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Whitstable Oyster Festival 2021: Dates announced for this summer's festival

Dates have been announced for this summer's Whitstable Oyster Festival.

The hugely popular annual event was sadly cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic - but is set to go ahead this year at the height of summer.

Whitstable Oyster Festival 2018. Picture: Chris Davey.
Whitstable Oyster Festival 2018. Picture: Chris Davey.

Organisers have today revealed the Whitstable festival will take place over the August Bank Holiday weekend - from Friday, August 27 to Monday, August 30.

Bosses say it will feature many of the traditional events that are usually enjoyed at the family weekend.

In a post on Facebook, they wrote: "It is with great excitement we bring you the dates for #WOF21.

"We return with the traditional elements of The Landing of the Oysters, grotters and the world-famous oyster eating competition alongside an extended food fair with multiple stages of entertainment and a plethora of culinary delights.

"More details coming soon."

The Rev Simon Tillotson blesses oysters being brought to shore at a previous Whitstable Oyster Festival. Picture: Chris Davey.
The Rev Simon Tillotson blesses oysters being brought to shore at a previous Whitstable Oyster Festival. Picture: Chris Davey.
Samba Pelo Mar led the Whitstable Oyster Festival parade as it made its way through the town in 2018. Picture: Chris Davey
Samba Pelo Mar led the Whitstable Oyster Festival parade as it made its way through the town in 2018. Picture: Chris Davey

The landing of the oysters sees some of the town's celebrated molluscs ceremonially hauled ashore by fishermen before being blessed by a member of the clergy.

Grotters, meanwhile, sees festival-goers build small hollowed-out stacks of oyster shells on the beach, which are then lit from within using candles to create a spectacular sight as the sun goes down.

The oyster eating contest in 2018. Picture: Jon Lambert
The oyster eating contest in 2018. Picture: Jon Lambert

The festival is run by Full Event Production Ltd, which took it over from The Event Umbrella in 2017.

Read more: All the latest news from Whitstable

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