 Frequently
Asked Questions:
When
do tickets go on sale?
For our email list subscribers and Meritage friends an email will go
out mid-late August with a link to this page with the ticket sale buttons
activated. Oysterfest tickets will be sold online or by telephone. Tickets
go on sale to the general public Tuesday, September 4th at 9:00am.
How
do I become a Meritage friend?
Either by friending or liking us on Facebook,
or by signing up for our email
subscribers list (we don't fill your email box with stuff, only
special events and announcements, essentially a quarterly newsletter).
What's the difference between a VIP Pass & a general entry ticket?
A VIP Pass ($100) is good for unlimited oysters, three beverage
tickets, an Oysterfest pint glass, and a VIP gift bag put together with
all of our sponsors, and makes a guest eligible for prizes within the
ongoing raffle for all sorts of schwag and fun things throughout the
day.
A general
entry ticket ($25) is good for one dozen oysters, an Oysterfest pint
glass, and a beverage ticket.
Oyster School
- $20 per person, space permitting. A limited number of advanced registrations
will be available, so we can hold some for same-day registration.
Oyster
School - what is it?
Oyster
School 101: Bivalve Basics (a five species adventure) is a class
taught by the visiting Oyster Farmers; Chris
Sherman of Island Creek Oyster Farms in Duxbury MA &
Adam James of Hama Hama Oyster Farms, in Hood Canal, WA. They cover
the species and anatomy of an oyster, their merrior and general flavor
profiles, farming methods, seasons, etc. Come learn all about this perfect
and completely sustainable food.
Do
I have to arrive right at 12:00noon?
To get the most out of the event, we do recommend you arrive, register,
and then have a leisurely pace to go about your day. It will ensure
you have a better chance of getting into the Oyster School. Otherwise,
you can arrive whenever you want, mill-about, people-watch and enjoy
your dozen oysters, maybe a snack and pint of beer.
Is
this really structured or can I move about as I wish?
The format of the event is really made up by you. Watch the
Oyster Shucking Competition, listen to the bands, meet some of the farmers
as you meander through. Oyster School is offered at four different times
and if you'd like to sit in on the class (about an hour)- that covers
all 5 species of oysters! You'll want to register upon arrival for this
one. Classes filled early last year. So, go when there is room and when
you can fit it in, you can choose you class times at registration. There
is structure for those wanting to get the most out of the experience,
and they is freedom for those who just want to fest!
What
if I buy my tickets in advance and I decide to bring a friend the day
of?
We strongly recommend advanced ticket purchase, as every event we have
hosted has sold out. Now, with this being a festival format there may
be more room than we think, but with all that oyster love out there
and us being in the landlocked midwest we anticipate there are some
appetites for the ocean. We will hold a reserve for same-day tickets,
and they will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis at the door.
Will
you be holding back any same day tickets for sale on September 30th?
As just stated, but in a different context for the question
- we will have a select number of tickets available day of, sold on
a fist-come, first-served basis on-premise, beginning at 12:00noon,
however, no VIP Passes will be available same day.
Can
I purchase a VIP Pass the day of the event?
We will not be able to hold back VIP Passes for same day sales.
Are
there refunds if I can't make it?
Unfortunately, no.
If
I can't make it, can I send a friend? Are the tickets / passes transferable?
Of course! Feel free to send a friend in your stead.
Do
you really think you will sell out this event?
We sold out Oysterfest within two weeks of tickets going on
sale in 2011, and this year we expect the same if not even quicker.
We have an active community of food and wine lovers and we host events
regularly, and they do all sell out. We have to be aware of and conscientious
of capacity limits and making sure everyone has access, but there won't
be many tables in the place for the day, the Terrace will be tented
and open, so we expect to be able to host a good amount of people. This
event goes on sale to our email subscriber list first, our Facebook
friends & Twitter followers second, and then goes on sale to the
general public Tuesday, September 4, 2012 at 9:00am (day after Labor
Day).
What
if I don't drink beer? Can I get wine or a cocktail in my glass?
There is a Pairing Station that will be available all day to swap out
your beer if your just not into beer. Otherwise, once you finish your
pint of Oyster Stout, feel free to change up. Addionally, there will
be a bar outside as well that will be offering full service all day.
Is
there any other food?
Yes, there will be all sorts of seafood shack style food available for
purchase. Lobster rolls to fried clams. There will even be some non-seafood
items in case you've had your fill. There will be a Grill outside serving
up festival classics too.
What
if I have problems with the transaction or I don't feel comfortable
ordering online?
You can call us directly with a credit card number to purchase
the tickets as well. Just give Laura a call at 651.222.5678.
Frequently
Asked Questions for the Day of the Event:
What
about Parking? Will there be Valet?
No, there will not be Valet available that day. All off street parking
on Sunday is free, so if you are able to find it that's your best bet.
We are having to close off St Peter Street for our festivities, so remember
that if you need to alter your route. We do recommend the LAWSON Tower
ramp right next door. It is safe, secure, undercover, and close. For
more detailed information: www.meritage-stpaul.com/parking.html
What
happens when I get there? Where do I go?
You will enter Oysterfest from the Hamm Building main entrance. The
festival will be surrounded by a few barracades and some pretty impressive
tenting down Saint Peter Street. So, when you enter you will be greeted
immediately with our Registation Table for Oyster School, as well as
Will Call/Same Day ticket sales.
New
for this year: If you have purchased advanced tickets/VIP
passes - no line! Your passes will be sent to you in advance and all
you need to do is verify your tickets/passes and get your ID checked
either immediately in the hallway, or directly inside the Oyster Bar,
where you can also get an event map and all sorts of information.
Then just jump in and start festing!
Posters
of the Artwork? Tee-shirts?
Yes, we will have all sorts of Oysterfest schwag around, as well as
some from our farmers and sponsors. We still have some 2011 schwag available,
though many in limited supply. As
for 2012 - most importantly, there will be posters of the artwork available
for sale. We have had many people request already and we will have a
limited run of these posters for sale. We will even have a limited supply
of posters from our first year, when we commisioned the very talented
Gary Korlin for a fine art peice for the Meritage Oyster Bar, which
we could then use as our 1st annual imagery.
If you didn't
know already, as part of Oysterfest 2012, we have decided to support
the local arts by offering a "Call
to Artists" for an annual prize of $1,000 for a
local artist who submits an original peice of work that may be selected
for our annual Oysterfest artwork, giving the artists a nice prize,
great exposure and the opportunity to display their work at Oysterfest
(we find supporting our community to be a very important part of what
we do.) Jessie McNally was our chosen artist and she'll
be on-hand the day of for any questions and to see more from this local
talent.
New
for 2012 - we are putting up an Oysterfest Store & Artist Tent:
where you can pick up the artwork, tee-shirts, as well as Wooden
Nickles and other details.
Celebrity
Chef Shucking Contest:
Chef shucking bracket kicks off at immediately at 12:30pm with our first
head-to-head. 3 rounds, 10 shuck-offs. We bracket till the end and when
“Ultimate Shucker” is revealed. Feel free to create your
bracket on the opposite side of the Oysterfest Map provided and cheer
on your favorite Chef!
Information
on Wooden Nickels:
There are no real “cash” transaction for the festival. Just
like at the Fair, or any other festival where you would purchase tickets
to buy things – we have wooden nickels. Each valued at $2.50 +
sales tax, these wooden nickels will be commerce for the day. Most things
throughout Oysterfest are priced at 1-3 wooden nickels.
So, plan out your nickel purchases in advance (Will you want a sandwich?
A crepe? Or, two?) Wooden Nickles will be available during ticket sales
or will be available day of at the Oysterfest Store, in the Oyster Bar
or at the outdoor bar.
New
for 2012
- Wooden Dollars will be available. Commemorative wooden dollars have
been added to give more denomination choices.
$1=1 wooden dollar.
Additionally,
last year the lines, though few, could be long. We realized we needed
more "Wooden Nickle Stations", so voilà done! As
stated above we have added an Oysterfest Store, so simply put, you
can buy all things fest and it has an area dedicated to the to the
artists and their work. (Thanks for feedback from those of you
who attended in 2011, helps us make things work better for everyone!)
Disclaimers
& Advisement:
-Event will go on, rain or shine, as there are mutilpe tents
and indoor facilities.
-Due to the nature of seafood, all items subject to availability.
-Due to the highly exclusive nature of Bellon & Olympia oysters,
we ask that you limit consumption to two (2) of each per person, if
desired. The Oysters will both be part of Oyster
School 101: Bivalve Basics (a 5 species adventure). So, if your
really curious register for a class, you will be exposed through that
process.
-Be aware: consuming
raw or undercooked meats, poultry, seafood, shellfish or eggs may increase
your risk of food borne illness.
-Before entering Oysterfest please inform us if anyone in your party
has a food allergy.
-Finally,
details are subject to change as we get closer to the date due to ,
well, reality.
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