The 33rd annual Jaz & Oyster Festival is now behind us, but wow, what a BLAST! The music was divine, the oysters fresh out of the bay, and friends (old and new) surrounded me. I had no idea when I volunteered to help out at the fundraiser that it would be such a fantastic event. It may now be over, but the memories of the Jazz & Oyster Festival will last forever.
Glorious Music
Jazz artist Eugenie Jones
By far the highlight of the festival was the live performances by a host of talented jazz musicians. The Ilwaco High School Jazz Band got things started in style, and in a big way! The crowd was on their feet, and it was hard to believe the talent of those teens. Next up was the R.J Marx Quartet with their signature soulful sound of the beloved saxophone mixed with guitars and drums.
My favorite performance at the event was Eugenie Jones, an extraordinary jazz vocalist and epic songwriter with angelic-like pipes. She delighted us with a fantastic combination of classic jazz and blues. I couldn’t stop myself from moving to the music, even behind my vendor table where I was serving up tasty grub to customers dancing along with me. The 45th Street Brass closed the event with a sound that took me back to the style of New Orleans. Hats off to all the performers!
Delicious Food
Fresh Willapa Bay oysters
If you love oysters, the Jazz & Oyster Festival is the event for you! Hundreds (maybe thousands) of pounds of fresh oysters were delivered throughout the festival to eager customers. Helpful volunteers shucked, barbequed, and served up the freshest oysters available, right out of Willapa Bay, only steps away from all the fun. There was also a wide variety of other dishes available: hamburgers, sausages, smoked salad sandwiches, vegetarian sandwiches, a cheese and fruit platter, and decadent homemade desserts. The audience also enjoyed beer and wine as they sat back and relaxed to the sound of jazz music feeding their soul.
The Venue
Willapa Bay in Nahcotta, Washington
One of the other things I love about the Jazz & Oyster Festival is the setting. It was held right at the Port of the Peninsula in Nahcotta, Washington. Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, and other sea-birds soared overhead, and the refreshing smell of the ocean filled the air. Sailboats and fishing vessels came and went throughout the day, and friends and neighbors hugged each other and swapped stories. The whole thing was magical.
Mark your calendar now for next year’s Jazz and Oyster Festival on the Long Beach Peninsula. It is jam-packed with fun, food, and friends and a must-go festival for children of all ages in the Pacific Northwest.