Festival Schedule

Four fabulous fun-filled days and nights.

Thursday 25th September 8pm

Guinness Irish Oyster Opening Championships

Venue : Kings Head, Shop Street, Galway

Friday 26th September 7.30pm        

The Magnificent Mardi Gras Party

Venue: The Oyster Festival Marquee, Nimmo’s Pier

Jazz music will set the tone at our champagne, Guinness and oyster reception. This will be followed by an extensive hot and cold buffet.

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: €150.00

Saturday 27th 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 Marquee. This includes a colourful line-up of musical bands, vintage cars, oyster openers, our Oyster Pearl and visiting dignitaries.

Saturday Afternoon at the Marquee

Venue - Festival Marquee Nimmo’s Pier

1.00 pm OYSTER TASTING

Feast on an excellent seafood lunch including: Oysters, Guinness and seafood chowder 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: €110.00

Note: Purchase a ticket for Saturday afternoons’ activities and receive a complimentary ticket to Sundays’ Farewell Party.

Saturday 27th September

Oyster Festival Gala Ball

Venue: Radisson Hotel SAS

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.

Parade of Flags:

Enjoy the spectacle, when we bring back each of our international oyster openers to popular music from their own country. Dancing afterwards till late.

Dress Code - Black Tie

Ticket Price: €175.00

Sunday 28th September 1pm

Farewell Party

Venue: Nimmo’s Pier

Finish with style at the final event of an action-packed weekend. Live music will help us bid farewell to the 52nd Galway International Oyster Festival.

Note: Purchase a ticket for Saturday afternoons’ activities and receive a complimentary ticket to Sundays’ Farewell Party.

Ticket Price: €20.00