Continuing a tradition of nontraditional competition, the Pemaquid Oyster Festival will once again host the Pemaquid Oyster Poetry Contest and the Maine Champion Oyster Shucking Contest.

The two events are expected to keep the “fun” in fundraising at the Pemaquid Oyster Festival coming Sunday, Sept. 29 to Schooner Landing Restaurant and Marina in Damariscotta.

The Pemaquid Oyster Poetry Contest will allow festival guests to express their feelings about local oysters, the working waterfront and the Damariscotta River.

Billed as “60’s poetry on the half-shell,” the Pemaquid Oyster Poetry Contest is sponsored by the Maine Coast Book Shop and Café, which will provide the grand prize of a $20 gift certificate to the shop. The Pemaquid Oyster Poetry Contest will be open to any style of poetry, as long as it includes the word “oyster” at least one time. Entries will be limited to 10 poems, and each poem must be submitted during the festival beginning at 1 p.m. (an announcement will be made from stage on how and where to submit a poem).

Once the contest coordinator checks each poem to ensure it meets the questionable standards of the Pemaquid Oyster Festival, the writer will be called to the stage to read the poem at approximately 2 p.m. (By tradition, all scheduling for the Pemaquid Oyster Festival is approximate, according to Event Director Greg Latimer.) If the writer is shy, he or she can designate another person to read the poem, but the writer must be present. Judges will make their decision based on the poem as written and the audience’s reaction to the poem, so writers or their stand-ins can earn a higher rating with some on-stage flair.

The Pemaquid Oyster Poetry Contest will be judged by a highly qualified panel made up of local literary persons whose identities will remain secret until the event so no attempts can be made to unduly influence their decisions.

The Maine Champion Oyster Shucking Contest will kick off at approximately 3 p.m. with starting cry of: “Get ready, get set, get shucking!”

Registration for the contest will be on-site at the festival, which opens at noon.

Contestants in the Maine Champion Oyster Shucking Contest will be timed while shucking a set amount of oysters, and then demerits against that time will be given based on the quality of the shucked oyster, including any shell pieces left and how much liquid (called “liquor”) is left in the oyster.

Top prize for the Maine Champion Oyster Shucker will be a custom belt buckle designed by Alan McKinnon of Narragansett Leathers in Damariscotta Mills.

The winner will also be qualified to compete in the National Oyster Shucking Contest held in St. Mary’s, Md.

As always, the Pemaquid Oyster Festival will feature a great line-up of entertainment, food and educational exhibits.

While the event is held outdoors on Schooner Landing’s riverside deck, there are tents to cover the educational exhibits, entertainment stage, and other locations so that the Pemaquid Oyster Festival can be held rain or shine.

The Pemaquid Oyster Festival is the primary fundraiser for the Edward A. Myers Marine Conservation Fund. The fund is named after Edward Myers, a Walpole resident who pioneered aquaculture in the Damariscotta River and many other areas.

The Pemaquid Oyster Festival is also seeking volunteers to fill a variety of positions. Some of the activities volunteers will be needed for include: stage management, festival set-up and take-down, boat deck hands, boat ride gate management, oyster shucking, general assistance on the food line, and contest management.

For more information on volunteer work or sponsorships please contact Greg Latimer at 207-380-9912 or greglatimer@yahoo.com.