Mine Oyster Raw Bar & Gathering Place hosted the 23rd Pemaquid Oyster Festival in Boothbay Harbor, Sept. 26-27, featuring freshly shucked oysters of the Damariscotta River region. Event-goers sampled oysters from The Pemaquid Oyster Company, Mook Sea Farm, Norumbega Oyster Inc., Dodge Cove Marine Farm, Glidden Point Oyster Farms, Blackstone Point Oysters, Pleasant Cove Oyster Farm, Heron Island Oyster Company, Great Salt Bay Oyster Co. and Carlisle Oyster Farm. The festival is an annual fundraiser for the Edward A. Myers Marine Conservation Fund, which has awarded over $250,000 through grants and scholarships to Lincoln County non-profit groups that work in marine conservation and education. A tribute table to Myers, featuring his work boots, served as an homage to the South Bristol resident, shellfish farmer and mentor to many of the river's early oyster growers.

A kick-off dinner, the Oyster & Wine Extravaganza, offered a six-course, oyster-forward dinner paired with wines from this year's featured sommelier, Sierra Fahrman of Browne Trading Market in Portland. Mine Oyster Chef Ralph Smith designed the menu.

The weather seemed to deter few from attending the festival, though the oyster shucking contest was smaller than in past years. This year, shuckers Andy Rogers (defending champion) of Jolie Rogers Raw Bar in Wiscasset and up-and-comer Firat Kozan of Yeti Boys Food Truck faced off for a $500 prize from sponsor First National Bank, presented by Alyssa Allen. Virginia Shaffer judged the competition. Rogers won, defending his title for the third time, and securing an opportunity to advance to the 60th annual U.S. National Oyster Shucking Championship in Maryland. Rogers has attended the national competition several times, placing fifth in 2025. As well, Rogers placed second in an international competition earlier this year on Prince Edward Island.

Live music, across two stages, included the Hadacol Bouncers, the Liz Lannon Blues Band, the Old Blues Kats, Primo Cubano, and the Oystermen.

The exhibit tent moved inside this year due to weather. Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences, Boothbay Sea and Science Center (BSSC), Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust, Maine Aquaculture Innovation Center and many local artists displayed educational materials and paintings, prints, d cor, ceramics and more. A silent auction, both online and in-person, concluded at the festival's end.

Proceeds from the festival targeted seven regional initiatives to support in 2025. Boothbay Region Land Trust and Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust were awarded funds for water quality sampling and monitoring. Lincoln Academy, South Bristol School, Great Salt Bay School and BSSC were awarded grants for marine education. Carpenter's Boat Shop in Bristol also received funds. Municipalities were also granted funds for pump stations, and some search and rescue teams were gifted GPS navigational equipment. The Fish Ladder Project, several fire stations, Maine Aquaculture Association, and many more were listed as prior grant recipients.