City: Williamsburg, VA

Category: Annual Events & Festivals

Telephone: (804) 758-0368

Description: Held the first full weekend in November in scenic Middlesex County, this festival’s main attraction is oysters served raw, roasted, stewed, fried, or frittered. If you tire of oysters, you can sample the clam chowder, crab cakes, or steamed crabs. While the food is the main attraction here, it isn’t the only one. A variety of entertainment—including parades, visiting tall ships, fine arts, an oyster-shucking contest, live music, children’s events, ship tours, pony rides, and the crowning of the festival queen—is all part of the two-day celebration. The Urbanna Oyster Festival began in 1957. To get to this somewhat out-of-the-way spot from Williamsburg, take I-64 West to Route 33 East (exit 220). Follow to US Route 17, where you will turn left and follow the signs for Urbanna. An alternate route is to take US 17 North from Yorktown across the Coleman Bridge to Gloucester then north to Urbanna and once again follow the signs.