A pearl of an event: Wareham Oyster Festival to return

The Wareham Oyster Festival will return to Main Street on Sunday, May 26 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for its eighth year. 

Organizers expect the Festival to be the largest yet, promising more food, vendors and musical performances as it celebrates a wide variety of local oysters. 

Over 100 craft, art and food vendors will participate in the Festival. In addition to oyster and seafood specialties, the Festival will offer Cape Verdean favorites, barbecue, Asian fusion, wood-grilled pizza and more. Gourmet sweets, ice cream, cookies and other treats will also be on hand. Wine, beer, water and soft drinks will be available. 

A big tent on Pezzoli Square will host music throughout the day. The program starts at 11 a.m. with nationally recognized Grace Morrison performing folk music. At 1 p.m., the Southcoast Jazz Orchestra will return and delight the audience with its jazz renderings. The well-known band Daddy-O will return to finish the day from 3 to 5 p.m. with lively rockabilly tunes. 

Free parking is available at the Town Hall, 54 Marion Road, with free shuttle service to the festival site. 

The festival is not dog friendly. 

This year’s 5K Walk/Run has been moved to Monday, May 27 and begins and ends at Besse Park on Main Street. New to the race this year, the profits will benefit Village Hoops, Onset’s local youth basketball group.

The race starts at 9 a.m. Pre-registration is from 8 to 8:45 a.m. Race packets may also be picked up at the Oyster Festival on May 26. Register at https://warehamoyster.com/wareham-oyster-festival-5k-2/

Online registration is open until midnight on Thursday, May 23.