Whitstable Oyster Festival - Art, Heritage, Family, Food and Drink.

Events by Type

A listing of all events programmed so far.

Heritage

The week’s festivities open with the ceremonial “Landing of the Oysters” at Long Beach and subsequent distribution to hostelries from the noisy and colourful Oyster Parade. Another key heritage event takes place at Reeves Beach towards the end of the week, with the memorable and moving ‘Blessing of the Waters’ ceremony. Surrounding these showpiece ceremonies are more festival traditions which may not be unique to Whitstable but certainly add to its eccentric ambience. Crab catching and Grotter Day are both firm favourites with children whilst the Mud Tug and Oyster Eating competitions celebrate the messy and riotous. And of course, heritage walks, talks and demonstrations can be found at a variety of venues and times throughout the week as well as a brand new “Sea Sunday” event in Whitstable Harbour. (See detailed schedule)

Food and Drink

Whitstable’s reputation as a centre for fine food is well deserved as visitors to the Festival know well! Two major food and drink events in the festival act as a focal point for the very best in local produce and taste experience. The EPICentre is a 2 day event showcasing over 40 food producers alongside entertainment and a food stage with practical demonstrations and the much loved annual oyster eating competition. Now sponsored by Produced in Kent, the Epicentre is a fabulous new festival attraction that any food lover will enjoy and a great day out in itself.

Complementing the Epicentre is the Whitstable Brewery Beer Festival, offering 4 days of over 30 cask beers to tray and enjoy, plus live music every evening.

If oysters are your thing, sorry but you’ll have to return after September 1st to experience the Whitstable Native oyster, but there are a small number of local rock oysters and plenty of our other oysters to practice on. These can be found throughout the town. (See detailed schedule)

Family

Community is, as ever, first and foremost with the Festival. Both weekends feature lots of free family activities for everyone to enjoy, alongside special event for children like kite flying, Bears Books & Bikkies with the Tell Woman, petanque on a grand scale, a horticultural treat, behind the scenes bell ringing and organised rambles. (See detailed schedule)

Arts

There is more theatre, art, music and dance than ever before. As well as open air performances, there is a wide variety of music on offer in pubs, bars and community venues throughout Whitstable, more theatre in the street and at the Playhouse, more arts, and lots of workshop opportunities for people of all ages, including workshops and performances contributed by the Marlowe Theatre while it is closed for redevelopment. (See detailed schedule)

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