Houston’s Oyster & SeaFest Draws Largest Crowd Yet in Milestone 5th Year

HOUSTON, TEXAS (April 11, 2026) – Galveston Bay Foundation’s fifth annual Oyster & SeaFest made waves this year, celebrating a record-breaking event with its highest-ever ticket sales (over 790) and attendance. Proceeds from the event support the nonprofit’s habitat restoration programs, including oyster reef restoration and oyster shell recycling efforts that help sustain Galveston Bay’s ecosystem.

Held at Autry Park in Houston, the festival welcomed a record number of Houston-area food lovers, conservation supporters, and families for an unforgettable day of oysters, seafood, and environmental impact in celebration of #EarthMonth. Guests enjoyed a wide variety of oyster and seafood tastings, specialty cocktails, live music, yard games, and interactive, family-friendly educational activities.

This year’s event featured an impressive lineup of restaurants and oyster farmers, each serving up creative and flavorful seafood dishes that showcased the region’s vibrant culinary scene. Participating partners included BB’s Tex Orleans, Capt. Benny’s, Oyster Bros., Key Allegro Oyster Co., McCormick & Schmick’s, Willie G’s, Navy Blue, and Killen’s Heights.

McCormick & Schmick’s took home the People’s Choice Award, while Prestige Oyster with Big Bayou Cocktail Sauce earned the Judge’s Choice Award for their standout dishes. VIP guests enjoyed an elevated experience featuring a raw oyster bar from Prestige Choice Oysters and shrimp tacos from Pier 6 Seafood & Oyster House, paired with bubbles and specialty cocktails.

In addition to record-setting attendance, the festival made a meaningful environmental impact through oyster shell recycling efforts. 992 pounds of oyster shell was recycled from the event, which will eventually make its way back to the Bay and provide a home for over 50,000 baby oysters. 

Funds raised from Oyster & SeaFest directly benefit Galveston Bay Foundation’s Habitat Restoration program, which enables oyster shell recycling services across dozens of Houston, Galveston, and Clear Lake restaurants. Since launching the program in 2011, the organization has recycled nearly 2,300 tons of oyster shell, helping restore vital reef habitat throughout the Bay.

“The incredible turnout at this year’s Oyster & SeaFest shows just how much our community cares about Galveston Bay,” said Bob Stokes, President of the Galveston Bay Foundation. “Every ticket purchased and every oyster enjoyed helps us continue our work restoring critical habitat and protecting this important resource for generations to come.”

The event was made possible thanks to the generous support of sponsors, volunteers, restaurants, and attendees who came together to celebrate and give back to the Bay. 

Thank you to our generous sponsors who helped make this event possible: Port Houston, Transocean, JP McGovern Foundation, Tito’s Vodka, Toadfish, Southern Devall, Pat Hammond, Gulf Coast Authority, Fortune Fish & Gourmet, S. Pellegrino, Bloody Revolution, Sips of Wellness, Distinct Vineyards, Lylo, All Hands, Arctic Ice, and Saint Arnold.

To learn more about the Galveston Bay Foundation, Oyster & SeaFest, or its Habitat Restoration program, visit galvbay.org or contact Kimberly Meza at kmeza@galvbay.org or 281-923-3278.