By Maggie FitzRoy

Six thousand oysters. All the peel and eat shrimp you can eat. Pulled pork, chicken fingers, live music, fun for the kids, and more—lots more.

This year’s Community Oyster Roast and Cookout at Christ Church, to be held rain or shine Friday evening, May 2, from 6 to 9 p.m., “will be a big party,” Operations Director Stephanie Murray says. The traditional spring event “is a way Christ Church can bring people together from Ponte Vedra and show people our beautiful campus.”

Since 700 people came last year, with more expected this year, “I think it has done just that,” she says. “We had a lot of friends from Christ Church here, but also a lot of people who are not parishioners. This church is like a community center for the community.”

The first annual oyster roast was held in 2012 under the garage, with a western theme. This year’s will be held indoors in the dining room and outdoors in the courtyard, with picnic tables under sparkling white lights with an upscale new England coastal theme.

Beverages for adults will include a bar with kegs and cans of beer, and red and white wine. Lemonade and iced tea will also available.

A Kids Zone will include a bounce house, face painting, crafts, and a variety of activities for the little ones. For youth, there will be cornhole and ping pong.

“Invite friends and neighbors,” Stephanie says. “And we always need lots of volunteers. It takes many hands to make it right and everybody has fun when they volunteer—whether it’s shucking oysters, helping in the kitchen, or working the bars.”

Tickets are $40 for adults. Children and youth, ages 11 to 20, are $20. Children 10 and under are $10. 

The event also has sponsor opportunities available. If interested, local businesses and individuals may email Stephanie at [email protected]. Sponsorships include six tickets and a reserved table.

And if you’re wondering where all those 6,000 oyster shells will go when the party’s over?

Rest assured; they’ll be going to a good cause. All the shells will be donated to Guana for restoration of the shoreline.