MOUNTAINS of fresh Straddie oysters are reaching toppling point, shucking knives are being polished and marquees are being brushed down for the long-awaited, eagerly anticipated Straddie Oyster Festival to be held at Sharks Allsports Club at Dunwich next Sunday, November 22.

The day's festivities will be a true tribute to Straddie's wealth of marine life, with fresh local prawns, crabs and bugs being served up alongside the oysters and to the melodic musings of local band Shag Rock.

It promises fun for the whole family, with local legends defending their records for opening and flipping oysters with precision and speed in the traditional Oyster Shucking Competition, before their efforts are handed over to the speed-eating champions in the Oyster Eating Competition. The winner of the shucking competition will be in the running to attend the world championships in Ireland next year.

There will also be rides and a jumping castle for the kids, as well as a local history and oyster information display on the local fare, all grown within a 10 kilometre radius of Dunwich.

Marshalling the day's fun will be oyster lovers and MCs extraordinaire, news identities Spencer Jolly and Bruce Paige, with radio 4KQ presenting a live broadcast from the Sharks field.

Straddie Sharks Sports Club president Tony Brown said the club was very pleased to be hosting the event for the first time this year.

"We'll have the big marquees up and have a liquor licence for half the sports field for the day, so we're hoping for a really big crowd," he said.

Stradbroke Oyster Growers' Association president Greg Nankerris said 50 dozen oysters had been put aside for the competitions alone.

"We've been preparing stocks for a long time, so we hope to have enough to last all day, but at $11 a dozen, you never know!" he said.

The Straddie Oyster Festival will start at 10am, and run until about 6pm. Bookings for Stradbroke Ferries are encouraged to avoid disappointment - call them on 3488 5300.