St. Johns Riverkeeper’s annual Oyster Roast is returning to the Garden Club of Jacksonville on Nov. 17, marking the 22nd consecutive year of the event.
"We are looking forward to our best Oyster Roast event yet," said Meredith Jespersen, development director for St. Johns Riverkeeper. “We hear folks often refer to the Oyster Roast as the ‘best party of the year,’ but it’s so much more than that. The funds raised from this event help St. Johns Riverkeeper to continue its essential work as the leading advocate, defender and educator for the St. Johns River.”
Oyster Roast is an opportunity for the community to come together and celebrate the St. Johns River.
This event features far more than just oysters. Attendees can expect to enjoy:
St. Johns Riverkeeper was created in 2000 after a group of concerned citizens recognized the health of the St. Johns River was declining, yet government agencies and elected leaders weren’t doing enough to protect it.
“We needed a watchdog group to hold government agencies and polluters accountable,” Jimmy Orth, executive director for St. Johns Riverkeeper said. “As a result, St. Johns Riverkeeper was formed to serve as an independent voice and advocate for the protection and restoration of one of our country’s most important waterways — the St. Johns River.”
The Oyster Roast is St. Johns Riverkeeper’s most important fundraiser of the year, supporting the organization’s effective advocacy, education and outreach programs.
In addition to fundraising through ticket sales and sponsorships, a multitude of local artists and businesses get involved by donating items for the event’s silent auction and raffle, which you can participate in whether or not you are able to attend the event in person.
The Oyster Roast will be held at 7 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Garden Club of Jacksonville, 1005 Riverside Ave. Tickets are $150, or $90 for those under the age of 35. Go to stjohnsriverkeeper.org/2023-10-celebrating-the-st-johns-at-the-22nd-annual-oyster-roast.
St. Johns Riverkeeper Inc. is a member-supported, nonprofit advocacy organization for the St. Johns River and its watershed. Its mission is to defend the St. Johns River and advocate for its protection. Go to stjohnsriverkeeper.org for more information.
