Lowcountry Oyster Festival: It's no drop in the bucket

Like a heavyweight champ, the annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival lays claims to the ultimate title: "World's Largest Oyster Roast."

Sure, it might be unofficial, but with 78,000 pounds of oysters expected to be eaten, who's really going to argue?

The Charleston Restaurant Association will put on the 29th annual event Sunday at Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant. Gates open at 10:30 a.m., rain or shine.

Toasted as one of the "Top 20 events in the Southeast" by the Southeastern Tourism Society, organizers expect at least 11,000 people to attend this year's festival, showing the growth and reach of the annual affair.

In its earliest days, the festival drew about 600 people as they dined on perhaps 2,000 bushels of oysters, said Kathy Britzius, executive director of the Charleston Restaurant Association.

The event bounced around locations -- Boone Hall, Middleton Place, Magnolia Plantation and Brittlebank Park -- before settling at Boone Hall.

This year, festival organizers expect gatherers to consume a considerably higher number of oysters on the back lawn of the plantation in comparison to three decades ago.

"We originally put this together because it was such a down time in Charleston, and we wanted to build business," Britzius said. "It's been built up quite a bit now."

No kidding. The logistics represent a significant part of the operation, as the single select oysters are trucked in from Texas on semi-trailers.

This year, organizers expect the mollusks to be plucked from beds in Galveston Bay. Then, upon arrival, a group of volunteers led by Jamie Westendorff and John Scott will begin steaming the oysters. As one might imagine, it's an all-day ordeal.

Oysters, and then some

Though oysters receive top billing, there are more munchies offered than just oysters.

The food court features shrimp, other seafood, chili, gyros, barbecue and wings.

Vendors include Gilligan's Steamer and Raw Bar, A.W.

Shuck's Seafood, North Towne Greek restaurant, Red's Ice House, Wild Wing Cafe, Grindz Burgers & Brew, Jim 'N Nick's Bar-B-Q and Hyman's Seafood Company.

A large children's area will feature pony rides, face painting and jump castles. And, naturally, beer and wine (for the adults) will be available.

"A lot of people want to come to the party but they don't want to eat oysters," Britzius said.

Another big draw: the event's annual oyster shucking contest. Top prize promises $250, with the runner-up earning $125.

Contestants must yank as many oysters as possible from their shells and place the spoils in 16-ounce plastic cups. Marco Gaspar came away with the men's title last year, unsheathing 45 oysters in three minutes. Cathy Milliken took the women's top prize by shucking 35 oysters in two minutes.

But why plastic cups? Because they're used during the festival's other main event, the oyster eating contest. Which might as well be a drinking challenge, as contestants try to down as many of the 16-ounce oyster shakes as they can. First and second place winners earn the same as top shuckers.

Considering competing? Better bring your appetite.

Last year, John Carson swallowed 6 1/2 cups of oysters, about 56 ounces, in three minutes to claim the men's title. The second-place finisher, Kenny Miller, ate half as much. Ryan Sellers led the women by downing 2.9 cups of oysters, almost 32 ounces, in two minutes. Both contests should take place between 1:30 and 2 p.m.

Just for comparison purposes, Colin Shirlow of the United Kingdom holds the men's Guinness World

Record, having gorged on 233 oysters in three minutes.

On the women's side, legendary eater Sonya "the Black Widow" Thomas owns the mark, putting away 552 oysters in 10 minutes. Both records were set in 2005.

"It's wild," Britzius said of the Lowcountry Oyster Festival contest. "It's a lot of fun though."

The entertainment

Country rockers Eddie Bush and the Mayhem will provide live music at the festival.

Bush, a Lowcountry native, is an industry veteran, having toured with or opened for such well-known artists as Keith Urban, Alison Krauss, Cheap Trick, Montgomery Gentry, Delbert McClinton, Charlie Daniels and the late Jeff Healy.

Some of his best-received work has patriotic overtones. Bush penned and recorded the song "Spirit of America" following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

The tune received national airplay, including on the Z100 radio station in New York and on "The Howard Stern Show."

Another song he recorded was done after being asked by Charleston police officers to commemorate fellow officers.

Bush performed "The Thin Blue Line" at the 22nd annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Day services in Washington, with President George W. Bush and 30,000 police officers in the audience.

More recently, the singer won the "New Country Artist Search" at ourstage.com, a partner of MTV.

He's now at work on his next album, "Shared Time."

Beyond the oysters

As with any event, the festival has a few rules: No coolers. No pets. No tailgating.

And one request: Please carpool.

Long cited as problematic areas by festival goers, this year's parking and traffic should be better. An additional entrance from U.S. Highway 17 will enable use of several hundred extra parking spaces unavailable in past years. Visitors entering here can use a free park-and-ride trolley shuttle.

The festival contracted the service from a professional company that specializes in car parking at special events. Organizers used the same group during October's Taste of Charleston, helping traffic flow to and from the festival.

"It's a tremendous improvement," Britzius said. "An expensive one, but well worth it."

The festival costs $12 in advance and $15 at the gate. Kids 10 and under get in free.

Bring your own oyster knives and gloves or buy them on site. Oysters cost $10 for 3 1/2 dozen.

All proceeds benefit four local charities: The Ronald McDonald House, Hospitality Heroes, Hollings Cancer Center and the Charleston County Schools Science Materials Resource Center.

To date, the CRA has raised more than $1 million in charitable contributions.

And wouldn't you know it? Organizers of the "World's Largest Oyster Roast" have already begun preparations for next year's 30th annual event. It's just another chance to defend the crown.