Wellfleet OysterFest Returns For 2025

WELLFLEET, MA — There's a steakhouse in the heart of a semi-major midwestern city that a local New England journalist visits each time he returns to the Midwest to see family. Often on that menu are some of the best oysters in the world, and they happen to hail from Wellfleet.

Cape Cod locals are spoiled by the bounty of world-class oysters in the waters right by their homes. This weekend, they'll be spoiled once more as the annual Wellfleet OysterFest returns for 2025.

The two-day party that combines the region's love of art, oysters and community kicks off on Saturday and continues on Sunday, when downtown Wellfleet is likely to see upwards of 20,000 people descend on the community of roughly 3,500, or 18,000 in the summer.

Yes, that means an annual oyster celebration brings more people to Wellfleet than a Cape Cod summer. Somehow, it even makes sense.

OysterFest includes dozens of local vendors ranging from the arts, clothing, non-profts and, of course, raw bars and food vendors. A map of vendors can be found here.

Back for 2025 is the annual Shuck Off, which will see preliminaries on Saturday and the finals on Sunday. The winner earns a $3,000 cash prize and qualifies to compete in the National U.S. Oyster Shucking Championship Contest. Second place wins $1,500, and third place wins $500.

A full event schedule can be found here.

Quick Hits

Tickets are still available for the festival for $35. Kids under 12 get in free, but they must register in advance. Find them here. No tickets are sold at the gate.

Wellfleet residents get in free so long as they register in advance.

Free parking and shuttles can be found at ocean beaches, including LeCount Hollow, White Crest, and Newcomb Hollow. Shuttles start at 9:45 a.m. and end at 6 p.m.

Paid parking is available from the town at the Wellfleet Pier and on private property on a first-come, first-served basis.

Beer, wine and seltzer will be sold, but alcohol sales are cash only. Hit the ATM before you go.