Everything you need to know about Whitstable Rocks Oyster Festival 2024

by Sam Lawrie

slawrie@thekmgroup.co.uk

After a nail-biting wait to see if this year’s festival would go ahead, fans of Whitstable’s annual oyster event can now start getting excited for another year of fresh seafood, live music and family activities.

The Whitstable Rocks Oyster Festival is now in its third year post-pandemic, at which point the long-running event was reinvented by new organisers, and boasts a packed programme of things to see and do.

Tuck into fresh oysters at this year’s Whitstable Rocks Oyster Festival. Picture: Phil Lee

The three-day celebration of the town’s historic oyster industry will include a food and drink festival, numerous stalls as well as the traditional ‘first catch’, Landing of the Oysters and Blessing of the Seas ceremony on Long Beach.

The traditions that inspire the festival can be traced back to the Roman Empire when Julius Caesar invaded Britain and the Roman soldiers discovered a taste for the Kentish delicacy.

Whitstable’s oyster heritage was also celebrated in Norman times, with fishermen feasting in the name of St James of Compostela, the unofficial patron saint of oysters.

This year, the festival takes place from Friday, September 13 to Sunday, September 15. You can discover our top picks for entertainment, family activities and food and drink below…

The Whitstable Rocks Oyster Festival celebrates the coastal town’s rich history when it comes to the fishing industry

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT

One of the biggest parts of the festival is the live music. This year, the Grading Shed at the East Quay, just past the harbour, will be the hub for all things musical, with bands and DJs performing all weekend long.

The full line-up is still yet to be announced, but past years have seen performances from High Tide, Curb Pilots and the Cuban Brothers.

There will also be music from the Whitstable Sea Scouts’ brass band during the Landing and Blessing of the Oysters at 10.30am on Saturday. The oystermen will arrive on the beach and land the first catch of the day on the shore before a colourful parade led by the Samba Pelo Mar band heads towards East Quay.

Crowds have been gathering along Whitstable’s seafront to join in the festivities for years. Picture: Phil Lee

FAMILY FUN

There are a number of activities and workshops for children to take part in over the weekend.

Young buccaneers can join the treasure hunt with Dangerous Dave, whose parrot has hidden his loot somewhere along the beach. Kids can follow clues and figure out puzzles to help find the treasure.

There’s also a chance to get creative with Chalky Chalky, an arts and crafts session where you can draw on Whitstable’s sea wall. You can help turn the wall into a giant canvas by creating your very own picture or message in chalk for passers-by to admire.

Both activities will be happening at regular points during the festival.

On Sunday, families can join a group foraging walk where you will stroll along the seafront to find your very own coastal veggies and sea buckthorn. It’s led by a foraging expert who will help you identify different plants along the way.

The mud tug-o-war is a highlight of the festival

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

One of the most popular events of the festival is the Mud Tug ‘O War, which returns on the Sunday. It’s a good-natured tug-of-war competition that you can either participate in or cheer on from the sidelines and takes place on the muddy Long Beach.

If you don’t mind the cold you can join in with the Big Splash, a refreshing dip in the sea at high tide with a group of like-minded swimmers. This will also take place on Sunday.

If the weather is just right there will be kite-flying sessions and, at the end of the day on Sunday, the enchanting tradition of grotter building, where you can create and light your own seashell grotter, takes place on the beach.

The beach at Whitstable will be packed with activities like treasure hunts, cold water swims and the Landing and Blessing of the Oysters. Picture: Rhys Griffiths

FOOD AND DRINK

Of course, the highlight of the festival is in the name - it’s all about the oysters.

Fresh seafood will be served up at many of the coastal town’s restaurants like the Whitstable Oyster Company and The Forge, plus there will be some pop-up food stalls setting up shop just for the festival.

The Grading Shed will have lots of local chefs and traders selling freshly caught oysters, as well as other tasty dishes, and there’s even an oyster-eating competition if you think you’ve got the appetite for it.

The Grading Shed is also where you’ll find the festival bar serving up craft beers, ciders, wine and Prosecco.