Downtown Westminster will fill with oyster farmers, distillers, food trucks and live bands Saturday, Oct. 10, for the city's annual Oyster Stroll, a festival tied to Chesapeake Bay oyster restoration.
The Stroll runs from noon to 4 p.m., with an early VIP session starting at 10:30 a.m., according to the event page maintained by the City of Westminster's Recreation and Parks Department, which runs the festival.
The city says on its website that the event is meant to raise awareness of farm-raised Chesapeake Bay oysters and to highlight Westminster's work with environmental partners to build new oyster reefs from recycled oyster shells and concrete "reef balls."
The Stroll directly supports the Living Reef Action Campaign of the Coastal Conservation Association of Maryland, the city says. CCA Maryland describes itself as working to protect recreational fishing and marine habitats, according to its listing for a previous Oyster Stroll.
What it costs
The city's event page lists three ways in:
General admission, $15. Sold only at the gates on the day of the event; children 12 and under get in free. Includes access from noon to 4 p.m., live entertainment on five stages, yard games, and two tokens good for alcoholic or nonalcoholic drinks at the green Domestic Beverage Tents. The tokens cannot be used at the winery, brewery or distillery booths.
Gehr Lot reserved seating, $30 ($28 each for six or more). Includes reserved seating for the day with a dedicated DJ and yard games, an exclusive snack and drink, and all general admission perks. Buy here.
VIP, $40 ($38 each for six or more). Adds a 90-minute early-access sampling session with the wineries, breweries and distilleries from 10:30 a.m. to noon, an exclusive snack and drink, a commemorative gift and reserved seating for the day. Buy here.
VIP and Gehr Lot tables seat six, and buyers of fewer than six tickets may be seated with other guests, the city says. There are no printed tickets; according to the city, buyers will get check-in instructions by email a week before the event, and VIP check-in opens at 10:30 a.m. at the Locust Lane gate behind Life Is... Pizza.
Getting in and parking
General admission gates will be at John and Bond streets at Main Street, Locust Lane, Longwell Avenue at Main Street, and Center Street at Main Street, according to the city. Parking is free in any of the city's municipal lots, the city says, and a festival map is coming soon.
Who'll be there
The city's vendor list names eight oyster vendors: Baywater Seafood, Choptank Terrapin Oyster Co., Coastal Maryland Oyster Co., Conrad's Food Truck, Double T, Fallen Pine Oyster, Madhouse Oysters and Shore Thing.
The drinks lineup leans heavily on spirits. The city lists 16 distilleries — including Westminster's Covalent Spirits, which operates at 118 E. Main St., according to its website — plus one brewery, Pipe the Side Brewing Co., and four wineries and cideries.
Eighteen food vendors are on the city's list, including three downtown restaurants: O'Lordan's Irish Pub on Liberty Street, and RockSalt Grille and Serra on Main, both on West Main Street, according to their websites. Cousins Maine Lobster, Blowfish Poke and Mr. Soft Ice Cream Truck are also listed. The city lists more than 75 artisan and craft vendors, and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Heroes on the Water and the Maryland Natural Resources Police Reserve Officer Program will staff nonprofit booths.
Music schedule
The city has posted this lineup:
Locust Lane Stage: Mambo Combo, 10:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Covalent Spirits Stage: Late Night Record Shop, 11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.; Garrett Mabe, 2–4 p.m.
Library Stage: Kelly Bell Band, 1:30–4 p.m.
45 W. Main St.: DJ Thumper, 10:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
Center Street: DJ Swamdog, 10:30 a.m.–4 p.m.
The city is still recruiting volunteers through its volunteer sign-up page. Questions can go to the Recreation and Parks Department at [email protected] or to City Hall at 410-848-9000.