U.S. Oyster Festival

Hosted by the Rotary Club of Lexington Park, the U.S. Oyster Festival at St. Mary's County Fairgrounds in Leonardtown celebrates Southern Maryland and America's oyster culture. A tasting tent serves oysters from local farms raw, and the grounds also offer them scalded, smoked, grilled or sauced in po'boys, tacos, stews and soups. Beyond the bivalves, look for St. Mary's stuffed ham, crab cakes, chowder, fries and funnel cakes. The US National Oyster Shucking Championship crowns a national champion who can go on to the World Oyster Opening Championships in Galway, Ireland, and amateurs can enter a separate contest. More than 50 vendors, two outdoor music stages, waterman and Chesapeake Bay exhibits, a Chesapeake Mermaid and kids' activities fill the fairgrounds.

Our take: Slurp through the tasting tent and St. Mary's stuffed ham, then stay for the national shucking championship if you want the festival's main contest.