Tyne Valley festival features music, free oysters

The Tyne Valley Oyster Festival kicks into high gear this weekend with the Canadian Oyster Shucking Championships on Friday and the Rock the Boat Music Festival on Saturday.

It's the best night of the year- Jeff Noye

Organizers are expecting up to 16,000 people for the 52nd annual festival, which began Thursday and wraps up Sunday with the crowning of Miss Oyster Pearl.

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Jeff Noye, chairman of Tyne Valley Oyster Festival says they'll go through about 30,000 Malpeque oysters over the weekend. And Friday night, during the oyster shucking championship, they're free.

Noye says if you like oysters, it's the place to be.

"It's the best night of the year," he said. "So much fun. People cheering."

Oysters shuckers from as far away as Vancouver will compete in the oyster shucking competition, Noye said. The winner will represent Canada at the world championships in Ireland.

The Rock the Boat Music Festival, now in its third year, features Trooper, The Trews, Trinity Bradshaw, The Ellis Family Band and the Amanda Jackson Band. Gates open at 2 p.m.

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