OCTOBER 4–5 | SHELTON, WASHINGTON
2025 WEST COAST OYSTER SHUCKING CHAMPIONSHIP AND WASHINGTON STATE SEAFOOD FESTIVAL
FREE event progrAm
Look inside for top TEN reasons you don’t want to miss this annual celebration!
Hello. We’re glad you’re here.
Since 1982, OysterFest has been more than just a festival – it’s been the heartbeat of Shelton every fall. What began as a celebration of our seafood has grown into our County’s most beloved traditions and a force for good in our community.
Yes, the food is incredible – fresh oysters, seafood delicacies, and local libations are always at the center of the celebration – but OysterFest is so much more. It’s a weekend filled with family fun, hands-on educational exhibits, lively music, and the unforgettable excitement of the West Coast Oyster Shucking Championship.
Hosted and lovingly brought to life each year by the Skookum Rotary Club of Shelton, OysterFest is powered by volunteers, families, and friends who come together to make a difference. Every ticket, every plate, and every pint helps support hundreds of nonprofits here at home and around the world.
When you spend a dollar at OysterFest, you’re investing in your community –and that’s something to celebrate. Be sure to grab a seat near the Shucking Stage, where Saturday and Sunday competitions bring out the fastest, most skilled shuckers in the region – competing for cash prizes, bragging rights, and a shot at national recognition.
Between bites, take a stroll through the festival grounds and explore exhibits that highlight the importance of clean water and healthy shorelines. These displays remind us why we gather each year – to celebrate not only the food, but the environment that sustains it.
Every year, a local artist is selected to create the official OysterFest poster, and this year’s winner is Janette Stiles, whose piece “Oyster Bay Harvest” captures the spirit of the season. Signed posters, along with T-shirts, hats, glasses, and other souvenirs, are available at the merchandise tent.
OysterFest wouldn’t be possible without the vendors, exhibitors, volunteers, and guests who make it such a success year after year. So, thank you for being part of this beloved tradition – for keeping the spirit of OysterFest alive
of Hospital Commissioners: Darrin Moody, Lori Brady & Don Welander
It’s Oyster Season in Shelton –and
we’ve got the details
Cooler weather means it’s prime time for oysters — but also a good idea to be ready for rain or wind. Here’s everything you need to know before heading to our community’s Seafood Festival!
getting here:
OysterFest is hosted on the Shelton Airport, located at 250 W Sanderson Way — just north of Shelton off Hwy 101. Follow the OysterFest signs! There’s plenty of parking available on site– some has been claimed by the temporary fire camp but alternative areas have been designated. Handicap parking available near the gates
Staying a while? There’s an entire RV/dry camping village just for the event, but make reservations soon online as spots fill fast!
catch a ride
Shuttles every 20–30 minutes
Sat: 10 – 6:30 PM | Sun:10 – 5:30 PM:
Kamilche Transit Center – (Casino)
Shelton Matlock Park & Ride
Olympic College – (Shelton Campus)
support local
ATMs on Site — Thank you PUD#3 and Hood Canal Communications for Wi-Fi!
Credit cards are accepted at the ticket booth, souvenir tent, and many booths. Beer Garden is CASH only — plan ahead!
leave Fido home
Pets are not allowed, except for service animals. Please leave your four-legged furry friends at home.
How far away is OysterFest?
Olympia — 23 miles
Tacoma — 53 miles
Seattle — 82 miles
Portland — 134 miles stay connected
Visit oysterfest.org or follow on Facebook at #OysterFestWA for updates.
OYSTERFEST
OCTOBER 4 – 5
Saturday: 10 AM – 6 PM
Sunday: 10 AM – 5 PM
Adults $15 | Kids FREE
Adult two day pass – $25.00 FREE PARKING & SHUTTLE
Tickets online or at the gate!
OYSTERFUNK
Friday, October 3, 6 – 10 PM 21+ and over only.
Music/Food/Beer Garden
Tickets $5 available online or at the gate. FREE parking.
Welcome to OYSTERFEST
The West Coast Oyster Shucking Championship & Washington State Seafood Festival (OysterFest) is our favorite weekend! Community rallies together to celebrate the bounty of Mason County, we visit with friends and neighbors, welcome visitors, and enjoy incredible food and entertainment that supports local non-profit organizations.
The event is hosted by the Skookum Rotary Club of Shelton, with Friday night’s lively OysterFunk party presented by the Shelton Rotary Club, and the Wine Pavilion carefully curated and hosted by Salish Sea Rotary. We are proud that these three clubs partner together to make sure every detail of the weekend runs smoothly.
OysterFest has always been about more than just food. It’s a family-friendly celebration designed to raise funds for charity, highlight the incredible local seafood and shellfish resources, welcome visitors, and expand opportunities for local service projects.
Every plate you enjoy this weekend helps fund scholarships, youth programs, Scouts, Kiwanis activities, tribal groups, senior programs, and so much more. That might make it just a little easier to go back for seconds (or thirds).
Congratulations to this year’s poster artiat, Janette Stiles with her winning entry titled “Oyster Bay Harvest.” She received $500 for her design.
Each year a poster is chosen from entries submitted by artists to represent OysterFest. Signed posters can be purchased in the souvenir tent, and the artwork is presented on the selected wine for Oysterfest.
We especially want to thank our community sponsors: Taylor Shellfish for you amazing support with oysters for the shucking event; South Sound Magazine, KMAS Radio, and Mason County for your media support. We are also grateful to the following businesses and individuals for their financial support: Sierra Pacific, Green Diamond, Shelton Ford, Community Foundation, The Glen Resort and the Dave and Nancy Bayley Charitable Fund.
This year, we’ve made things simpler than ever: one admission price of $15 for adults, or $25 for a two-day pass so you won’t miss a thing. Kids 17 and under get in free, so bring the whole family.
When you’re not sampling oysters or local specialties, be sure to check out our educational exhibits, kids’ activities, beer garden, wine tasting, and — of course — the Oyster Shucking Contest. Whether this is your first time or your fifteenth, there’s always something new to discover.
As if you needed more reason to OysterFest 2025, check out the pages of this program – we’ve highlighted our top 10 reasons that motivate us – but I’m sure you can add a few more! If you have questions, just look for a Skookum Rotarian in a blue polo — they’ll be happy to help. Welcome, and enjoy the festival!
OYSTERFEST: Shelton’s Fall Tradition
#2. community
When the first weekend of October rolls around in Mason County, the air carries a chill and the smell of sizzling oysters draws thousands to Shelton’s Sanderson Field. For more than forty years, OysterFest has been more than just a seafood festival; it has been the heart of autumn on the Olympic Peninsula, a gathering that celebrates food, family, and the power of community giving.
This cherished tradition began in 1982, thanks to local visionary Dick Oltman — a Rotarian, travel agent, and student finishing his master’s degree in tourism. Oltman believed the area needed a fall celebration to complement the wellloved springtime Mason County Forest Festival. The Skookum Rotary Club, then just six years old, was looking for a fresh idea that could support its charitable mission.
When Oltman pitched his plan that spring, they embraced it wholeheartedly — and with the help of a little engineering research (which revealed that the first weekend of October typically enjoys a break from rain), OysterFest was born.
The first festival exceeded every expectation.
Organizers hoped to simply cover their costs, but by the end of the weekend, vendors were sending volunteers into town to fetch more oysters and supplies for the hungry crowds.
For its first 35 years, the event was held at the Mason County Fairgrounds before moving to Sanderson Field in 2012. The new location may have changed the layout, but the spirit of the event has remained the same — an all-hands-on-deck effort powered by volunteers, service clubs, and dozens of nonprofit organizations that rely on its success. Today, more than thirty local nonprofits benefit from OysterFest proceeds, making it one of the largest charitable events in the county.
And while the oysters may be the star, there’s plenty more to savor: family-friendly activities, live music, local wine and craft beer, and one of the most exciting traditions of all, the West Coast Oyster Shucking Championship.
OysterFest is full of legendary moments. There was the skydiver who accidentally landed on a Mason County Commissioner. The time organizers drilled a hole in the asphalt to drain a puddle — only to make it bigger. And the day Senator Scoop Jackson made headlines when a local bee decided to make its acquaintance.
Through it all, volunteers have remained the beating heart of the festival. Skookum Rotary members and their families lead the charge, but much of the work — from parking to setup to food service — is handled by local groups like Kiwanis, Scouts, church committees, senior centers, scholarship fundraisers, and fraternal organizations. Their efforts ensure that every dollar goes back into the community, with last year’s event alone contributing nearly $200,000 to local causes.
The celebration kicks off Friday night, October 3, with OysterFunk, a lively evening of food, music, and fun for the 21+ crowd. The main event runs all weekend: Saturday, October 5 (10 AM – 6 PM) and Sunday, October 6 (10 AM – 5 PM), drawing more than 10,000 visitors, 400 RV campers, and thousands of volunteers who keep the festival humming.
Whether you’re here for the oysters, the beer garden, the music, or just the small-town camaraderie, OysterFest is Mason County at its finest — spirited, generous, and full of flavor.
Plan your visit and learn more at oysterfest.org.
Stefanie M Dantinne,
Financial Advisor
Have a great time at OysterFest!
Congratulations Shelton Skookum Rotary Club & all the volunteers on celebrating the 44th anniversary of OysterFest! Seattle Shellfish, LLC.
The art — and sport — of OYSTER SHUCKING
#3. oysters
Insert, twist, flick, repeat. It sounds simple enough, but anyone who has ever tried to shuck an oyster knows that it’s far from easy. It takes skill, finesse, and a little nerve to pry open a stubborn shell without breaking it — or yourself.
At OysterFest, shucking isn’t just a kitchen skill — it’s a sport.
Over two action-packed days, competitors go head-to-head for the coveted titles of Fastest Shucker and Best HalfShell Shucker — and many try to win both. This is where spectators can learn a thing or two, but don’t blink: these shuckers are fast.
Winners at Oysterfest qualify for the National Oyster Shucking Championship Contest® at the St. Mary’s Oyster Festival in Maryland. There, the best men and women in the country battle for top honors — and the national winners earn the chance to compete internationally in Galway, Ireland.
The competition is as intense as it is fascinating. Thanks to Taylor Shellfish, more than 6,000 oysters pass across the competitors’ knives throughout the weekend. Each shucker draws a tray of two dozen oysters by lottery and carefully arranges them for shucking.
If they’re not happy with what they’ve drawn, they can trade for a more promising batch from the circulating oyster basket.
When the contest begins, the atmosphere is electric. Contestants raise their knives to signal readiness, then race to open, sever, and perfectly place each oyster on its unbroken half-shell.
On Saturday speed is everything during the hourly heats. Vying for cash prizes up to $500, the competition is intense. Sunday the goal is the perfectly shucked oyster on the half shell with an added cash bonus for best presentation. Every oyster must be clean, fully severed, and beautifully presented — no shell fragments allowed.
The result is a thrilling mix of speed, skill, and artistry that has made this one of the most popular events at OysterFest. So grab a spot near the shucking stage and watch the pros at work. You may just leave inspired to pick up a knife and try it yourself — carefully, of course.
Try your shuck luck!
Interested in competing in the West Coast Oyster Shucking Competition at OysterFest? You can! The shucking competition is open to everyone. Only one fee ($15) is required to participate in both Speed and Half-Shell competition. Visit oysterfest.org for the shucking entry form and we’ll cheer you on at the main event!
BRING YOUR CURIOSITY: Exhibits That Inspire at OysterFest
er Puget Sound ecosystem and the people working to protect it.
Wander through booths dedicated to aquaculture, water quality, natural resources, and public safety, each one offering hands-on activities or expert advice.
Dive deep into the issues affecting our working waterfronts at the Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association booth with knowledgeable staff ready to answer questions.
Nearby, the Mason County Noxious Weed Board shares practical tips on how to protect local waterways, including which native plants can keep invasive species at bay. The Mason Conservation District takes things a step further, offering technical advice, resources, and even financial assistance to landowners who want to adopt best conservation practices.
Seafood lovers should make a point to stop by the WA State Department of Health’s Shellfish booth, where experts explain how to safely harvest, handle, and enjoy oysters, clams, and mussels — including important guidance for those with health sensitivities.
Even energy education gets its moment. Mason County PUD 3 offers tips on saving electricity and staying safe around power lines, while multiple booths throughout the festival highlight the important humanitarian work of the Skookum Rotary Club, Rotary International, and the many local programs your OysterFest dollars support. So as you savor the food, music, and festivities, take time to explore the exhibits —a full exhibitor list and map are available at the information booth, or online at oysterfest.org.
Exhibitors
Camp Victory
Explore Hood Canal
Habitat For Humanity
Hama Hama Fire District
Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group
Kitten Rescue of Mason County
Mason Conservation District
Mason County Chapter of People First of WA
Mason County Noxious Weed Control Board
Mason County Public Health
Mason County Search and Rescue
Mason Health
Mason PUD 3
Mason Transit Authority
Olympic College
Pacific Coast Shellfish Growers Association
Shelter Box
Shelton School District
Sound Learning
Turning Pointe
VFW POST 1694, American Legion Post 31
Washington Sea Grant
WA State Dept.of Health Shellfish Programs
WA State Department of Transportation
WSU Extension
Family fun awaits at OysterFest
#5. Family
After you’ve sampled the incredible seafood and sipped your way through the festival’s local brews and wines, the fun is just getting started. OysterFest 2025 is packed with hands-on entertainment designed to engage the whole family.
Kids will love spending time at the bustling Kids Stage, where daily shows feature crowd favorite Professor Bamboozle. For those looking for a little friendly competition, the local Boy Scout Troop hosts mini golf, while carnival games and craft stations provide endless opportunities for creativity and play. Face painting transforms little ones into colorful works of art, and the giant tank of remote-controlled scale ships offers hours of fascination. No trip to OysterFest would be complete without a ride on the beloved Kristmas Town Kiwanis train, a tradition that delights children and adults alike.
Curious minds can dive into educational exhibits and get a close-up look at Puget Sound’s amazing marine life at the PSGA booth—where education and inspiration are part of their mission. Best of all, admission is free for kids under seventeen, making OysterFest an affordable and memorable weekend outing.
Mark your calendars for October 4–5 and bring the whole family to Shelton, WA, for two days of seafood, entertainment, and hands-on fun at OysterFest 2025. View full line up of entertainment at oysterfest.org
Music & merriment all weekend!
OysterFest is more than a feast for the taste buds — it’s a celebration for the ears, too. With two lively music stages and a full lineup of performances, there’s something for everyone to enjoy, whether you’re after a mellow afternoon groove or a dance-worthy set with a local brew in hand.
Tucked into the main booth area, the Bistro Stage is the heart of OysterFest’s easygoing vibe. Here, families can settle in under the covered seating areas, sip something tasty, and enjoy an intimate atmosphere. The music is softer, the mood is relaxed, and everyone — kids included — is welcome.
BISTRO STAGE LINEUP
Saturday
11:30 AM – 2:30 PM | Shel-town Strummers
3:00 – 6:00 PM | The Lady Drinks Whiskey
Sunday
11:30 AM – 2:30 PM | Swing Fever Band
3:00 – 5:00 PM | Harmony Ridge Trio
If you’re craving a bigger sound, follow the music to the Beer Garden where the Microbrew Stage brings the energy up a notch. This stage is strictly 21+ (ID required), uncovered, and perfect for soaking up the autumn sunshine with a craft beer in hand while the bands turn up the volume.
MICROBREW STAGE LINEUP
Saturday
10:30 AM – 12 PM | Strike Nine
12:30 – 2:00 PM | Hurts Like Hell
2:30 – 4:00 PM | Suped Up Fjord
4:30 – 6:00 PM | The Varmints
Sunday
11:30 AM – 1:00 AM | Randy Linder 1:30 – 3:00 AM | The Spin-Offs
3:30 – 5:00 PM | Nikko & The Night Shift
Young festival-goers won’t miss out on the fun. The always-popular Professor Bamboozle Kids’ Stage is right on the main walk and filled with magic, laugh ter, and daily shows. And don’t forget to catch the legendary Oyster Shucking Competition — the schedule is posted near the shucking stage and always draws a cheering crowd. At OysterFest, the music is as fresh as the seafood — so wander between stages, discover a new favorite band, and let the rhythm carry you through the weekend. #6.music
#7. Food
Enjoy Every Bite – it’s for a great cause!
If there’s one thing OysterFest is known for, it’s the food — and 2025 is shaping up to be a feast to remember. Each booth is more than just a place to grab a snack; it’s a chance to give back to the community. Every vendor at OysterFest is a volunteer, with proceeds benefiting Mason County non-profits, service groups, and local causes. That means every bite comes with a side of good karma — so go ahead, indulge!
SEAFOOD LOVERS’ PARADISE
Let’s start with the stars of the show: clams, oysters, shrimp, crab, mussels, and salmon — all prepared in ways that make this festival legendary. Squaxin Island Tribal Elders are serving up their signature wood fire-cooked salmon, paired with crispy fry bread and fresh coleslaw — a taste of tradition that helps support tribal elders. Shelton Rotary Club #82 will wow seafood fans with Xinh’s curried mussels and honoring the legacy of local chef Xinh Dwelley. Prefer your oysters raw? The SHS Class of 2026 Parent Booster Club has raw oysters on the half shell, along with steamer clams and chowder.
The Mason County Association of Realtors are keeping it classy with Oysters Rockefeller, while Scouting America Troop 9110 grills up barbecued oysters to perfection. Don’t miss North Mason Rotary Club’s shrimp melts, Presbyterian Church’s bacon-wrapped scallops, and Mount Moriah Lodge #11’s Cajun shrimp gumbo, a unique take on NW flavors.
FESTIVAL FAVORITES
Not a seafood fan? OysterFest has you covered. Union City Lodge 27 is slow-smoking pulled pork for sliders that melt in your mouth. Hood Canal Lodge #288 is firing up mesquite burg-
ers, while Shelton Wrestling Club is offering fish and shrimp tacos and gooey soft pretzels with cheese.
GLOBAL FLAVORS & FRESH TREATS
OysterFest’s menu takes you around the world: The Brinnon Food Bank is dishing up eggrolls, noodles, teriyaki chicken, and hum baos, while Great Bend Center for Music will tempt you with Japanese BBQ beef skewers and chicken satay.
Grab an icy Italian soda or Red Bull spritzer from Kristmas Town Kiwanis Scouts BSA Troop 9112G, then stop by Little Skookum Community Hall for
fresh-squeezed apple cider straight from the press. Matlock Grange #357 is serving whole pies, pie slices, and soft-serve ice cream.
Mason County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition will keep you cool with Olympic Mountain ice cream, while S4 Stevens Racing has all the fair favorites — cotton candy, kettle corn, funnel cakes, and slushies. The Eastern Star Welcome Chapter 40 has chocolate-dipped apples, bananas, and pretzels, and Habitat for Humanity is serving old-fashioned caramel apples. Craving something decadent? Steph’s Helping Hands is serving frozen chocolate-dipped cheesecakes and cheesy breadsticks.
OysterFest 2025 is more than just a food festival — it’s a community celebration where every booth tells a story and every bite makes a difference. Whether you’re there for oysters, gumbo, or a slice of pie, you’ll leave satisfied — and with the good feeling that your meal supported dozens of local causes.
BURGER BASKET
A few non-Profits
MASON COUNTY SPORTSMAN’S ASSOCIATION
Low cost training in safe handling of firearms with emphasis on youth education. Annually they host the Shelton High School Rifle Teams and the Navy Junior ROTC Air Rifle Team. They also provide training for operation of firearms for hunters.
MASON CONSERVATION DISTRICT
Helping landowners be more responsible with their land. This type of help can help waterways that lead right to the beds of the great shellfish in our area. The Conservation District’s mission is to promote the sustainable use, conservation & restoration of natural resources for future generations.
SQUAXIN ELDERS
Supporting elders for their activities & trip. Stop by their booth at OysterFest and take the time to learn about there history and be sure to try their delicious fry bread and salmon.
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Partners to maintain and build affordable quality housing for those in need. Proceeds from Oysterfest will be used to further construction and maintenance.
LITTLE SKOOKUM COMMUNITY CLUB
Located at the Little Skookum Community hall on Lynch Rd, club dedicates their non-profit organization to community events and Skookum Hall Rentals.
MASON COUNTY SUBSTANCE ABUSE PREVENTION COALITION
Strengthen collaboration community members and organizations to support efforts to reduce substance abuse and increase healthy behaviors among youth through implementing strategies in a culturally competent manner.
SANDERSON FIELD RC FLYERS
The objectives of this club is to promote model aircraft building and to support education programs in local schools through scholarships and aeronautical subjects workshops.
PACIFIC COAST SHELLFISH GROWERS ASSOCIATION
Founded in 1930, PCSGA works on behalf of its members on a broad spectrum of issues, including environmental protection, shellfish safety, regulations, technology and marketing.
STEVENS RACING
Local group that uses racing as a platform to reach out and bring awareness to issues by fundraising for annual charitable giving programs such as a Christmas program for the domestic violence shelter and ‘adopting’ local families in need in the community.
GREAT BEND CENTER FOR MUSIC
Great Bend Center for Music offers research-based programs that help people use music to find common cause and address community challenges.
YOUTH CONNECTION
Bridging hope for homeless and atrisk youth 12-24 through personalized support, housing solutions, and comprehensive resources.
SOUND LEARNING
For over three decades Sound Learning has provided accessible education programs to a diverse community of learners (adults and out of school youth age 16+) who represent varied educational, economic, cultural, and language backgrounds in Mason and Thurston Counties. The organization offers diploma programs ( HS+ and GED), Academic skills upgrade to prepare for college, training, or a better job, and English for Speakers of other Languages. Visit Sound Learning in their education exhibit booth.
Visit these and other communiy non-profits at this years OysterFeest. For an updated list and locations view the onsite map or visit oysterfest.org.
2025 OysterFest Sponsor: The Glen
Just a stone’s throw from Hoodsport, The Glen is a quintessential Pacific Northwest retreat. Formerly known as Glen Ayr Resort, this beloved Hoodsport hideaway has undergone a thoughtful transformation, emerging with a fresh name but retaining all the warmth and wilderness charm that generations have adored.
The resort blends comfort with rustic elegance across a variety of accommodations: waterfront king and queen rooms, modern cabins with kitchenettes (the Coho Cabins), charming suites and cottages, and a secluded “Haus on the Hill” tailored for quiet reflection or creative retreats. The Glen also offers a full-service RV park with multiple hookup options—30-, 50amp, pull-through, and creekside sitesl.
Vist us at the 2025 OysterFest Wine Pavilion hosted by the Salish Sea Rotary Club..
We’ll be serving “Night Time” Peach Sangria made with wine sourced from Two Loons Winery, the 2025 OysterFest Label Winery.
For nearly a century, this woodland lodging has welcomed travelers with open arms. The resort has evolved from its early days into a modern yet soulful retreat. Though the name has changed, the soul of hospitality remains intact— with their team dedicated to making your stay memorable, whether for a family getaway, a romantic escape, or an event gathering Book an un-plugged weekend by the fjord, (360) 877-9522 on the web at garesort.com.
THE HARDWARE DISTILLERY CO.®
1 cup Little Owl 3 cups white wine 2 fresh cut peaches Combine the Little Owl, wine and peaches in a pitcher. Best if left in refrigerator overnight
#8. wine
Smack in the center of the lively festival grounds, the Wine Pavilion offers a moment of pause and indulgence, inviting you to swirl, sip, and discover the best of Washington’s vineyards. This year, the Salish Sea Rotary Club is curating an exceptional lineup of 17 Washington wines, creating a journey through the state’s diverse terroir — from light, aromatic whites to deep, structured reds.
At the heart of the experience is the 2025 OysterFest Label Winery: Two Loons of Gig Harbor, showcasing two stunning wines selected exclusively for the festival and dressed in the year’s official poster art. First up is the 2023 Alvarinho, a white wine that feels like bottled sunshine. Unlike the soft, spritzy “vino verdes” of Spain and Portugal, this version is crisper and more elegant, with floral and citrus notes that bring just the right amount of fruit-forward brightness. On the other side of the spectrum, the 2018 Cabernet Franc offers richness without weight — 88% Cab Franc rounded out by Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Expect aromas of black cherry, a touch of spice, and a clean, lively finish.
Sip, Savor, and Support!
And the tasting doesn’t stop there. Fairwinds Winery, a newcomer to OysterFest, will be pouring its wines for the first time, while longtime favorites from across the state return to pour their signature bottles. If spirits are more your style, Hoodsport’s own Hardware Distillery will be serving small-batch creations crafted with the same care and attention to detail that defines the Pacific Northwest beverage scene.
But perhaps the best part? Every pour has a purpose. Proceeds from tastings and bottle sales go directly to support the Salish Sea Rotary Club of Mason County.
Fairwinds Winery
Hardware Distillery
Horizon Edge Winery
Leony’s Cellars
Maison de Padgett
Marchetti Wines
Prosser Vineyard & Winery
Port Townsend Winery
Reeds Sweet Wines
Stina’s Cellars
Stottle Winery
Tanjuli Winery
Treveri
Two Loons
Water from Wine
Westport Winery
Wild Man Brewing
Michael Simpson, Two Loons Winemaker (left); Jim Morrell, Wine Chair, SSR; Peter Knecht, Winemaker,Two Loons Winery and Brad Miller, President, SSR (right)
The Salish Sea Rotary is an organization dedicated to stewarding the natural resources, arts, culture, and youth of the region. That means every glass you raise supports the very community that makes OysterFest possible.
So this year, when you wander through OysterFest, make a stop at the Wine Pavilion part of your adventure. Whether you’re a connoisseur, a casual sipper, or just someone who loves the idea of a good cause in a good glass, you’ll find something to savor — and maybe even take home a bottle or two as a delicious reminder of Shelton’s signature celebration.
Celebrating 90 Years
2025 label artwork created by Janette Stiles
Marchetti Wines
Celebrating the heart of OysterFest – the volunteers who make it happen
At OysterFest, every bite and every sip is served with a side of heart. Whether it’s dishing up root beer floats with a smile or tossing shrimp into sizzling coconut batter, the festival’s booths are run by neighbors, friends, and community members who come together for something bigger than themselves.
These volunteers aren’t just serving food — they’re sharing stories, laughter, and a sense of purpose. For many, this is an annual tradition that feels as much about community as it does about culinary delights.
At the heart of it all is the Skookum Rotary Club of Shelton, the powerhouse behind OysterFest since its debut in 1982. Part of Rotary International — a global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers — the club embodies Rotary’s mission: to unite people and create lasting change, in our communities and across the world.
Through the Skookum Rotary Foundation, proceeds from OysterFest have supported an impressive range of local and international projects: Education initiatives like the Mason County Science & Engineering Fair, Academic Excellence awards for 8th and 11th graders, and college scholarships.
Community programs including Music in the Park, senior gardens, Business Week, Rotary Youth Leadership Academy, and Mason County 4-H. Global outreach projects such as ShelterBox disaster relief, PolioPlus eradication efforts, Rotoplast medical missions, micro-lending programs, and even school buses for children in Durban Bay, South Africa.
Skookum — a Chinook word meaning strong — is a fitting name for a club that has strengthened Shelton for nearly 50 years. At OysterFest, their strength shines through the cheerful volunteers, the energy of the crowds, and the good that ripples far beyond the festival grounds.
So as you wander from booth to booth this year, savoring fresh oysters, sizzling seafood, and local treats, take a moment to thank the volunteers in the aprons and Rotary shirts. They’re serving more than food — they’re serving community.
The Rotary Four-Way Test
The Four-Way Test is a simple but powerful ethical guide that Rotarians use for personal and professional decision-making.
It was created in 1932 by Rotarian Herbert J. Taylor and later adopted by Rotary International. It asks four questions of the things we think, say, or do:
Is it the TRUTH? Is it FAIR to all concerned? Will it build GOODWILL and BETTER FRIENDSHIPS? Will it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Immerse yourself in the local OYSTER SCENE.
#10. wildsideWA
While you’re enjoying OysterFest, why not turn your visit into a full-on oyster adventure? Check out these nearby destinations from Shelton’s OysterFest, ideas to discover even more ways to experience our legendary shellfish.
TWANOH BEACH
26 min., 17 miles | via SR 106 W
Twanoh State Park is a classic Hood Canal escape, where saltwater shoreline meets forested hillside trails. Take a leisurely walk along Twanoh Creek, or bring your boots and harvest your own oysters (open year-round!). Make a day of it with a picnic or stay the night at the park’s historic campground.
ALDERBROOK RESORT & SPA
19 min., 12 miles | via SR 106 W
Since 1913, Alderbrook has been the Hood Canal destination for romance, rest, and legendary seafood. Dine on local salmon, oysters, and clams at their waterfront restaurant or take in the sunset from the dock. Check out the saltwater pool with a Canal view!
UNION’S HOOK & FORK
18 min., 11.5 miles | via SR 106 W
Union is where mountain views meet cozy community vibes. Grab a table at Hook & Fork for wood-fired pizza, live music, and oysters served with a side of Olympic Range views. Before you go, stop by Union City Market for fresh, in-the-shell oysters.
HUNTER FARMS
16 min., 10 miles | via SR 106 or 101 In fall, it’s a pumpkin-patch paradise, complete with hayrides, farm animals, and weekend celebrations. Pick up seasonal produce including fresh corn and Olympic Mountain Icecream by the quart or scoop and, yes — oysters by the dozen.
POTLATCH STATE PARK
20 min., 13.5 miles | via US-101 N
Potlatch boasts nearly 10,000 feet of Hood Canal shoreline, perfect for camping, kayaking, and exploring. This is a favorite springtime spot for public oyster and clam harvesting — and a popular picnic place as well as a launch point for swimmers and scuba divers who want to explore beneath the surface of Hood Canal.
Potlatch State Park
HOODSPORT & FJORD OYSTER BANK
23 min., 15 miles | via US-101 N
Perched on the sparkling western shore of Hood Canal, Hoodsport is a small town with an outsized personality. Stroll through its charming main street and you’ll find treasures at Canalside Gifts, a glass of something wonderful at Hoodsport Winery or Stottle Winery, and handcrafted cocktails at The Hardware Distillery. For a splash of local creativity, pop into the Flywheel Gallery to see what local artists are up to.
And if you love oysters, Fjord Oyster Bank is a must-visit. This beloved spot carries the culinary spirit of the late OysterFest shucking legend and celebrated chef, Xinh Dwelley.
Her legacy lives on through a menu of Northwest-inspired seafood dishes — think garlic-hoisin grilled oysters and briny-fresh Hood Canal and South Sound oysters topped with icy ginger mignonette. Head shucker Michael delights in sharing the story behind each oyster as he serves them, turning every plate into an experience.
Seafood lovers will also rejoice at the return of Xinh’s famous geoduck dishes — fried belly, ceviche, geoduck
wontons, and creamy chowder. The Fjord has become so popular that they now take a short pause in September to refresh their kitchen and streamline service before reopening just in time for OysterFest. If you’re planning a visit in October, reservations are highly recommended: (360) 877-2102.
THE GLEN RESORT
24 min., 16 miles | via US-101 N
Newly refreshed and better than ever, The Glen is your perfect basecamp for exploring Hood Canal. Guests can shuck oysters right from the resort’s own beach, then retreat to a cozy cabin, a comfortable room, or their own RV spot. With wooded trails, private docks, spa amenities, and even scuba facilities, there’s something here for every kind of adventurer. Ready to plan your getaway? Call 360-877-9522 for details.
LILLIWAUP STATE PARK
29 min., 19 miles | via US-101 N
For a classic Hood Canal experience, grab a scoop of Olympic Mountain Ice Cream at the Lilliwaup Store, then head to the nearby public beach for year-round oyster harvesting. The rocky beach makes digging tough, but the oysters are plentiful — just bring your Discover Pass and shellfish license.
EAGLE CREEK BEACH
33 min., 22 miles | via US-101 N
A quiet stretch of shoreline with spectacular views, Eagle Creek is a gem for oyster lovers (open for harvest yearround). Clams are sometimes sparse here, but when tides drop below –2 feet, geoduck hunters know this is the spot. Parking is limited, so plan ahead and be gentle with the beach — avoid covering oysters while digging.
HAMA HAMA OYSTER CO.
37 min., 26 miles | via US-101 N
This legendary oyster farm is a muststop for seafood fans. Located on the farm, on the beach, in one of the most picturesque point of the Canal, the farm is worth the drive alone. Explore the giant shell pile, check out the farm store (open daily) and shuck a few dozen in the saloon. Their Saloon serves oysters plucked just hours earlier, with a menu that changes with the tides. Reserve one of their iconic A-frame dining huts for a one-of-a-kind meal right on the water. Recenly added is the Stump Shack food truck that serves fried oyster baskets and fried oyster sandwiches. Call (360) 877-5811for hours and A-frame reservations.
OLYMPIC OYSTER CO. & MIKE’S BEACH RESORT
41 min., 29 miles | via US-101 N
This third-generation farm is all about serious oyster culture. Guests at Mike’s Beach Resort stay in waterfront cabins with canal views — and get first pick of the freshest oysters on the fjord.
TAYLOR SHELLFISH RETAIL STORE
12 min., 9 miles | via US-101 S
Taylor Shellfish has been farming Puget Sound oysters since the 1890s, and they’re the supplier for OysterFest’s shucking contest. Stop by the Shelton retail shop for fresh oysters, clams, and seasonal seafood. Open daily.
LYTLE SEAFOOD
1 hr, 18 min., 58 miles | via Hwy 109
This full-service fish market near Ocean Shores is where many of our non-profit booths get their oysters! If you loved the oysters from Young Life and Youth Connection, you should probably make the trip to their farm. Open daily, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., it’s a perfect stop when adventure takes you toward the beach! The farm store is located 6 miles from Hoquim on Hwy 109 on the road to Ocean Shores.
CHELSEA FARMS OYSTER BAR
30 min., 22 miles | via US-101 S Chelsea Farms is on a mission to bring back the native Olympia oyster, once nearly extinct. Visit their chic Olympia oyster bar for a full seafood experience, from geoduck to craft cocktails. Open Thursday through Monday, call (360) 915-7784 for reservations.
HAMA HAMA OYSTER FARM
SEAFOOD STORE AND OYSTER SALOON
Live
FARM STORE & DELI Daily, 9:30 - 6 OYSTER SALOON Friday - Sunday, 11 - 5
Located 12 miles north of Hoodsport on Highway 101 Make a reservation or learn more at hamahamaoysters.com
Farm Fresh Shellfish | Grilled Oysters
Crab | Local Specialty Foods & Gifts
Sunday, October 5, 2025
Shuck & Share 5K: running for a cause
Each year, on OysterFest Sunday, hundreds of runners and walkers gather for one of Mason County’s traditions — the Shuck & Share 5K Walk/Run. In 2025 the event is on October 5, at 8 AM.
The race takes place at Shelton’s Huff and Puff Trail, located across from Shelton High School. With its flat5K loop, the course is perfect for runners of all levels — from serious competitors to families out for a stroll. This race isn’t just a way to stay active, but also a way to make a difference!
Since its start in 2014, the Shuck & Share 5K has raised crucial funds for Mason County PUD 3’s Project Share program, which provides annual energy assistance (typically $175–$500) to over 400 local families.
The program prioritizes households facing high energy burdens, helping ensure that neighbors stay safe and warm. The 5K now attracts about 100 participants each year, raising money for Project Share.
The event’s success is thanks to the teamwork of PUD 3 employees, community members, and businesses who sponsor and volunteer their time.
All participants receive a free admission ticket to OysterFest on Sunday, making it easy to celebrate your accomplishment with oysters, music, and more. Whether you run, walk, or cheer from the sidelines, the Shuck & Share is a chance to be part of something bigger. Lace up your shoes, grab a friend, and help make an impact — for the runners, for the community, and for the families whose lives are touched by Project Share.
To register visit pud3.org/run or sign up at runsignup.com. To donate mail checks payable to “Project Share,” to PO Box 2148, Shelton, WA 98584.
Leave shells on the beach
Oysters taken on public tidelands must be shucked on the beach and the shells left behind for the following conservation-based reasons according to the Washington Dept of Fish & Wildlife website, wdfw. wa.gov:
Oyster shells provide the best growing substrate for juvenile oysters. In addition, shells provide an excellent setting surface for the native Olympia oyster. This is especially true in places like southern Puget Sound where the natural setting surface - Olympia oyster shells - was eliminated years ago by over-harvest. Also, removing large Pacific oyster shells removes tiny oysters which are attached to the shells. Thus, removing a legal limit of 18 oysters may actually remove three to five times that number of oysters - young oysters which would otherwise remain on the beach and grow to edible size.
Removing oyster shells from beaches containing Japanese oyster drills (an oyster predator) may result in the inadvertent spread of these predators. Many public beaches already have these tiny predators, but the goal is to minimize the spread to other uninfected beaches.
So head to the beach and get shucking! You will need a shellfish license, an oyster knife and gloves. Adults may shuck a child’s daily limit so long as the child participates in some way in the gathering. For illustrated details on two popular shucking methods, visit wdfw. wa.gov/fishing/shellfish.
&
Since 2002, we’ve been building custom homes in Mason County with a focus on quality, craftsmanship, and community. Backed by more than 40 years of experience, our team specializes in tackling even the most challenging projects—bringing creative solutions and expert skill to every build. Whenever possible, we partner with local subcontractors to keep revenue flowing back into our community and to strengthen the place we all call home.
shellfish map
Our Local Bivalves
Get to know a few species
NATIVE LITTLENECK CLAM
Up to 3.5” with rounded shell displaying concentric rings and radiating ridge lines, cream, gray, brown, or mottled. White inside shell; found at 6-10” deep in gravel, mud, mid-tide level.
MANILA LITTLENECK CLAM (NOT NATIVE)
Up to 2.5”, oblong shell, Color can vary—typically gray,brown, or mottled and often times with what appears to be hand painted designs; some purple on the inside shell; found at 2-4” in gravel, mud, sand, typically above the half-tide level.
BUTTER CLAM
Up to 5”, shell with concentric rings (no radiating ridge lines), Yellow to gray/white colored; found at 1-1.5’ in sand, gravel, or cobble; lower intertidal or shallow sub-tidal zone. Butter clams retain marine biotoxins longer than other clams.
COCKLE CLAM
Up to 5” with round shell; prominent evenly-spaced radiating ridges fanning from hinge; mottled, light brown color; found at 1-2” in sand, mud in intertidal or sub-tidal zone.
OLYMPIA OYSTER
PACIFIC OYSTERS (NOT NATIVE)
Up to 12”, white/gray oblong shell with irregular, wavy edges; found in intertidal zone; tumbled (farmed) Pacifics have cupped shape with fragile shells.
Up to 3”, rounded shell, white to purplish black and may be striped with yellow or brown; oyster’s flesh is a light olive green with a metallic flavor. Native oyster to the area and currently protected in wild habitats.
MUSSELS
Blue Mussel (native) up to 3”, California Mussel (native) up to 6”, Mediterranean non-native) up to 5”. Oblong shell, blueblack or brown, attaches to rocks, pilings, boats, gravel, or other hard surfaces in the intertidal zone with bissel threads.
GEODUCK
Up to 10”, 2.5 – 10 lbs. Gaping oblong shell with concentric rings; white shell with flaky brown skin; siphon and mantle are too large to withdraw; found at depth of 2-3’ in mud, sand, gravel in the sub-tidal zone (extreme low tides).
Forage on Washington’s Wild Side. Mason County’s saltwater bays and inlets along Hood Canal and South Puget Sound are renown for some of the tastiest and freshest bivalves in the Northwest. Visit for the pristine waters, open wilderness and public beaches stocked annually for families to enjoy!
LILLIWAUP STATE PARK
Full off on Hwy 101, stairway to beach at north opening of Lilliwaup Bay. Walk north or south when tide is out. Oysters and Clams. Eagles and osprey. Overnight RV camping permitted; no restrooms.
FJORD OYSTER BANK
24341 N US Hwy 101, Hoodsport (360) 877-2102
Serving up the dishes inspired by chef Xinh Dwelley the Fjord specializes in fresh oysters on the half shell sources from farms around Mason County. Serving seafood, local beers and wines as well as house made desserts, this has become a destination for local diners.
HOODSPORT
Public boat dock with beach access. Starfish and crabs at low tide. Closed to shellfish gathering. Picnic tables & restrooms,nearby dining, grocery and shopping.
POTLATCH BEACH PARK
Longest stretch of public beach, popular for swim ming, kayaking, and picnics. Camping & restrooms.
TAYLOR SHELLFISH
130 SE Lynch Rd Shelton (360) 432-3300
Taylor’s products include geoduck, clams, crab, mussels and oysters. Headquartered in Kamilche, retail store is open daily. taylorshellfish.com
WALKER
PARK
Beach access, playground, restrooms, basketball court. Olympic Hwy to Arcadia Rd take Left on Walker Park Rd, Park is No shellfish harvest. No passes required.
OYSTER BAY
Easy beach access on marshy estuary. Popular for bird watching and salmon observing/fishing. Pullout on Hwy 101 near Mile Marker 356; KENNEDY CREEK INTERPRETATIVE TRAIL.
EAGLE CREEK
Expansive beach when tide is out, obey property signs. Excellent oyster beach. enough for swimming in summer. Parking across from Eagle Creek Saloon.
HAMA HAMA OYSTER SALOON
35846 US-101, Lilliwaup
5th generation farm serves oysters prepared to order with an ever changing menu of seasonal local ingredients. Retail store and farm dining. hamahamaoyster.com
DEWATTO BAY
Small beach with dramatic view of the Olympics. Lots of ripe berries in late summer. From Belfair: take the Belfair-Tahuya Road to Dewatto Rd. Continue four miles to Dewatto. Parking limited.
BELFAIR STATE PARK
Nice beaches for walking and exploring with summer water temperatures surprisingly warm. Restrooms, camping and picnic facilities.
MENARD’S LANDING
Expansive beach (at low tide), picnic area, and views of the Olympics.
RENDSLAND CREEK, DNR owned clams and oysters open all year.
PARK swimrestrooms.
HUNTER FARMS
921 WA-106, Union | (360) 426-2222
Direct farm to market retail includes Hood Canal oysters at the general store located on the farm.
picnic shelter and Arcadia Rd, from Arcadia on right. required.
Popular observing/fishing. 356; near TRAIL.
CHECK. CHILL. COOK.
CHECK: Health closures and advisories: doh.wa.gov/shellfishsafety Harvesting closures: wdfw.wa.gov/fishing/shellfishing-regulation Signs on the beach: Follow posted warnings and respect private property.
CHILL: Harvest shellfish on the outgoing tide and put on ice as soon as possible to prevent bacterial growth. Keep them cold until ready to eat. Cover in fridge with a wet cloth to prevent drying out.
COOK: Cook shellfish in summer months when Vibrio illnesses can occur. To kill Vibrio bacteria cook shellfish to 145° F for at least 15 seconds, cooking does not destroy biotoxins.
Do not harvest in areas with pollution closures. Ask your doctor before eating raw shellfish if you have any concerns about allergies, are taking medications, or have a weakened immune system (such as cancer, liver disease, or HIV). Shellfish are a great and healthy food.
Avoid illness by following the 3 C’s above and enjoy!
ALLYN
Gazebo, garden, play area, pier, restrooms and beach access with boat launch.
TWANOH STATE PARK
Excellent camping, swimming, kayaking, picnic sites, and shellfish harvesting.
DNR 24/GRAPEVIEW, DNR beach clams and oysters open all year. Access by boat only.
NORTH BAY
Community park offers beach access, a picnic area and portable restroom and is very popular with kayakers, fishermen and local residents. Located on SR-3 at the south end of Allyn. The parking area is open only during the shellfish season.
Local Seafood
Here are a few locations that serve Hood Canal & South Puget Sound seafood on their menus.
Bistro at Lakeland Village
470 E Country Club Dr, Allyn (360) 277-4137
Boat House Restaurant 18340 E WA 3, Allyn (360) 275-2954
HOPE ISLAND STATE PARK
A 106-acre marine camping park reachable only by boat. Covered with old-growth forests and saltwater marshes, the park features a beach oneand-a-half miles long. Access by boat only.
CHELSEA FARMS OYSTER BAR
222 CAPITOL WAY N, OLYMPIA | (360) 915-7784
Eld & Totten Inlet, South Puget Sound Chelsea Farm have made a priority of farming the native Olympia oyster that was on it’s way to extinction. Visit their oyster bar in Olympia for local seafood experience! chelseafarms.net
Burger Claim & More 24171 WA 3, Belfair (360) 277-5141
The Fjord Oyster Bank 24341 N US Hwy 101, Hoodsport (360) 877-2102
Hama Hama Oyster Saloon 35846 US-101, Lilliwaup (360) 877-5811
Hook & Fork
5101 E State Route 106, Union (360) 898-3500
Restaurant at Alderbrook 10 E Alderbrook Dr, Union (360) 898-2200
Spencer Lake Bar & Grill 1180 E Pickering Rd, Shelton (360) 426-2505
Squaxin Island Seafood Bar 91 West State Route 108, Shelton (360) 432-7120
Taylor Station 62 SE Lynch Rd, Shelton (360) 426-8501
Tides Family Restaurant 27061 US-101, Hoodsport (360) 877-8921
BELFAIR
DIG DEEP, GEODUCK.
STORY BY STELLA WENSTOB
Geoduck. What a fascinating creature to write about. In my research I encountered some of the most entertaining articles about what is basically the most boring creature on the ocean’s floor. If you want a laugh, just google it for yourself. William Dietrich writing in 1999 called it the “ultimate couch potato.” Even the strait-laced, Canadian Fisheries website described the geoduck as living “…a long uneventful life”– when Canadians call something boring you know it is. .
NO DUCKS GIVEN
The word geoduck (pronounced gooey- duck) has nothing to do with web-footed fowls. (Surprise! It doesn’t look like a duck, or quack like a duck…) It is an English speaker’s corruption of the Puget Sound Native American Lushootseed name of the creature: g'idəq. This translates to “dig deep,” which is not a Taoist’s message about searching within, but alludes to the extreme depths in the sand that these giant clams lodge themselves (some 2 to 3 feet deep!). Other clam species are known to “dive” propelling themselves deeper into the sand when a predatory clam digger disturbs them, the geoduck though simply retracts its foot-like siphon as it can and relies on the fact that the body shell is very deep indeed.
I say here “retracts its siphon as it can” since as they grow larger the geoduck can no longer pull its lengthy siphon and girthy mantle into the safety of its shell, but their extreme depth protects them from most predators (devious humans excepted).
As the world’s largest borrowing clam species, a mature individual typically weighs 2lbs. However, the outliers are more interesting: according to the WFDW website there was a geoduck harvested from Adelma Beach in Discovery Bay in 2000 that weighed 8.16 lbs! They reach their mature weight by age 14 and they can live to at least 168 years old! Geoducks are found along the Westcoast from Alaska to Baja California, Mexico.
BABY DUCKS
They can reproduce from ages two to at least 107 years old (apparently “ripe gonads” have been identified in individuals within this age range). They reproduce by “broadcast,” which has little to do with the evening news but relies a whole lot on temperatures and currents. Between May and July females release 40 to 50 million eggs which are fertilized in the water column by simultaneously ejected sperm. The larval stage is 40 to 50 days, and it consists of the baby geoducks floating around eating (or being eaten). After that time, they settle on the ocean floor and inch along by producing tiny parachute-like thready projections out of byssal threads. When their shell reaches approximately 2 mm long they begin to burrow, but only as deep as their siphon will allow.
It is not until they are around two years old that they have managed to achieve a shell to siphon ratio that allows them to burrow to a safe depth on the ocean floor. Until then they are at risk of becoming the meal of sea stars, snails, shrimp, crabs and many types of fish.
There is a high mortality rate between the 40 to 50 million larvae and the maturing burrowed twoyear olds and as such the geoduck stocks are slow to regenerate, which is why their harvest is closely monitored.
STUFF A DUCK.
One of the earliest reports of harvesting geoduck comes from Henry Hemphill, writing in the 1881 Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission. His descriptions are full of praise for the geoduck: “I think it would be a most desirable addition to our list of edible clams, first, on account of its large size, and, second, for its delicacy and rich flavor, which, when it became generally known, I think would make it more highly prized than any other bivalve… its flesh too rich to permit of regular stuffing or gormandizing, although I ate quite heartily of it for several successive meals, and experienced no disagreeable sensations afterwards.”
Baby geoduck (3 month) before being commercially "planted."
This sentiment was publicized and embroidered in the New York Times editorial of February 23, 1883, where the geoduck is trumpeted as the “prince of clams” and here you can also see one of the earliest journalistic grapples with the geoduck’s relation to ducks [reminder: there is none]:
“The name alone [geoduck] has an inviting sound. … It might be a pity to call it a clam, though it belongs to that humble family…When the geoduck is served it delights the eye, for one of those happy ichthyophagists [Not sure why fish biologists should be called upon to comment, but ok…] who had the luck to eat one says it looked “like a particularly plump duck.”
Up until the 1960s geoduck harvesting was constrained to hand digging at extreme low tides (as geoducks are only found on -2-foot tides). Nevertheless, there was a fear in 1925 that over harvesting of geoducks was possible and Washington State imposed a full moratorium on the harvest. This was later lifted when the catch was limited to the three geoducks a day per person – a legislation that we still have now for personal consumption.
SITTING DUCKS
The commercial fishery developed by curious happenstance. In 1960, Navy diver Robert Sheats and his team were hunting for a lost test torpedo off Keyport [torpedo testing is a thing that still happens on Puget Sound] and they were struck by the vision of fields of funnels of geoduck clams along the ocean floor.
Previously, it had been assumed that the geoduck habitat was constrained to the intertidal zone (the area between low and high tide). Sheats and state biologists determined that 63 million geoducks were on the ocean floor of Puget Sound.
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This led the State to establish a commercial wild harvest – the first of its kind, which opened in May of 1970 with Sheats and his wife Mary harvesting 50 individuals from Thorndyke Bay on Hood Canal. For the first few years, harvesters floundered to find a viable market. Chowder companies were the prime buyers, paying as little as 10 cents a pound. In 1972 Department of Fisheries report concluded that the geoduck harvest had potential, but “this is not a profitable business yet.”
Fast forward to the 1980s with the discovery of the Asian market and wholes sale prices went up to $8 to $10 a pound (with the Asian markets paying twice that). The geoduck had hit it big – the “prince of clams” once again.
It is now harvested throughout Puget Sound, British Columbia and Alaska. Geoducks are wild harvested by divers in waters from 18 to 70 ft deep breathing via a surface air house (called a HOOKA) and using a high-water jet (known as a “stinger”) that loosens the sand around the geoduck allowing them to be picked up by hand. An efficient diver may harvest as much as 500 to 1000 pounds of clams in a day. These are then packed in ice and shipped live to Asian markets by air. Because of the high value of the product, the harvest is now carefully monitored, but in the earlier days this fishery was rife with poaching and scandal. It is still susceptible to much criticism about over-harvest. According to the WDFW the geoduck wild fishery makes over 20 million USD a year revenue to the state through the sale of rights to harvest shares of the quota on specific geoduck “tracts.”
To restock wild beds of geoducks, a state funded project was established to breed and grow geoduck “seed.” The process wasn’t exactly “duck soup,” as hundreds of experiments of transplanting this seed amongst wild stock were unsuccessful as predators would eat the unprotected young geoduck. Eventually a method of sinking PVC pipes covered with mesh in the ocean floor was developed to protect the growing geoduck – but this was impractical for wild stocks.
This method was adopted by commercial aquaculture growers of geoducks who seed beaches (instead of at depths of 18 to 70 feet) allowing them for more efficient monitoring and harvesting of stocks.
After about six months the baby geoducks bury themselves deep enough in their sand tubes to allow the removal of the mesh cover. After approximately a year the geoducks are large enough to bury themselves deeper to no longer need the PVC tube and it is removed.
After five to seven years, the geoduck reaches a size ready for harvest.
LOCAL GEODUCK DINING SPOTS:
CHELSEA FARMS AND OYSTER BAR
Olympia, (360) 915-7784 | Farmer Geoduck is available in their Olympia restaurant.
TAYLOR SHELLFISH RETAIL STORE
Shelton (360) 432-3300 | Farmer Geoduck available fresh in shell.
FJORD OYSTER BANK RESTAURANT
Hoodsport, (360) 877-2102
www.olympicoysterco.com
Geoduck hunting in Puget Sound - colorized image, credit Skagg
25 SCENIC WATERFALLS
25 SCENIC WATERFALLS
Hood Canal to the Pacific Coast & points between
Hood Canal to the Pacific Coast & points between
Receiving hundreds of inches of rain annually, the Hoh, Quinault and Queets Rainforests are located on the coastal foothills of the Olympics. With 21 feet of snow or rain at its peaks, it’s no wonder there is a myriad of waterfalls lacing the area. Explore this sampling curated by celebrated guidebook author and avid hiker, Craig Romano. Some are small, secret, and unique, others are popular but magnificent. All are worth the journey!
9. Dosewallips Falls (9.0 MILE ROUND-TRIP – MODERATE)
Olympia & Hood Canal
1. Tumwater Falls Loop (1 MILE – EASY)
Olympia | Exit #103 off of I-5 S to Deschutes Way Tumwater Falls Park, no pass required, kid/dog friendly Iconic landmark, multi-tiered showy falls separated by gorge.
2. Kennedy Creek Falls (6.8 MILE RT – MODERATE)
Kamiliche | US 101 N, left at Old Olympic , mile to gate Forestry & WA DNR, no pass required, kid/dog friendly Descend to a grove of big trees — and the falls. Here Kennedy Creek tumbles over basalt flow.
3. Vincent Creek Falls (ROAD ACCESS – EASY)
Skokomish Valley Rd; 5.6 miles to FR 23; 2.3 miles to FR 2340
Olympic National Forest, no pass, caution: low guardrail Arched truss 685’ High Steel Bridge (1929) spans 375’ and is the 14th highest bridge in USA. Falls drop 250’ over canyon.
4. Big Creek Cascades Loop (4.2 MILE – MODERATE)
Lake Cushman / Hoodsport | SR 119 for 9.3 miles to trail head
Olympic National Forest, pass required, kid/dog-friendly Loop utilizes old logging roads, new trails and series of bridges constructed by volunteers that continue to improve this loop.
5. Staircase Rapids Loop (2 MILE – EASY)
Lake Cushman/Hoodsport | SR 119; FR 24 for 14.7 miles
Olympic National Park, pass required, kid-friendly, no pets
Follow river to suspension bridge, cross river and complete loop on North Fork Skokomish River back to Ranger Station.
6. Hamma Hamma Falls (ROAD ACCESS – EASY)
Lilliwaup | FR 25 for 13.3 miles
Olympic National Forest, pass required, kid-friendly Bridge spans two-tiered falls (80’). Overhead view decent year round. On drive back, enjoy views of secondary falls along river.
7. Murhut Falls (1.6 MILES ROUND-TRIP – EASY)
Duckabush River Valley | FR 2510 6.3 miles, FR 2530, 1.3 miles
Olympic National Forest, no pass required, kid/dog-friendly
Well-built trail to 130’ two-tiered waterfall. Pacific rhododendrons line the trail in May and June.
8. Rocky Brook Falls (QUARTER MILE – EASY)
Brinnon | Milepost 306 on US 101, Dosewallips Road 3 miles
Private, no pass, kid/dog-friendly - check for closures
Classic horsetail waterfall crashes more than 200’ from hanging valley. Summer, the cascade pool is a popular swimming hole.
Brinnon | US 101 Milepost 306, Dosewallips Rd 9.7 miles to trail
Olympic National Park, no pass, kid-friendly, dog-prohibited Spectacular 100’ waterfall previously had vehicle access but now to reach waterfall you must hike or mountain bike closed road.
10. Fallsview Falls (0.2 MILE ROUND-TRIP – EASY)
Quilcene | US 101 at Falls View Campground. Trail in picnic area
Olympic National Forest, pass required, kid/dog friendly, ADA Trail is ADA accessible to a falls cascading 100’. By late summer it trickles—but during the rainy season the falls put on a little show.
Lake Crescent & Elwha River
11. Striped Peak Falls (2.2 MILE RT– MODERATE)
Salt Creek County Park | SR 112 , 7.2 miles, R. @ Camp Hayden Rd
Clallam County Parks and WA DNR, no pass, dog-friendly
Small but location in remote cliff-enclosed sea cove is stunning.
12. Madison Creek Falls (0.2 MILE ROUND-TRIP – EASY)
Elwha River Valley | Olympic Hot Springs Rd 2.1 miles
Olympic National Park, no pass, kid-friendly, ADA, dog-friendly Short walk to mossy maple and cedar lined grotto. This path is one of the few within the national park that is open to leashed dogs.
13. Wolf Creek Falls (0.8 MILE ROUND-TRIP –MODERATE)
Elwha River Valley | US 10, milepost 240, Olympic Hot Springs Rd, 4.0 miles, left onto dirt Whiskey Bend Rd, 4.2 miles to trail head
Olympic National Park, pass required, dogs prohibited After a steep descent to river walk along the gravel bank of Wolf Creek to a fanning 25’ falls. Step back to see another tier above it.
14. Goblins Gate (3.6 MILES ROUND-TRIP – MODERATE)
Elwha River Valley | milepost 240, Olympic Hot Springs Rd, 4 miles onto dirt Whiskey Bend Rd, 4.5 miles to trail head ONP, pass required, kid friendly, dogs prohibited Hike to a Elwha River gorge to a series of rapids.
15. Boulder Creek Falls (8.4 MILES ROUND-TRIP – MODERATE)
Elwha Valley | Milepost 240, Olympic Hot Springs Rd, 10 miles
Olympic National Park, pass required, dogs prohibited
A series of cascades in valley with luxuriant old-growth forest. The hike is an all-day event but is remoter than nearby popular sites.
Thank you.
Waterfall project made possible with Mason County Lodging Tax funding. explorehoodcanal.com
16. Marymere Falls (1.8 MILES ROUND-TRIP – EASY)
Lake Crescent | milepost 228, right at Lake Crescent Lodge
Olympic National Park, no pass, kid-friendly, dogs prohibited A popular waterfall on the Olympic Peninsula, if it was harder to reach, this 90’ horsetail cascade would still be well-visited.
17. Sol Duc Falls (1.6 MILES ROUND-TRIP – EASY)
Sol Duc River Valley | Sol Duc Hot Springs Road, 14 miles to trail
Olympic National Park, pass required, kid-friendly, no dogs ONP’s most photographed waterfall. The falls tumble about 40’ into a tight slot and abruptly flow at a right angle into the gorge.
Pacific Coast & Quinault
18.Strawberry Bay Falls (3.6 MILES ROUND-TRIP – EASY
Olympic Coast | SR 110 to Quillayute Prairie, 3.8 miles to trail
Olympic National Park, no pass, kid-friendly, dogs prohibited Hike to Third Beach to witness this waterfall tumbling more than 100’ from a towering headland into the surf.
19. Mineral Creek Falls (5.0 MILES ROUND-TRIP – EASY)
Hoh Rainforest | Upper Hoh Rd from US 101, 18 miles to trail
Olympic National Park, pass required, kid-friendly, no dogs
Tucked within towering Sitka spruces, firs, and maples in the rain forest this pleasant hike follows along the glacier-fed Hoh River.
20. Cascade Falls Loop ( .7 MILES LOOP – EASY)
Quinault Rainforest | South Shore Rd 2.3 miles to trail
Olympic National Forest, no pass, kid / dog friendly
Not the tallest, nor most popular of the waterfalls within the Quinault Rainforest, Cascade Falls is perhaps the prettiest.
21. Merriman Falls (ROADSIDE—MINIMAL WALKING)
Quinault Rainforest | South Shore Rd from US 101, 6.7 miles
Olympic National Forest, no pass, kid-friendly, dog friendly
The falls plummet 40 feet over a mossy and ferny ledge into a mossy tangle of boulders and saturated logs.
22.
Enchanted
Valley of 10,000 Waterfalls
(26 MILES ROUND-TRIP – MODERATE BACKPACKING TRIP)
Quinault Rainforest | South Shore Rd from US 101, 13 miles to Quinault River Bridge,right on Graves Creek Rd 6.2 miles
ONP Wilderness Permits required, kid-friendly, no dog
Behold its stunning backdrop of sheer cliffs 3,000 feet high streaked with waterfalls and hanging snow and ice.
®2020 | Information and images courtesy of Craig Romano. Craig has written more than 20 guidebooks including Day Hiking Olympic Peninsula 2nd Edition www.waterfalltrail.org
For full descriptions on all these waterfalls including maps, updates and images, visit: WATERFALLTRAIL.ORG
Wynoochee River Valley
23. Spoon Creek Falls (6 MILE ROUND-TRIP – MODERATE)
Wynoochee Valley | FR 22 34 miles, FR 23 2.5 mile to trail
Olympic National Forest, no pass, kid-friendly, dog friendly 93’ falls plunge into a box canyon. Trail goes through old-growth forest to a viewpoint of falls dropping into the gorge.
24. Maidenhair Falls (1 MILE ROUND-TRIP – EASY)
Wynoochee Valley | FR 22 34 miles, FR 2312 5.8 miles, FR 2385
Olympic National Forest, no pass, kid-friendly, dog friendly Overlooked by many due to its close proximity to Wynoochee Falls, this is a pleasant surprise in a quiet corner of the Olympics.
25. Porter Falls (1.6 MILE ROUND-TRIP – EASY)
Porter Creek Rd, 2.9 miles B-0150 Rd, .5 mile, B-Line 0.9 mile
Capitol State Forest, Discover Pass required, kid/dog friendly Located at the confluence of the South and West Forks of Porter Creek. Here one branch cuts through a cleft while the other plunges over a ledge into a big punchbowl.
CAPE FLATTERY
LAKE CRESCENT
KALALOCH
MAKE IT A WEEKEND:
Camping & RVing at OysterFest 2025
Less than 30 minutes from Olympia, OysterFest is the ultimate day trip — but why not turn it into a full-on weekend adventure? With onsite camping just steps from the festival grounds, plus easy access to hiking trails, saltwater beaches, and freshwater lakes, you can soak up every bit of this quintessential fall celebration.
Set on the north side of the Shelton Airport, OysterFest offers plenty of RV and tent camping. Each Friday and Saturday night reservation includes two wristbands good for both days of OysterFest — talk about hassle-free access! Friends and families often return year after year, creating their own cozy camp communities.
Camping is open from Wednesday through Sunday, giving you time to settle in and enjoy every moment. Kick off the weekend at OysterFunk on Friday, October 3, then dive into the main event — OysterFest — on Saturday and Sunday, October 4 & 5. Pets are welcome at the RV sites (leashed, of course), though they’ll need to sit out the festival itself.
Whether you’re rolling in with your rig, pitching a tent, or joining friends, camping at OysterFest means waking up right in the heart of the action.
Camping rates begin at $25/night. Check https://oysterfest.org/campingfor details and to make reservations. Prime spaces fill fast, so don’t delay.
Lytle Seafoods is proud to provide shucked oysters to exhibitor booths at OysterFest!
Welcome to Lytle Seafoods Oyster Shack, we are a retail and wholesale seafood business, specializing in our own fresh oysters grown in the cold waters of the North Bay of Grays Harbor.
Try our oysters at these OysterFest vendors: The Youth Connection
Fried Oysters, Oyster Fritters
Mason County Association of Realtors
Oysters Rockefeller
Or visit us at the farm!
Open Daily 10 - 6PM
(Located just 6 miles North of Hoquiam on Hwy 109)
Your message on the radio and in print.
“Over 82% of Americans listen to the radio each week, including over 87% of U.S. adults 35-64, 82% of U.S. adults from 18-49, and 75% of 18-24 year olds.” statistica.com (2022)
Did you know that the KMAS 1030 AM/103.3 FM signal reaches as far as Tacoma, Bremerton, Aberdeen, and Centralia? (radio-locator.com). As the “Voice of Mason County” KMAS also reaches your friends and neighbors from Allyn and Shelton to Belfair & Hoodsport, as well as on their commutes to Bemerton, SeaTac, and Olympia. TRACING THE FJORD is proud to be a part of their family!
Radio is available 24/7 and is accessible to everyone.
The Fjord Magazine is celebrating 7 years of stories about South Puget Sound (Olympia, Allyn, to Elma and Matlock) and Hood Canal – from Port Gamble to Belfair!
Our FREE quarterly magazine is on the WA State Ferries and available for pick up at over 120 public locations, with 10K print copies & 15K + online downloads, the reach keeps growing!
Our readers, local & visiting, are your best prospects.
Need more information?
Call (360) 427-5599 or email PRINT & GRAPHICS: rachel@nwevent.org RADIO & EVENTS: jeff@nwevent.org, KMAS (360) 426-1030.
Pair your seafood with a microbrew
Pacific Northwest microbrews share the spotlight with food at OysterFest. Featuring a live music stage – rain or shine –the beer garden is a popular meeting spot. We are pleased to announce a wide selection of microbreweries joining the event! Visit oysterfest.org for this year’s full list.
OYSTERFUNK FRIDAY:
The
Ultimate
Kickoff Party
Why wait until Saturday to start the celebration? OysterFest weekend officially begins Friday night, October 3, with the ever-popular OysterFunk—a lively, 21+ kickoff party in the beer garden at Sanderson Field in Shelton.
For just $5 admission, guests can enjoy a laid-back, small-town festival vibe before the crowds roll in for the weekend. Once inside, you’ll find microbrews on tap, wines by the glass, plenty of food to fuel your evening, and, of course, fresh oysters served just the way you like them.
This year’s soundtrack for the night is provided by the Kitty Mae Band, a favorite out of nearby Hoodsport. Their mix of classic rock, soul, and danceable grooves will keep the crowd moving from 6 to 10 PM. Don’t be surprised if the beer garden turns into one big dance floor under the stars.
Whether you’re a local looking for a night out or a weekend visitor eager to get a head start on OysterFest,
OysterFunk is the perfect way to kick things off. Bring your friends, grab a drink, and get ready for two full days of oysters, music, and Northwest fun.
Tickets are available at the gate or online at oysterfest.org for OysterFunk. This event is hosted by the Shelton Rotary Club to support local community programs.
Kitty Mae
10 MYTHS & FACTS ABOUT OYSTERS
That you really never needed to know. But we're telling you anyway.
1. MYTH
"Oysters are an aphrodisiac." The idea of eating oysters for their love-making is untrue. Prove science wrong! Dig in.
2. FACT
There are several species of oysters in North America. The two most common species are the Pacific, from Japan and the Olympia – a small full flavored oyster native to the Northwest.
3. MYTH
"You can tell male oysters from females by their shells." Oysters change sex throughout their life span, but you cannot tell by their shell what phase they may be in.
4. FACT
The tiny crab we see in the oyster is a species of crab (Pinnotheres ostreum) that has evolved to live harmoniously inside an oyster’s shell. These dimesized crabs, are much sought after by gourmands.
5. MYTH
"Shellfish that die before being cooked should not be eaten." People have been warned not to eat clams, mussels, crabs, lobsters, and other shellfish unless they are alive when cooked. Shellfish do not become toxic when they die.
6. FACT
An oyster produces a pearl when foreign material becomes trapped inside the shell. The oyster responds to the irritation by producing a combination of calcium and protein. This coats the foreign material and over time produces a pearl.
7. MYTH
"Seafood is brainfood." The myth of fish as a brain food goes back to a 19th century Harvard University scientist who discovered that phosphorus is abundant in the human brain, and wrongly concluded that a diet of fish should increase the human IQ.
8. FACT
Oysters help waterways by filtering out particulates and excess nutrients and creating habitat for other organisms to thrive.
9. MYTH
"Jewelry pearls come from oysters." Pearls used in jewelry are produced in clams and mussels, not oysters.
10. FACT
Oysters are rich in vitamins A, C, D and B-12. B-12 is well-known to help people lose weight and sharpen their memory. Eating four oysters a day gives you a complete daily supply of copper, iodine, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus and zinc.
And... just to be clear. It’s perfectly okay to eat shellfish in months WITHOUT an “R.” Generally speaking oysters are better during the cooler months as warm weather can cause them to “spawn” (reproduce) with the meat taking some time to recover firmness. It is ALWAYS a good idea to check with the WA State DOH Shellfish Safety website before self-harvesting – no matter the spelling of the month.
Only our oysters surpass our views. Kayaking, boating, hiking, scuba, and harvesting your own shellfish are just a few things to fill your days on Hood Canal. For spectacular accommodations, road trips and unique adventure itineraries visit explorehoodcanal.com. Stop by Explore Hood Canal’s booth at OysterFest to discover what we can’t stop talking about. Book a stay on the #wildsideWA today.
Mason Health announces new open MRI for patient comfort and safety!
This year’s Fund-An-Item for Mason Health is the OASIS Velocity High-Field Open MRI.
A unique achievement in high- eld imaging, OASIS Velocity’s open architecture gives technicians an unobstructed view of patients.
The machine promises fast exams and high-quality images with a seamless work ow, giving patients a more comfortable experience with shorter wait and exam times.
Thank you for helping us raise funds for quality health care in Mason County! 2025 Fund-An-Item Equipment Cost is $1.3 million.
