News

35th annual Oyster Roast a smashing success!

Events, Sound Rivers

Posted on November 17th, 2022

Postponed for two years because of the coronavirus pandemic, Sound Rivers finally held its 35th-annual Oyster Roast on Nov. 12. On a particularly warm November night, approximately 400 oyster-lovers gathered under the stars to shuck oysters and sip beer provided by three local breweries: Duck Rabbit from Farmville, Tarboro Brewing Company from Tarboro and Two Rivers from Washington.

More than 60 volunteers, including Sound Rivers’ members, board members and Beaufort County Community College students in the Honor Society and Environmental Alliance clubs, took part in making the Oyster Roast one of the best ones yet. It was a weekend affair: Friday was spent building tables and hanging lights on the Washington Civic Center grounds; Saturday, washing oysters and setting up food, decor and the annual auction in the Civic Center before ticket-holders arrived, then serving up oysters, sauce, chili and more; while Sunday, a core crew came back to break everything down.

Thank you to our many volunteers and sponsors! It was a great event, and we definitely could not have done it without you!

 

Concerns that the Oyster Roast would be affected by a tropical system did not come to fruition. Rain on Friday turned into a unseasonably warm Oyster Roast Saturday.
Longtime Sound Rivers volunteer Joe Hester was one of many volunteers building tables on Friday afternoon.
The calm before the Oyster Roast storm.
The Washington Civic Center grounds were filled with oyster-lovers just hours later.
Neuse Riverkeeper Samantha Krop (second from right) and Avery Knox (right), the daughter of Sound Rivers’ board member Walker Knox, served up cocktail sauce and butter to Oyster Roast patrons.
Clay Barber, Sound Rivers’ program director, was on oyster-delivery duty at the Oyster Roast.
Pamlico-Tar Riverkeeper Jill Howell made the rounds with buckets of steamed oysters.
Sunday breakdown had a team of volunteers helping to dismantle the Oyster Roast.
The Oyster Roast is dismantled and packed away in storage until next year!
Thank you, to all of our sponsors!

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