HonFest Oyster Shucking Competition to Raise Awareness of Bay Preservation
BALTIMORE, Md. (WJZ) -- HonFest's 1st Annual Oyster Shucking Competition will give contestants a good time while raising awareness for oyster preservation in the Chesapeake Bay.
The competition will take place on June 14 and will require participants to shuck 18 oysters with special attention to speed and presentation.
Judges will make sure there are no broken shells and the winner will take home $250 and a first place medallion.
The Oyster Recovery Partnership, a non-profit dedicated to restoring oyster reefs in the Bay, will attend the contest to promote restoration programs.
HonFest founder Denise Whiting said upwards of 4,000 oysters will be shucked during the summer street festival and all of the shells will be recycled.
True Chesapeake Oyster Co. will provide its famous Skinny Dipper oysters for the contestants.
The Oyster Shucking Competition will be the latest edition to the annual HonFest, which started in 1994 and has since become one of Baltimore's most popular festivals.
HonFest takes place on West 36th Street and lasts the entire weekend.