Author’s Note: The month of October is known for many things; pumpkins, apple cider donuts, orange, early darkness, Halloween, and the return of puffy vests. There is also the often anticipated fall festival(s). Many people may immediately picture driving through rural Vermont or New Hampshire on a crisp afternoon for prime fall foliage viewing; but last I checked Cape Cod, also in the northeast, and has a solid slate of fall events. The shoulder seasons-autumn especially-still means most seasonal restaurants and lodging remain open, if not discounted, and best of all, dogs are allowed on the beaches again! There are dozens of festivals spread from Falmouth to Provincetown, but the month of October’s ‘must do’ “Fest” is on the Outer Cape and provides a quintessential Cape Cod experience; Wellfleet’s Oysterfest. Shellfish lovers assemble!
Well fleet Oysterfest, Rather FEAST!
Those familiar with Cape Cod “lore” know that each town, if not village(s) within a town, has its own unique identity. In Wellfleet’s case, a quiet, sparsely populated town on the Outer Cape, is known by and large for beautiful beaches, a live saving station-turned iconic beach bar and a tasty little dark blue shellfish. The latter, are none other than Wellfleet oysters. Wellfleet oysters, long and strong-shelled, are unique for being plump and clean with a distinctively good balance of creamy sweetness and brine. Their exceptional flavor is a result of five important natural environmental factors; consistently cold water temperatures, high salinity of the Atlantic Ocean, large, fast-moving tides, nutrient rich marine environment (for oysters to grow), and clean water (SPAT, 2019).
The local nonprofit organization, Shellfish Promotion and Tasting (SPAT), not only runs Oysterfest, but more broadly, is devoted to sustaining Wellfleet’s shellfishing and aquaculture industry. The volunteer-led organization runs programming throughout the year, including shellfish farm tours, shellfish recycling, a scholarship program for high school seniors interested in a career in the marine sciences, fan-favorite art and oyster crawl and a grant program for local projects in line with their mission. SPAT provides additional background information on the famed oyster, but suffice to say, these natural resource should have an entire weekend dedicated to them.
Oysterfest, always the weekend after Columbus Day, is spread over two days with a mix of food, drink, music, arts and crafts, educational programs and the much-anticipated “Shuck-Off.” That is not a typo, the “Shuck Off” is a competition to see who can shuck 24 oysters the fastest. (If your mind is wondering, the 2018 Champion was William “Chopper” Young, Jr., who shucked 24 oysters in 2:25. The record is 1:47 by James Gray in 2008.) Entry to the festival is $10 (each day), though if you run in the “Shuck and Run” 5K on Sunday, entry on Sunday is complimentary with race bib. There are also a mix of “satellite” events, such as cooking demonstrations, pickleball round robin and the 5K Fun Run for additional fees.
As for the main draw – oysters – the ‘Fest may as well be known as OysterFEAST. There are literally dozens of oyster stands spread up and down Main Street, with every type of oysters for purchase: on the half shell, fried, grilled, Rockafeller (baked, rich sauce), chowder, and even pickled. Wondering about all those shells? That’s where the shellfish recycling mentioned above comes in. In 2018, five tons of shells from consumed shellfish was collected over the weekend. The following spring, the shells were reintroduced into Wellfleet Harbor to create a habitat for shellfish, other marine life and improve water quality by helping filter particles and pollutants, while reducing solid waste disposal at the event by 32%! Speaking of reducing waste, new in 2019, Oysterfest is going plastic-free, with all vendors using compostable paper goods while beverages will be dispensed in cans or reusable stainless steel cups.
This family-friendly event is held on Main street, which is closed to all vehicle traffic. There is also a family fun area, with face painting, craft-making; and even a spelling bee. Parking is limited given the compact downtown streets, so try Mayo Beach.
What is your favorite part about Wellfleet’s Oysterfest?