Rockport Area Happenings

Every spring, the Fulton Volunteer Fire Department kicks off festival season with one of the most anticipated and popular events of the season, the Fulton Oysterfest. This year marks the 37th year of this famous festival that raises funds for the VFD and runs from March 3 to March 6, 2016. Fun for the entire family, the Fulton Oysterfest is the perfect event to shake off the winter blues in the Coastal Bend region and enjoy some of the fantastic seafood found in our local waters.

History of the Festival

For the past 36 years, the town of Fulton and the Fulton Volunteer Fire Department have hosted this annual event that celebrates the delicious bi-valve with a weekend of activities, events, contests and thousands upon thousands of locally sourced fresh oysters. Held on the Fulton waterfront each year, the funds raised from this delectable spectacle go toward purchasing and upgrading firefighting equipment for the VFD.

Oysterfest Events and Activities

Each year, the Fulton Oysterfest attracts thousands of residents and tourists alike looking to partake in some succulent shellfish tastings as well as the contests and activities that have entertained area families since the event first began.  This year’s activities promise to be more exciting and bigger than ever starting off with a fantastic fireworks show on Thursday night at 8:30pm opening the festival with a bang.

Saturday morning sees the traditional Oysterfest parade kick off the weekend’s celebrations starting at 11am along Fulton Beach Road from Traylor Blvd, right to the festival grounds. Follow the parade to the fun where you’ll find the festival starts in full swing including a fantastic carnival with plenty of rides and games for all members of the family.

Throughout the festival, you’ll find a variety of arts and crafts tents and plenty of food vendors offering a variety of preparations of the star of the festival as well as traditional BBQ. Live music will be ongoing throughout the festival so make sure you check the schedule to see when your favorite band or musician is taking the stage.

Oysterfest Contests

For those who really, really love the taste of the beautiful bi-valve, the raw oyster eating contest provides all the oysters you can eat and prize money for those that finish in the top three. First place in both the Women’s and Men’s categories takes $200 with $100 for second and $50 for third so if you’re planning on participating bring your appetite and an empty stomach!

Rather try your hand at freeing those tender morsels from their salty shells? Then enter the Oyster Shucking Contest where a speedy oyster knife could net you first place purse of $700! Second place will fill your pockets to the tune of $200 and third place walks away with $100.  Dare we say it? Earn some bucks with some speedy shucks!

To learn more about the 2016 Fulton Oysterfest, including a schedule of events and entry fees, visit the official website at www.fultonoysterfest.org where you’ll also learn more about the festival and how to participate in the parade or contests.  If you’re planning on going to the festival this year, and you see any of Rockport Properties’ real estate agents and employees wandering around, please come up and introduce yourself… we always love meeting new people!