“What can we do to bring more business to our small town,” was a question raised among a group of Urbanna’s businessmen back in 1958.
“Let’s have a parade, a party,” someone suggested. “People like parades, people like parties.”
It was party on! They all agreed.
They called it Urbanna Days, the beginning of the Oyster Festival. The inaugural event was a two-day affair. The Ten Commandments with Charlton Heston was playing at the local theater and children were given free tickets so that their parents would have more time for shopping. They had a parade, of sorts, on Saturday. A fellow named Harold Plumber showcased his 1907 automobile. Others joined in. A couple thousand people came to the first Urbanna Days, later renamed the Oyster Festival in 1961. The parade grew, the number of vendors grew, the crowds grew and the Oyster Festival became entrenched as a Virginia tradition.
There are many festivals and events across our state but none quite like the Oyster Festival in Urbanna. Only friendly people are allowed to come, apparently, because in the 15 years I’ve been attending, I’ve only come across friendly, outgoing people.
Last year, I decided to light up a cigar back in the large field with many of the vendors. In minutes, I had a dozen or so folks asking what I was smoking and several expressing regrets they didn’t have a stogie to chew on. I met two fellow cigar-loving Cavalier fans who updated me on the afternoon football score.
If you buy something interesting at the Festival, people stop and ask where you bought it. If you’re eating something that looks good, they ask from which booth it came. Folks gladly offer suggestions as to where to pick up a Smoked Turkey Leg or a great cup of fresh squeezed lemonade.
Conversations are quickly struck between perfect strangers. Everybody is there to enjoy the festivities and to be part of one of the great, two-day parties in Virginia. There are no doubt lots of adult beverages consumed, but I’ve never seen anybody falling-down drunk. It’s more like a good buzz among thousands. Truly, it’s a unique event.
My gang usually comes in on a Thursday afternoon. The guys may fish from the docks while the ladies plan their shopping strategy. It is key that every vendor in every booth is considered and paid a visit.
And there are lots of great vendors with unique merchandise. You’ll find beautiful paintings and carvings depicting the Rappahannock River country and its bounty. There are handmade trinkets and artisan crafted jewelry. There are booths with cowboy hats and Oyster Festival apparel. Shoppers can choose among 100% hand knitted wool sweaters or walking canes and genuine leather belts. There are decoys and wall hangings. There are toys and gizmos. There is a little of everything at the Urbanna Oyster Festival.
And there is food. Great food. Each year, I struggle with the choices, but I have decided to spend most of my food budget at the Beach Bully stand. The folks from Virginia Beach have the best slow-smoked roast beef sandwiches you’ll ever put in your mouth and a delightful, tangy sauce that makes it all come together. Some in our crowd will go for She Crab soup. Others may sample a Soft Shell Crab Sandwich, or a Country Ham Biscuit with Oysters. Even plain old hot dogs seem to taste better at the Oyster Festival.
On Friday night there is the highly popular Fireman’s Parade. Imagine 80 fire trucks with sirens at full blast and you get the picture. Dogs throughout Middlesex County go into seclusion before, during and after the parade. It’s a noisy event.
An entertaining contest on Saturday morning is the State Oyster Shucking Championship where participants are judged not only by how many oysters they can shuck in five minutes, but also how well the finished plates are presented. A tiny bit of shell means points deducted.
Folks making day trips to the Festival can park just across the bridge leading into Urbanna and take a shuttle into downtown. Or they can come early and park in any number of front yards where locals rent spaces and pick up several hundred dollars a day in spending money.
On Sunday morning, however, everything returns to normal. Not a single paper cup lies in the streets and the crowds are no more. Urbanna is once more a quiet, peaceful town. But ever friendly.
