Gulf Coast Oyster Cook-Off and Festival

The festival highlighting the Coast’s seafood industry took place this weekend. The fifth-annual Gulf Coast Oyster Cook-Off and Festival was held at Point Cadet Plaza in Biloxi.

Festival season is back and restaurants from across the Coast set up shop at Point Cadet Plaza in Biloxi and prepared their oyster delicacies for festival-goers to enjoy.

Clear Vision Entertainment President Glenn Mattina tells News 25 this is an event to show appreciation for the oyster. “This was about the Coast, about supporting local restaurants. You know they have been through a lot and as local seafood restaurants supporting the oyster heritage we have here.”

The Coast was hit with hurricanes last year and this was a way to bring people together. “We have been through so many trials and tribulations, hurricanes, oil, spillways, you name it. So, we are coming out here to celebrate and have a good time with people.”

The event was rescheduled due to COVID-19 and many restaurants that signed up for the event had to pull out of the event due to staff shortage and many restaurants are just having to close down. “We rescheduled it for now. Things have lightened up and the restaurants and all of our sponsors said let’s roll for March. Here we are today. We had a record turnout.”

Keg and Barrel has two locations in Hattiesburg and added its third location in Ocean Springs six months ago. They took home an award in the special oyster category. Keg and Barrel Owner John Neil tells News 25’s included in the award-winning specialty oyster. “We’ve got roasted corn pepper, little spicy, little cilantro, cotija cheese, but yeah we are really pleased.”

Along with the oyster cook-off, food trucks, vendors, and arts and crafts were available.