Festival Schedule
For a full festival brochure, please click here to download.
Four fabulous fun-filled days and nights.
Thursday 24th September 8pm
Guinness Irish Oyster Opening Championships
Venue : Galway City
Friday 25th September 7.30pm
The Magnificent Mardi Gras Party
Venue: Radisson SAS Hotel
Jazz music will set the tone at our champagne, Guinness and oyster reception. This will be followed by an extensive hot and cold buffet with wines.
Our delicious buffet includes seafood delicacies, pastas and an array of cold cuts and salads.
Select wines will be served throughout with after-dinner liqueur.
Our selected Pearl will be in attendance as will our Guest of Honor.
The Mayor of Galway will welcome one and all and then the party starts.
The non-stop entertainment on this night, featuring top class artists and cabaret acts, guarantees you’ll be finding your dancing feet before the nights’ end.
Dress Code - Smart Casual
Ticket Price: €125.00
Saturday 26th September
Official Opening of the Galway International Oyster Festival
Venue - Eyre Square
Starts at 12 noon. Free public event
Musicians and performers will keep the crowd entertained in Eyre Square until the opening ceremony begins. Our newly crowned Pearl will present the season's first oyster to Galway’s Mayor – a tradition since 1954.
After the ceremony a fun parade will make its way through the streets of Galway to the Oyster Festival Center at the Radisson Hotel. This includes a colourful line-up of musical bands, vintage cars, oyster openers, our Oyster Pearl and visiting dignitaries.
Saturday Afternoon
Venue - Festival Centre Radisson SAS Hotel
1.00 pm OYSTER TASTING
Feast on an excellent seafood lunch including: Oysters, Guinness/Wine amongst many other delights.
2.00PM GUINNESS WORLD OYSTER OPENING CHAMPIONSHIP
The Guinness World Oyster Opening Championship features contestants from every continent competing for the world title and valuable prizes.
3.00 PM ELEGANT LADY COMPETITION sponsored by Fallers Jewellers and Raymond Weil
For all the ladies joining us, this years Most Elegant Lady competition is a great excuse to spoil yourself. The Galway International Oyster Festival has always been synonymous with grace and style and this year promises a dazzling display of fashion with a spectacular prize of a Raymond Weil watch for the winning lady worth over €3000. www.fallers.com
3.30pm ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE GUINNESS WORLD OYSTER OPENING CHAMPION -
After the winner of the Guinness World Oyster Opening Championship is announced, the party will get into full swing with an internationally flavoured line-up of entertainment including Irish music and dance.
Ticket Price: €55.00
Saturday 26th September
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Oyster Festival Gala Ball
Venue: Meyrick Hotel, Galway City
Start time: 8pm
A truely gourmet experience of exquisite food and wines. The night starts with a champagne reception and your enjoyment is guaranteed by the famous Saturday night cabaret.
Dancing afterwards till late.
Dress Code - Black Tie
Ticket Price: €150.00
Sunday 27th September 1pm
Farewell Party
Venue: Festival Centre Radisson SAS Hotel
Finish with style at the final event of an action-packed weekend. Live music will help us bid farewell to the 55th Galway International Oyster Festival.
Ticket Price: €20.00