Tickets are now available for the 42nd annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival, set for Feb. 1, 2026, at Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens in Mount Pleasant.
The festival, billed as the world’s largest oyster celebration, will feature more than 45,000 pounds of steamed oysters available for purchase at market price. Attendees can also enjoy oyster shucking and eating contests, wine, domestic and imported beers, specialty cocktails, a children’s area called “Pluff-a-Palooza,” and a food court highlighting local restaurants. Multiple live music acts will perform throughout the day, including headliner The Yacht Club, known for its mix of soul, jazz, R&B, funk, and disco.
“We’re thrilled to invite guests from near and far to join us for one of Charleston’s most quintessential culinary traditions, which has been bringing the community together for over four decades,” said Charleston Restaurant Foundation President Johnathan Kish. “It’s an honor for the foundation to once again host this beloved event and a privilege to support the environment and charitable organizations that make the Lowcountry so special.”
The festival has raised more than $1.5 million for local charities since its inception. Proceeds from the 2025 festival totaled $125,000, benefiting organizations including Ronald McDonald House, MUSC Hollings Cancer Center, Coastal Conservation Association, Shriners Hospitals for Children, College of Charleston, Academic Magnet High School, Charleston County School of the Arts, and the Culinary Institute of Charleston’s Kathy Britzius Memorial Scholarship.
Organizers also prioritize sustainability, working with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources and the Coastal Conservation Association of Charleston to recycle oyster shells in local waters. The shells help rebuild fisheries, create reefs, prevent soil erosion, and mitigate flood risks. This summer, festival organizers joined partners to expand a commemorative oyster reef behind Boone Hall using recycled shells from past festivals. The reef, originally established in 2024 on Horlbeck Creek, honors the partnership between Boone Hall owner Willie McRae and the late Kathy Britzius, the executive director of the Charleston Restaurant Association, who helped launch the festival over four decades ago.
The festival is a rain-or-shine event. Pets, coolers, and outside food and beverages are not allowed. Oyster knives and gloves will be available for purchase. Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens is located at 1235 Long Point Road, with entrances off Long Point Road and Highway 17.
For more information, visit https://www.lowcountryhospitalityassociation.com/oyster-fest/.