City: Charleston, SC

Category: Annual Events & Festivals

Telephone: (843) 577-4030, (843) 452-6088

Description: The very first Lowcountry Oyster Festival gathered a small but hardy crowd back in 1982. That was then. And now? Well, now we would marvel if snow scared off the thousands who loyally appear. This festival, organized by the Greater Charleston Restaurant Association, is built around the mighty oyster but is geared to the whole family’s appetite for fun. The gates of beautiful Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant open at 10:30 a.m., and ticket holders are welcomed until the gates close at 5 p.m. An oyster-eating contest as well as other competitions and games are held, all in the name of fun and for the support of local children’s charities. Barbecue and chili fill the void for non-oyster eaters, and if the winter temps aren’t enough, there are plenty of chilled beverages—beer being the most popular—to keep things cool. Held the Sunday prior to Super Bowl Sunday in Jan. Festival admission is $10 in advance and $12 at the gate. Children under 10 are free with an adult.