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81st annual Oyster Eat: Beer, cigars, eggs and bluegrass

Event has been fundraiser for Georgetown Volunteer Fire Co. since the 1930s
Russell White carries a steaming hot basket of oysters out into the large crowd at the 81st annual Oyster Eat on Feb. 23 to benefit the Georgetown Fire Company. RON MACARTHUR PHOTOS
Ron MacArthur
February 24, 2018
Hundreds stand in lines to eat oysters throughout the four hours of the annual event.
The Southern Grass provides a bluegrass music background for the event.
Sen. Ernie Lopez, left, holds up a knife as auctioneer Rep. Dave Wilson gets bids.
Ed McQuade of Lewes purchased the handmade knife for $3,900.
It’s all about oysters and beer at the annual Oyster Eat.
Matt Kelly, left, and Mike Pfaffenhauser keep the beer flowing.
Brandon Hazel of Georgetown works hard shucking oysters throughout the night.
Lemar Hall of Georgetown empties out a bushel of oysters.
Danny Paisley has followed in the steps of his late father as lead singer of The Southern Grass, a band with a long tradition of playing bluegrass.
About 1,000 men stand shoulder to shoulder as they fill the Georgetown Fire Co. equipment bay.
It’s a man’s event, but Jennifer Myers of Wilmington attends the event with some of her downstate family.
The Georgetown Fire Co. has sponsored the Oyster Eat for more than eight decades.
Bob Ricker of Georgetown holds up a souvenir Oyster Eat t-shirt.
The Oyster Eat is among the few – if not the only – event remaining where smoking is permitted.
Sen. Ernie Lopez, right, enjoys the annual event with his father, Luis.

With a few “USA, USA” chants throughout the evening, an annual tradition unique to Sussex County entered its eighth decade.

The 81st annual Oyster Eat to benefit the Georgetown Volunteer Fire Company is so much a tradition, the United States Congress has deemed it an event with historical and cultural significance.

The culture of the Feb. 23 event may have been lost to the hundreds who attended to renew friendships and eat oysters, drink beer and dance a little to bluegrass music – especially as the hours closed toward midnight.

The first event dates back to Nov. 3, 1933, and it has taken place every year since except 1944-1945 and then in 1947. Once it got back on track in the late 1940s, it's become a night Sussex County men look forward to.

Included in the night's festivities was the spirited auction of an oyster knife and sheath handmade by Rocky Green and his son, Neil. This year, with Sen. Ernie Lopez, auctioneer Dave Wilson and Oyster Eat Chairman Michael Briggs on stage spurring the bidding, the knife was purchased by Ed McQuade of Lewes for $3,900.

In all, more than 120 bushels and 55 gallons of oysters were consumed. Also on the menu were hotdogs, egg salad sandwiches and popcorn.

 

 

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