Oyster fest in final days

Photo: Jordan Fraser

Two guests at Friday's "Beach BBQ and Brews" event at Walnut Beach Resort enjoying the Osoyoos Oyster Festival.

The seventh annual Osoyoos Oyster Festival is in its final 24 hours, with several noteworthy events still to come.

The 'Art of the Pearl Gala' takes goes from 6 p.m. until 10:30 p.m. on Saturday at the Spirit Ridge Hyatt, where former world champion oyster shucker Patrick McMurray, also known as "Shucker Paddy," will be shucking fresh oysters.

Guests are encouraged to wear costumes for that event, and there will be a best costume award given out. The reception goes from 6 to 7 p.m. with the gala to follow.

At 9 p.m., the Sage Pub is hosting the 'Amateur Shuck and Suck Competition." Teams of two take part in the event, where one shucks the oysters and the other sucks them back. The team to shuck the most oysters before time expires wins the crown as the "best shuck and suck team" in the Okanagan.

On Sunday, the Watermark Beach Resort is hosting a brunch from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. to conclude five days of events. Apart from the regular brunch menu, chef Adam Scott will be serving seafood-based features including fresh shucked oysters.

More information can be found here.