Oyster fans unite! And they did. At least 2,000 were at Schooner Landing in Damariscotta Sept. 30 for the annual Pemaquid Oyster Festival. What could be better on a warm sunny day in Midcoast Maine but to savor oysters, sip your favorite beverage and dance?

The big event of the festival is the Maine Champion Oyster Shucking Contest. The winner qualifies to enter the U.S. National Oyster Shucking Competition in St. Mary's, Maryland. And that person is Brendan Parsons. Parsons shucked his second consecutive win this year and will be heading to Maryland. The winner of that contest qualifies for the World Oyster Opening Championship in Galway, Ireland.

Sunday's 14 shuckers included three from Mine Oyster in Boothbay Harbor: Nikita Moroz, who placed third, Alex Pirvu, who placed fifth, and Ralph Smith. Entrants were timed while they shucked 12 oysters. Preliminary rounds are judged by time only. Final rounds include time and demerits based on the quality of the shucked oyster, including any shell pieces left and how much liquid, known as liquor, is left in the oyster.

It was the shell pieces that hurt Smith’s chance to place: “I broke my first shell and I just never recovered from it,” he said.

Parsons, a Nobleboro native, owns Damariscotta River Distribution, a raw bar and retail distribution center on Main Street in Newcastle; and the Shuck Shack, Portland's first food cart selling oysters. He has two carts there now.

Judges were Laura Cabot of Laura Cabot Catering, John Reny of Reny's and Bobby Whear of Mill Pond Inn. 

Press contact person and publicist Greg Latimer reported a total of 13,35o Pemaquid Oyster Co.’s bivalve molluscs were consumed at the event. Latimer says that number has risen as high as 17,000 over the Festival’s 18 years.

Oyster lovers danced the afternoon away to the tunes of the Scotty River Trio, Eric Green, The Oystermen and The Boneheads.

All proceeds from the festival are donated to the Edward A. Myers Marine Conservation Fund Money to sponsor marine education and conservation projects in Lincoln County. The fund named for the aquaculture pioneer was established jointly by The Pemaquid Oyster Company and The Schooner Landing Restaurant & Marina. This year’s event raised $16,000. In total, according to Latimer, a grand total of $150,000 has been raised during the Pemaquid Oyster Festival years.