October 31, 2008- Apalachicola, FL

Florida Seafood Festival
APALACHICOLA – Celebrate the 45th Annual Florida Seafood Festival from October 31-November 1 at Battery Park. This is the oldest seafood festival in the state of Florida. If you love great seafood, arts & crafts, fine folks and wonderful entertainment all wrapped into a magnificent family atmosphere, then join us. The event will feature quality entertainment and maritime crafts paying tribute to the Apalachicola Bay's commercial fishermen. There is also an oyster shucking contest, oyster eating contest. Headliners this November 1st are Daryle Singletary at 4 p.m. and Little Texas at 8 p.m. For more information visit Website www.floridaseafoodfestival.com or call 653-9419.

October 25, 2008- Earleigh Heights, MD

Athletic fundraiserThe Severna Park High School Falcons Athletic Boosters will hold a bull, oyster and pig roast and silent auction at 7 p.m. at the Earleigh Heights fire hall on Ritchie Highway. Tickets are $35. spboosters.org.

October 25, 2008- Rosedale, MD

Bull roast The Annapolis Chapter of Wish-a-Fish will hold a bull and oyster roast, 7 p.m. to midnight at American Turners Hall in Rosedale to raise money to take families with special needs children out for a day of fishing on the bay. A donation of $40 is requested. Door prizes and raffles also will be held. 410-533-8672.

October 18, 2008- Carversville, PA

Annual oyster-port supper, held since 1871, featuring a menu that includes roast pork, fried oysters, stewed tomatoes, creamed corn, mashed potatoes and more, including a variety of desserts, as well as a craft shop. $18; $8 ages 5-12; free for children under 5. 3-8 p.m. at the Carversville Christian Church, 3736 Aquetong Road, Carversville, 215-297-5166

October 17, 2008- Little Creek, DE

ALL YOU CAN EAT FRIED CHICKEN & DUMPLING DINNER
Friday, October 17, 2008 5PM til 7PM

Little Creek Fire Co. Sockal Hall, Rt 9, , Little Creek, DE
For more info contact: Nancy @ 302-734-5071

Review: Calvary United Methodist Ham and Oyster Dinner 10/4/2008

Today I finally attended the Calvary United Methodist Ham and Oyster Dinner in Queenstown, MD. I brought Andrew along with me as we both have a great love for oysters and he has never attended a traditional oyster dinner. I have been eager to try this particular dinner since I saw an advert for it two years ago as it mentioned "Maryland Beaten Biscuits."

I don't know how I have gone this long without trying a Maryland Beaten Biscuit; I went to college in Chestertown for goodness sakes! And my mom has been telling me this story about them since before I can remember: apparently in the mid-20th century an African American man would go house to house and beat the biscuit dough for the ladies of Chestertown. Being the time period it was, these women would not allow the man to touch the dough; they would turn it and he would beat it. This story seemed unbelievable to me but now seems totally plausable considering the time period.

I am pretty sure that they did not have the biscuits I was seeking but the rolls they did have were delicious. And the oysters were out of this world - people were enjoying them so much that they had to go buy more quarts of oysters around 5:45!

The family style seating always lends itself to making new friends. My tablemate Kay introduced me to the kind Mr. Jim Lewis (last photo) who was so nice to give me some of his secret breading mixture (which was a lot like tempura) to take home to make my own oysters! Thank you Jim!

The church holds dinners the first weekend in October and the last weekend in March. And the oyster cooking team often goes to neighboring communities to assist with their oyster dinners. I believe they mentioned one in Price, MD at the end of October.

I also learned from tablemates that the Grasonville VFW has oysters every weekend from the fall through spring! Eat 'em up folks!

Note to readers- please click on all photos for a larger image.

From Eastern Shore Trip

From Eastern Shore Trip

From Eastern Shore Trip

From Eastern Shore Trip

From Eastern Shore Trip

October 4, 2008- Wilmington, DE

Ham & Oyster Dinner
Sponsored By
St. Marks United Methodist Men

Saturday, October 4, 2008
1700 Limestone Rd.
Wilmington, DE. 19808
(302) 994-0400

Adult: $18.00; $20.00 At Door
Children 12 and under $6.00

3:00pm - 7:30pm

Includes potato salad, coleslaw, green beans, rolls, beverage and dessert

October 4, 2008- Lothian, MD

Oyster and Ham Dinner St James' Episcopal Church (I believe they have
the incorrect day posted below)

The Women of St. James' Parish in Lothian, Maryland are having their
annual Oyster and Ham Dinner and festival on Saturday October 6th from
2 to 6 PM. The dinners include traditional Country Ham and also Honey
Ham, delicious Fried Oysters, Au Gratin Cheese Potatoes, String Beans
and fresh rolls. The Womens group will use the proceeds from this
annual festival to support the many ministries at St James' and in the
South Anne Arundel County community. There will be free tours of the
historic church building, a bake sale and plant sale, white elephant
table, childrens games and activities including a moon bounce and our
must have home made ice cream. Antique cars will also be on display in
the rectory driveway. Please join us for a wonderful day of fun and
fellowship and enjoy a fantastic meal all while supporting a terrific
cause. St. James Parish is located at 5757 Solomons Island Road in
Lothian Maryland 20711. It is the historic brick church located across
from the park n ride on Rt 2. Phone 410-867-2838.

October 4, 2008- Queenstown, MD

Calvary United Methodist Ham and Oyster Dinner - Queenstown

October 4, 2008

Calvary United Methodist Ham and Oyster Dinner - Queenstown Description Calvary United Methodist Ham and Oyster Dinner Hearty ham and oyster dinner, served family style with potato salad, coleslaw, Maryland beaten biscuits, green beans, and more. For ticket information please call the church office. Saturday 3pm to 7pm, Calvary United Methodist Church, Queenstown 410.827.7113, Church Office / www.queenstowncalvaryumc.org website Contact For ticket information please call the church office at 410.827.7113 Web Site URL www.queenstowncalvaryumc.org

October 4, 2008- Pole Tavern, NJ

Oyster Chicken Salad Dinner at Elmer Grange Hall
Benefiting Daretown Fire Company

2:30 PM -6:30 PM seatings

Reservations

856-358-1614 or 856-358-7243

Adults & Takeouts $16
Children $7

October 4, 2008- Oxford, PA

Ham, oysters dinner

A ham and oyster dinner is being held at Union Fire Company No. 1, 315
Market St, Oxford from 4 to 7 p.m. Oct 4.

Tickets are $14 for adults, $7 for children. The menu includes ham,
oysters, parsley potatoes, string beans, creamed mushrooms, cole slaw,
apple sauce, rolls, butter, coffee, iced tea and dessert. For
information, reservations and tickets, call 610-932-8796 by Sept. 28.

October 1, 2008- Cold Spring, NJ

Oct. 01, 2008

Annual Fried Oyster Dinner is Oct. 7

COLD SPRING -- Enjoy popular, local fare at the fourth annual Fried Oyster Dinner, hosted by the Friends of Historic Cold Spring Village on Tuesday, Oct. 7. The event will be held at the Old Grange Restaurant located at the Seashore Road entrance to Historic Cold Spring Village. Expertly prepared by Chef Bill Reim, the dinner will feature traditional deep fried oysters with tartar and cocktail sauce, chicken and potato salad, coleslaw, sliced tomatoes, dinner rolls, coffee, iced tea and dessert. Don't forget to bring your own wine. Buffet style serving will begin at 5:30 p.m. Reservations are required and tickets sales are limited. To purchase tickets, please call Peggy at 884-5772, or Lori Hall at 898-2300, ext. 10. The price is $22 per person and a portion of the proceeds benefits the Village.
Chuck Juechter, president of the Friends of HCSV, explains that "Oystering was a flourishing part of Cape May County history. Celebrating the tradition of enjoying oysters is an appropriate and enjoyable fundraiser for Historic Cold Spring Village." The shellfish became a popular part of Southern New Jersey tourism as early as 1801. Early Cape Island proprietor Ellis Hughes summarized the draw of Cape May in a Philadelphia newspaper as a haven for visitors who wished to "bathe in the sea, dine on oysters and fish, and drink fine liquors."