Tales through the years from “The” fall festival

For 62 years the Urbanna Oyster Festival has meant so much to so many.

Happy memories could fill volumes. Here are but a few stories by Tom Chillemi that have appeared in the Southside Sentinel through the years.

“I’m leery of anything you have to chase.” 

Many have tried their first raw oyster at the Urbanna Oyster Festival. For Phil Hunt, that day came on Halloween in 2003. It was the first day of the 46th annual Urbanna Oyster Festival. 

Raw oysters — you either like them or you don’t. Hunt of Richmond had the lines on his face that show character. He looks like he’s been around — just not around here. 

On the other side of his 50th birthday, Hunt stared at his buddy’s plate of raw oysters and thought about eating his first raw oyster. “These [roasted ones] are good… but those are something different,” he said, pointing to the raw oysters. He downed a couple of roasted oysters from his plate. 

He must have felt like he was missing something…