On Saturday, June 24, from noon to 3 p.m., join us for a celebration of Damariscotta River oysters at the Darrows Barn, DRA Round Top Farm, 3 Round Top Lane, Damariscotta.

Come meet the farmers who raise these delicious, world renown treasures from the Damariscotta River. Ever wondered how oysters are raised, and how to properly handle, shuck, and eat them? Here is your chance!

Come learn about the changing ocean and its effect on oyster farming. Experience the “merroir” of Maine’s clean coastal waters captured in the fresh salty taste savored by oyster aficionados from coast to coast.

The U.S. oyster industry is growing by leaps and bounds. The landed value of Maine’s oysters has more than tripled in the last three years, from $1.65 million in 2012 to just over $5 million last year. More than ¾ of Maine’s oysters come from the Damariscotta River.

Organizers of the Damariscotta River Oyster Celebration are proud to announce that all proceeds will be donated to the Darling Marine Center. The University of Maine’s Darling Marine Center is the birthplace of Maine’s oyster industry. It plays a key role in developing the tremendous potential of aquaculture in Maine, and training the next generation of marine farmers and scientists.

Tickets are $25 and get you 2 beverages and 6 oysters. Additional oysters and beverages will be available for sale (cash only). If you want to take oysters home, please bring a small cooler. Tickets are available online at EventBrite.com, at the Walpole Barn (135 State Route 129, Walpole), and at Sherman’s Maine Coast Book Store (Main Street, Damariscotta).

The Damariscotta River Association is providing the Darrows Barn for the event as a sponsorship donation, and will be offering short guided hikes from Round Top Farm to the Whaleback Shell Midden. Explore the site of what was once the largest oyster shell mound in the Northeast, and take in the view of what today remains the largest extant midden north of Georgia.

Oyster lovers may also want to join the Maine Farmland Trust’s Damariscotta River tour earlier in the day to learn about the river harvest, past and present. For more information and to purchase tickets for the tour, visit https://www.mainefarmlandtrust.org/event/harvesting-the-river/ or email Meghan@mainefarmlandtrust.org.