History
The first Wellfleet OysterFest was held in the fall of 2001 as an impromptu event to bring the community together and celebrate the town's shellfishing tradition and the fruits of the season. It awakened a tremendous amount of community spirit and interest in spreading the word about the Wellfleet's delicious shellfish. Within a year, a group of volunteers chartered the non-profit organization - Wellfleet SPAT, Shellfish Promotion and Tasting, Inc. - and made community education its primary goal, while ensuring the future of the festival. Even the name honors the oyster. The acronym SPAT is also the name for a newly attached baby oyster. Over the years, the event grew organically to include Raw Bars operated by Wellfleet shellfishermen, tours of local aquaculture farms, educational lectures, cooking demonstrations, a Fine Arts and Crafts Fair, food vendors, family activities, musical performances, road races and the premier event an Oyster Shucking Competition!
Specialties
The Wellfleet OysterFest is produced by Wellfleet SPAT, Shellfish Promotion and Tasting, Inc., a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt non-profit organization devoted to sustaining Wellfleet's shellfishing and aquaculture industries. The 'Fest, as it is affectionately dubbed, is held annually the weekend after Columbus Day - this year the event will take place on Saturday and Sunday, October 15 & 16, 2016. Now in its 216th year, the 'Fest is held in the heart of Wellfleet, Cape Cod, Massachusetts. This two-day family festival celebrates the town's famous oysters, clams and shellfishing traditions bringing together locals and visitors alike for a weekend full of hometown flavor and big time fun! There is something for everyone: local cuisine, arts and crafts, educational programs, cooking demonstrations, children's activities, walking tours, live music, a road race, and the annual Oyster Shuck-Off competition. The event is made possible through collaboration with the Town of Wellfleet, the support of many generous area businesses and shellfishermen, a dedicated group of volunteers and, most importantly, the weekend's enthusiastic attendees. Proceeds from the 'Fest fund the organization's educational mission which includes a local college scholarship program, community grant awards and initiatives to support Wellfleet's shellfishing and aquaculture industries. To date, SPAT has given back more than $368,500 to the local community.