The Greater Charleston Restaurant Association will be hosting the 27th annual Lowcountry Oyster Festival on Sunday, Jan. 31. Located on the 700 plus acre grounds of historic Boone Hall Plantation in Mount Pleasant, the Lowcountry Oyster Festival is the world's largest oyster festival.  Other highlights include the legendary 'Oyster Shucking' and 'Oyster Eating' contests, live music from Dave Landeo and special guests on the main stage, a selection of domestic and imported beers and a Kids Corner complete with pony rides and jump castles.  This fund-raising event is orchestrated by a volunteer staff with proceeds benefiting the Ronald McDonald House, Hollings Cancer Center and the Charleston Science Materials Resource Center.  This year, as part of an oyster shell recycling initiative, the Department of Natural Resources, Fisher Recycling, and the Nature Conservancy will partner together to ensure that oyster shells from the festival are recycled back into the local public oyster beds following the event.

The Lowcountry Oyster festival will take place from 10:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 the day of the event, with no fee for children under 10.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.charlestonrestaurantassociation.com/oyster_festival.php or visit any of the five area Kickin Chicken restaurants.