The festival, advertised as the world’s greatest oyster feast, will include over 45,000 pounds of steamed oysters for sale at market price. Attendees can also participate in oyster shucking and eating contests, wine, domestic and imported beers, specialty cocktails, a children’s area dubbed “Pluff-a-Palooza,” and a food court featuring local restaurants. Several live music bands will perform throughout the day, including headliner The Yacht Club, which is famed for its blend of soul, jazz, R&B, funk, and disco.
“We’re thrilled to invite guests from near and far to join us for one of Charleston’s most quintessential culinary traditions, which has been bringing the community together for over four decades,” said Charleston Restaurant Foundation President Johnathan Kish. “It’s an honor for the foundation to once again host this beloved event and a privilege to support the environment and charitable organizations that make the Lowcountry so special.”
The festival has raised over $1.5 million for local charity since its debut. The 2025 festival raised $125,000 for various organizations, including Ronald McDonald House, MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, Coastal Conservation Association, Shriners Hospitals for Children, College of Charleston, Academic Magnet High School, Charleston County School of the Arts, and the Culinary Institute of Charleston’s Kathy Britzius Memorial Scholarship.
Organizers also put sustainability first, collaborating with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the Coastal Conservation Association of Charleston to recycle oyster shells in local waters. The shells aid in the recovery of fisheries, the formation of reefs, the prevention of soil erosion, and the reduction of flood hazards. This summer, festival organizers collaborated with partners to expand a memorial oyster reef behind Boone Hall, utilizing discarded shells from previous events. The reef, which was first built in 2024 on Horlbeck Creek, commemorates the relationship between Boone Hall owner Willie McRae and the late Kathy Britzius, executive director of the Charleston Restaurant Association, who helped launch the festival over four decades ago.
The celebration will take place regardless of the weather. Pets, coolers, and outside food and beverages are prohibited. There will be oyster knives and gloves available for purchase. Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens is located at 1235 Long Point Road, with entrances from both Long Point Road and Highway 17.
