The oyster roast is easily one of the Lowcountry’s most popular traditions; and it perhaps is one of our most enduring, too. Historians have traced evidence of oyster roasts being held as far back of 4,000 years ago, with ancient, fire-blackened shells discovered alongside fragments of decorated pottery in our waterways– likely leftover from gatherings of the area’s then-residents, the Sewee.
The party hasn’t stopped since. Though the common belief that oyster season only runs through months ending in “R” has been debunked, it remains a popular time for oyster-related festivities During the winter, you’re likely to run into an oyster roast on any day ending in “Y”.
Read on 18 of the top roasts happening this winter, including all the nitty-gritty details so you can decide which roast is right for you. With so many options, the world truly is, dare I say– your oyster.
Rooftop Oyster Roast with Rhythm and Blues
📍 The McKee’s | 138 Market St.
📆 Fri., Jan. 25
⏰ 6:30-10 p.m.
💲 $50
💭 Hors-d’oeuvres, oysters, and music from Calvin Taylor.
Lighthouse Oyster Roast
📍 Summerville Country Club | 400 Country Club Blvd., Summerville
📆 Sat., Jan. 26
⏰ 7-11 p.m.
💲 $45
💭 Unlimited steamed oysters, pulled pork sandwiches, beer + wine, a raffle, and music from Band of Oz.
Shucked + Sauced
📍 Rose Pavilion at Hampton Park
📆 Sat., Jan. 26
⏰ 1-4 p.m.
💲 $85
💭 Ticket price includes food, beer + wine, and live music. 21+ only.
Swamp Angel Oyster Roast
📍 Ft. Johnson Estates Civic Club House | 400 Trapier Dr., James Island
📆 5:30 p.m.- 8 p.m.
⏰ 5:30-8 p.m.
💲 $30 includes oysters; $15 excludes oysters
💭 Ticket price also includes home-cooked chili, hot dogs, desserts + hot chocolate. Mayor John Tecklenburg will speak at the event. BYOB.
Bud and Cecily Stack Memorial Oyster Roast
📍 IOP Exchange Club | 201 Palm Blvd., Isle of Palms
📆 Sat., Jan. 26
⏰ 4-7 p.m.
💲 $35
💭 Single, select oysters, southern-style chili, hot dogs, live music, plus a silent auction + raffle.
9th Annual Bo Roast and Chili Cook-off
📍 Smoky Oak Taproom | 1234 Camp Rd., James Island
📆 Sat., Jan. 26
⏰ 12 p.m.
💲 $10 to attend; $25 for VIP which includes all you can eat oysters
(tickets available at Smoky Oak Taproom)
💭 Chili, oysters, music, kids food, + a jump castle.
36th Annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival
📍 Boone Hall Plantation
📆 Sun., Jan. 27
⏰ 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.
💲 $17.50+
💭 Oyster shucking + eating contests, food trucks, a children’s area, live music. Ticket price includes entry; food + bev tickets sold separately inside event.
Oysterfest
📍 South Carolina Aquarium
📆 Fri., Feb. 1
⏰ 7:30 p.m.
💲 $45+
💭 Tickets include food, a beer + wine bar, and entertainment. 21+.
Shuckin’ for Shelter Oyster Roast
📍 The Barn at Oakley Farms | 112 Paso Lane, Moncks Corner
📆 Sat., Feb. 2
⏰ 2-5 p.m.
💲 $30
💭 All you can eat oysters, alternative food options, music, and kids activities. BYOB– no glass bottles.
Oyster Roast at West Ashley Charleston Sports Pub
📍 1124 Sam Rittenberg Blvd., West Ashley
📆 Sat., Feb. 2
⏰ 1-4 p.m.
💲 $20
💭 All you can eat oysters, live music, lawn games, + beer specials.
Cork Shuckin’ Annual Oyster Roast
📍 Deep Water Vineyard | 6775 Bears Bluff Rd., Johns Island
📆 Sat., Feb. 9
⏰ 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.
💲 $5
💭 Local oysters, music, food trucks, beers, local vendors, kids activities, plus tastings / drinks from Deep Water Vineyard + Firefly Distillery.
All You Can Eat Oyster Roast by Blue Steel Promotions
📍 My Father’s Moustache | 1405 Ben Sawyer Blvd., Ste.103, Mt. Pleasant
📆 Sat., Feb. 9
⏰ 2- 8 p.m.
💲 $35 GA; $10 for entry without ACYE oysters
💭 Ticket price includes all you can eat oysters, drink specials, games, + live music. 21+.
Oysters on the Point
📍Charleston Harbor Resort + Marina | 20 Patriots Point Blvd., Mount Pleasant
📆 Sat., Feb. 9, + Sat., Mar. 16
⏰ 2-6 p.m.
💲 $5
💭 Local oysters, live music, vendors, marshmallow roasting, beer, + a Bloody Mary bar.
Winter Oyster Roast & Pig Pickin’
📍 Home Team BBQ | 1205 Ashley River Rd., West Ashley
📆 Sun., Feb. 10
⏰1:30-6:30 p.m.
💲$25 at the door
💭 Live music, whole hog BBQ, + Lowcountry oyster clusters.
Ducks Unlimited Oyster Roast and LowCountry Cookout
📍 Charleston Visitor Center + Bus Shed
📆 Fri., Feb. 15
⏰ 6:30-10:30 p.m.
💲 $75
💭 Ticket includes all you can eat oysters, a Lowcountry cookout, an open bar, an auction/raffle, + a 2019 Ducks Unlimited membership.
Fleet Fest Oyster Roast
📍 Fleet Landing | 186 Concord St.
📆 Sun., Feb. 17
⏰ 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.
💲 $5
💭 Ft. oysters from Maggioni Oysters out of Beaufort, plus Freehouse Brewing and HiWire Brewing will be in attendance. The event is both kid + dog friendly.
The Charleston Museum’s Annual Oyster Roast
📍 The Dill Sanctuary | 1163 Riverland Dr., James Island
📆 Sat., Feb. 23
⏰ 12-3 p.m.
💲 Prices vary
💭 Tickets include admission, BBQ, oysters, hand-spun cotton candy, + an archaeology talk with Archaeologist Ron Anthony.
Trophy Lakes with Swig & Swine BBQ Roast
📍 Trophy Lakes | 3050 Marlin Rd., Johns Island
📆 Sun., Feb. 24
⏰ 1-5 p.m.
💲 $35
💭 Details TBD
Friends’ Annual Oyster Roast Fundraiser
📍 Bowens Island Restaurant | 1870 Bowens Island Rd., James Island
📆 Sun., Mar. 10
⏰ 2-5 p.m.
💲 $25 in advance; $30 at the door
💭 Tickets include oysters, live music, hot dogs, + soda. There will be a cash bar for beer + wine. There will also be a chili cook-off contest.
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Hosting your own oyster roast? Shucked shells are actually vital for cultivating + restoring oyster beds– so make sure to recycle your shells rather than tossing them out.
In fact, due to the multitude of oyster roasts held each year, South Carolina is facing a critical shortage of oyster shells, and the state has been forced to actually purchase shells from out-of-state processors. You can find a list of oyster shell drop-off locations here.
– Jen
