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A shuckin’ good time at the Georgetown Oyster Eat

Sussex County tradition lives on in County Seat
Hot stuff coming through! Georgetown firefighter Steven Norwood carries a basket of steaming saltwater bivalve mollusks at the Georgetown Fire Company's 88th Oyster Eat at Georgetown Fire Hall Feb. 28. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
March 4, 2025

What do you get when you add 120 bushels of shelled oysters, 60 gallons of shucked oysters, 1,800 hotdogs, 60 pounds of popcorn, 150 dozen eggs in sandwiches, a truckload of sawdust, bluegrass music and nearly 900 anxious men with narrow-blade knives?

You get the cherished tradition known as the Georgetown Oyster Eat. Established in 1933, the event draws locals and visitors annually on the last Friday of February to share a night of fellowship, music, stories, beer, tasty mollusks and a shucking good time.

The event has been recognized by U.S. Congress for its historical and cultural significance. All proceeds go to the Georgetown Fire Company.

“It was a great event,” said Georgetown Fire Company vice president and Oyster Eat Co-Chair Michael Briggs. “We raised between $30,000 and $40,000 for the department.”

 

Volunteer Matt Pfaffenhauser tops off the cups of beer before the crowd comes into the fire hall.
Delaware Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, center, sells souvenir T-shirts with Mike Vincent, left, and Ric Marvel.
James Hitchens Sr. has been shucking at the Oyster Eat for more than 30 years.
Former firefighters Mark Putnam, left, and Greg Davis show off their oyster knives. Putnam traveled from Monterey, Calif., to attend the Oyster Eat with his best friend, Greg, who also donated a shotgun to be raffled off at the event.
Firefighter Rick Hudson serves as the popcorn man for the event.
The staff gets together before the crowd enters the 88th annual Oyster Eat.
Nick Short prepares his eating and shucking station.
Jake Ricker, president of the Georgetown Fire Company, carries a basket of oysters to awaiting shuckers.
Matt Bennett delivers a basket of steamy delights.
John Parker Jr., left, and his father John Sr. attend the event with their friend Sait Acar from Adliswil, Switzerland, where he is also a volunteer fireman.
Dennis Diehl, left, attends the event with his son-in-law Mark Evans.
Jay Baxter carries a steamy heap to his table.
Greg Davis puts out the horseradish condiment before the doors are open.
Danny Paisely & The Southern Grass perform for the big crowd.
Cliff McCall slurps a tasty mollusk.
Volunteers and staff load up the egg salad sandwiches.
Past Chief Chip Stevenson displays the homemade knife made by Rocky and Neal Greene.
More than 1,800 hot dogs were stuffed into the buns by volunteers and staff.
Lewes boys loving the oyster eat are (l-r) Keith Hocker, Nick Diguglielmo, Scott Davis, Tim Blackburn, Devin Medd, Blake Woodruff and Will Stokes.
Good ole boys at the event are (l-r) Gabe Brown, Steve Smyk, Walt Reynolds, Steve Smyk Sr., Gabe Smyk and Will Dorey.
Alex King lights up a stogie.
Friends and veterans Ed Sched, left, and Mike Balsamy served together on the USS Kaskaskia from 1966-70 and have been best friends since.
Jake Ricker, president of Georgetown Fire Company, carries a basket of oysters to awaiting shuckers.
Lawrence Urgo of Virginia had the winning bid of $3,500 for the homemade knife made by Rocky and Neal Greene. Urgo has purchased three over the last few years. Shown with Urgo are (l-r) Sean McGee, Michael Briggs and Sen. Brian Pettyjohn, R-Georgetown.
Sean Magee displays the handmade knife made by Rocky and Neal Greene. The winning bid was from Lawrence Urgo of Virginia who paid $3,500 for the unique oyster knife.
Sen. Dave Wilson, R-Lincoln, catches the bids on the handmade knife.
Some good ole boys show off their buck horn knives.
Many unique knives are made and used for the event.
More than 900 people attend the 88th annual Georgetown Oyster Eat.
Some attendees break out in impromptu dancing to the bluegrass music.

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Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs. 

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