festivalgoers can enjoy:
- Oysters every way, every day
- Many other local food favorites
- Over 50 arts and crafts vendors with unique goods
- Live entertainment throughout the weekend
- Family activities including games, educational exhibits, and more
Hosted by The Rotary Club of Lexington Park, the U.S. Oyster Festival is the largest collaborative fundraiser in Southern Maryland, bringing together numerous local nonprofits to raise funds for scholarship and community support.
Advertisement
Event venue
St. Mary's County Fairgrounds, 42455 Fairgrounds Rd, Leonardtown, MD 20650, United States
Tickets
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups — all the happenings, one place.
Discover more events by tag
Festivals in LeonardtownFood-drinks in LeonardtownLive-music in LeonardtownParties in LeonardtownFood-trucks in LeonardtownSports in LeonardtownMusic in LeonardtownEntertainment in LeonardtownNonprofit in LeonardtownContests in Leonardtown