This year at the oyster festival…

Things keep on getting better. It is an amazing 25 years since the oyster festival was revived and it’s grown every year since. Today the Festival has well over 150 events, and has become one of Kent’s major tourist attractions, as well as remaining popular with local people.

Highlights are everywhere in the programme but for heritage we suggest the ceremonial ‘Landing of the Oysters’ at Long Beach, the colourful Oyster Parade, the memorable and moving ‘Blessing of the Waters’ ceremony at Reeves Beach, or one of the many walks.

For a truly Whitstable experience, try your hand at crab catching, grotter-building or the oyster eating competitions.

The arts are well served, with every music genre, from classical to rock, and great arts and crafts throughout the town, including a new art and craft fair.

For food lovers the EPIcentre is a must-visit (not to mention superb food shops and restaurants throughout the town).

We also have some special guests including Canterbury’s Poet Laureate and the Laureate Squad, Tom Hart Dyke and brilliant comedians in the OyOyster comedy season. And don’t forget to join in the Dance Jam on Saturday – we need 2,012 people to be shaking booties.

The Festival is core funded by Canterbury City Council, which works alongside the local Whitstable residents in the Whitstable Oyster Festival Association (WOFA) to produce this community event. WOFA aims to enhance people’s understanding, appreciation and involvement in Whitstable’s culture and heritage, and welcomes new members or volunteers. Contact WOFA through this website.

Friends and sponsors are the third vital part of the festival. Visitors are specifically encouraged to look for Festival Friends signs displayed by Whitstable businesses. This shows that they have given financial support to this important community event. Every penny raised through Friends and Sponsor schemes is used towards festival events.

Make a date in your diary now – July 24th to 30th 2010