Whitstable Oyster Festival

The Whitstable Oyster Festival - one of Kent's most popular festivals -  will take place between July 23rd and 29th 2011. 

In recent years organisers have more than doubled the amount of events within the festival, which is structured around the traditional local customs of the oyster fishing industry.  A packed programme of family and arts entertainment, and food and drink alongside local heritage and history are on the agenda, with numerous events and activities being low cost or free. Traditional Festival favourites include heritage walks, talks and demonstrations, crab catching, Splash Pals – a demonstration of the loveable Newfoundland dogs doing sea rescues, raft race, traditional mud tug competition, arts and craft market, workshops and the infamous oyster eating competition.  Adults are offered a range of entertainment from stand up comedy and open air theatre to a feast of literature and art.

The week’s festivities begin with the “Landing of the Oysters” and colourful Oyster Parade through the town, followed by street entertainment, dancing, music, seaside entertainment and more.
 
More heritage is on display later in the week with the ceremonial pageantry of the “Blessing of the Waters” and children will be constructing hundreds of oyster shell “grotters”. Grotters are lit by candles after the Blessing of the Waters to provide an enchanting night-time display.

Thanks to a Local Food Grant from the Big Lottery Fund the Festival’s food and drink EPICentre will have a special focus on local foods in 2011. Local food has always been the major part of the EPICentre but this year there will be a number of new elements including free food demonstrations and tastings such as the Champagne Master Classes from Taittinger on Saturday 23rd.

For further information on all events taking place go to: canterbury.co.uk