1 day. 7 unique experiences. 7 amazing locations.

One Rappahannock Oyster Sample

One Oyster Stout tasting

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Rappahannock Oyster Company has been a part of local oyster history since 1899 when Ryan and Travis Croxton’s grandfather founded an oyster business on the Rappahannock River. A century later, the cousins are back at the oyster business and are mainly responsible for sparking the growth of oyster farming in Virginia’s River Realm. Attendees will be able to tour the farm operation and see what it takes to get the oyster babies from seed to table. A natural partner on the farm tour located a few steps from the Rappahannock River Oyster Company, Merroir is consistently rated as the best restaurant in Virginia. Included in our farm tour; attendees will taste a locally grown oyster along with a tasting of the Chesapeake Oyster Stout. Developed by Flying Dog Brewery, this English style bold flavored stout is washed over Rappahannock River oyster shells for that salty bay flavor. Drinking the Stout actually helps clean the bay since part of the profits go to the Oyster Recovery Partnership, an oyster shell recovery program.

Rappahannock Oyster Company

784 Locklies Creek Rd, Topping, VA

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

Parking is limited here, please drive carefully down the road. If parking is full, there will be a Shuckapalooza representative to direct you to overflow parking.

…AND WHILE YOU’RE HERE:

Merroir is the tasting room to the Rappahannock Oyster Co and one of the Shuckapalooza’s lunch spots. Everything is either served raw or cooked on an outdoor grill, small-plate-style, and beautifully paired with craft brews and world-famous wines. Each menu item is singularly-focused, seasonal, and ever-changing, so there’s always a surprise in store. Beautiful majestic views and fresh from the river oysters is an experience you cannot miss!

One Roasted Chesapeake
Gold Oyster sample

One tasting of Ingleside Wine

One Raw Chesapeake Gold
Oyster sample

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Christchurch School is a small private boarding and day school located on the Rappahannock River. Using funds made from recycling aluminum cans, this student-run oyster program began as an environmental/ educational project. The school now leases 101 acres of river bottom at their waterfront to use for oyster farming. Students watch the growth of the oyster from a 2 millimeter seed to a harvestable adult (3 inches or larger). With cleaning and sorting it takes approximately two years to grow an oyster from seed to adult size. Students also gain a lesson in entrepreneurship and business since the final product is marketed for sale. For this site visit, students will be on-hand to explain the process of growing their oysters from seed. Students that work on the project will be available for tours and to answer questions. Visitors will be allowed to taste Christchurch’s Chesapeake Gold oysters paired with a tasting of Ingleside wine.

Christchurch School

49 Seahorse Lane, Christchurch, VA

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

Come with questions, the students and teachers here are so passionate about the ecology of oysters! This is a waterfront tour, dress appropriately.

…AND WHILE YOU’RE HERE:

Christchurch School will offer tours of the school campus to Shuckapalooza guests

One wild caught oyster sample

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Urbanna is the epicenter of the Virginia oyster history and culinary adventure. The village is also the site of the Urbanna Oyster Festival, the official festival of the Oyster in Virginia. On this stop, guests will have a rare opportunity to tour one of the few oyster shucking houses still in operation. View a small Oyster vessel for a short lecture on the tools of the oyster industry in the Rappahannock River from a native waterman. In addition, attendees will also be able to tour a crab shedding facility at this location. While definitely not an oyster, crabs provide income to waterman during the summer months of June-August, when they are unable to dredge for oysters. At the Urbanna Seafood and Raw Bar restaurant, attendees will view a demonstration from a local oyster shucker on how to best open those tasty bivalves, and will be provided an oyster to taste freshly shucked.

Urbanna Seafood and Raw Bar

453 Johnsons Dr, Urbanna, VA

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

Off the beaten path. Follow the Shucka signs, even if you think you are lost. It is worth the drive!

…AND WHILE YOU’RE HERE:

As a Shuckapalooza lunch spot, this waterfront location is a beautiful backdrop for eating the freshest seafood in the area! Known for their wild caught and aqua-farmed oysters and fresh Chesapeake Bay blue crabs you won’t want to miss specialties like Crab Balls with a Zesty Remoulade Sauce, Crab Bites, Spicy Tugboat Shrimp, Low Country Boil for two, Little Neck Clams, Crab Cakes, Steamed Mussels, Fish Tacos and Soft-Shell Crab Sandwiches.

Cornmeal Crusted Blackberry Point Oyster with Sweet Onion Relish and Chipotle Aioli.

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Located at The Tides dock in Irvington, this stop on the tour features a short boat trip provided by Friends of the Rappahannock to the Ellery Kellum Oyster Sanctuary. Learn all about how this man made oyster sanctuary was created through the efforts of The Tides, Kellum’s Seafood and the Friends of the Rappahannock. Each oyster provides over 50 gallons of water filtration per day, cleaning the river as it grows one oyster at a time. The man made oyster sanctuary has been developed to help restore native oyster growth as well as to clean the water. At the reef sanctuary there will be plenty of opportunity for hands on learning and discussions about FOR’s oyster restoration programs and ways you can get involved with protecting the Rappahannock River.

The Tides & Friends of the Rappahannock

The Tides, 480 King Carter Drive, Irvington, VA

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

You will be on the water; dress for comfort.

…AND WHILE YOU’RE HERE:

As a Shuckapalooza lunch spot it’s casual yet refined dining in the Chesapeake Room or grab a Lancaster Lemonade out on the Terrace for a spectacular view of Carter’s Creek. The menus at the Tides always deliver. Superior food, service and views make the Tides a “must” when in the River Realm.

One Eastern Shore Chesapeake Bay
Wine and Oyster tasting

One Western Shore Chesapeake Bay
Wine and Oyster tasting

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Wine and Oysters take the taste of their homes. Compare the pairing of award winning wines of the Dog and Oyster Vineyard with Rappahannock River oysters (Western Shore) vs. the wines of Chatham Vineyards and Shooting Point oysters (Eastern Shore). It’s where terroir and merroir meet!

Dog and Oyster Vineyard

170 White Fences Dr, Irvington, VA

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

This is mostly outside so dress accordingly. Plus you get to decorate oyster shells. Bring your creative side.

…AND WHILE YOU’RE HERE:

The Dog and Oyster Vineyard is host to SLURP, a new outdoor restaurant featuring raw, fried and roasted oysters a la carte at the venue. As a Shuckapalooza lunch spot, the SLURP menu offers avant-garde and traditional oyster fare, all of which pairs well with Dog and Oyster wines. Don’t forget to get a picture with the famous giant corkscrews!

One Roasted Oyster sample
from Willaby’s

One Roasted Oyster sample
from Miss Mary Seafood (Back Bay
Golds Oyster from the Back River)

Two craft beer tastings
from Willaby’s

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Ever wonder how coastal Virginian’s host a Southern Oyster Roast? The process is not complicated once you see it in action. Hit the beach at Willaby’s Restaurant, located adjacent to the Rappahannock River Bridge. A culinary expert will give you a hands-on experience on setting up a traditional oyster roast. Your visit will include a wild-harvest oyster tasting with more available for purchase. Miss Mary Seafood, in White Stone will feature local waterman demonstrating harvesting techniques. Just anchored off of the beach, you will view the deadrise boats still used by watermen today. Miss Mary Seafood will offer an oyster tasting of their Back Bay Gold from James River.

Willaby’s on the Rappahannock & Miss Mary Seafood

327 Old Ferry Rd, White Stone, VA

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

If the parking lot is full, park along the entrance road to the restaurant and walk down the hill to the beach.

…AND WHILE YOU’RE HERE:

As a Shuckapalooza lunch spot, enjoy this local favorite for classic American comfort food whilst overlooking the Rappahannock River. Stick around in the evening for live music and an incredible 28 craft beers on tap.

One HPP oyster sample

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HPP takes the struggle out of opening oysters, a better and faster way to sell and serve oysters. Visitors will discover a revolutionary pressure machine for opening oysters before they go to markets. The process leaves the whole, delicious, natural product, plumped with its own brine and completely separated from the shell. HPP of Virginia, is providing restaurants, grocery stores and events a better way to sell and serve oysters. In addition, Oyster Company of Virginia has also acquired rights to Reeftek, Inc.’s “Oyster Eco Reef Module”, you will be able to see one reef on site! Your guided tour of the facility will end with a sample of an oyster prepared out of the HPP machine.

HPP of Virginia

27 Industrial Dr, Topping, VA

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

It may look like an industrial park, so don’t be alarmed. Park in the parking lot outside the facility and experience newly engineered technology for the oyster industry.

…AND WHILE YOU’RE HERE:

Don’t forget to visit the ‘Oyster Eco Reef Module,’ a uniquely engineered design!

Tickets are Sold Out!

Shucks! It looks like all the tickets for this year’s Shuckapalooza are sold out. You can still sign up for our e-newsletter and stay up-to-date on all things going on with Virginia’s River Realm including first notice about future giveaways, event updates, and unique getaway ideas.

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Rain Date

In the event of inclement weather the event and experiences will take place on April 26, 2019.

 

Proceeds from the event support
Friends of the Rappahannock