This year, Labor Day brings not only rest, relaxation, and a well-deserved day off, but also kicks off Shaw’s Crab House Chicago’s annual Oyster Fest celebration. Running September 7-11, Oyster Fest 2015 features five days of all-day oyster happy hour, special menu features, and live entertainment. Here’s what diners can expect:

½ Priced Oysters: From Monday, September 7 through Friday, September 11, Shaw’s will offer ½ priced East and West coast oysters on the half shell all day long in the Shaw’s Oyster Bar.

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In-House Specials:
Shaw’s has put together a special menu of oyster-centric dishes on offer Monday through Friday of Oyster Fest week including Fried Oysters over a bed of roasted sweet corn and chanterelle mushrooms with lobster broth ($15), Fried Oyster Po’ Boys ($16), Oysters Casino ($15), Blue Crab Stuffed Oysters ($16), and Broiled Oysters with garlic-herb butter ($15).

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Oyster Fest Slurp-Off Competition:
Competitive eaters and oyster lovers alike are invited to participate in the nightly Oyster Slurp-Off. Beginning at 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday of Oyster Fest week, competitors will slurp down a dozen oysters as fast as they can, hands-free, with the goal to advance to Thursday night’s semi-final round at 7 p.m. and ultimately, Friday night’s Oyster Fest Grand Slurp-Off where the winner will be awarded a grand prize of $1,000. Sign-up for each night’s Slurp-Off is available in the Shaw’s lobby on the way to the Oyster Bar.

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Live entertainment:
Each night, Shaw’s will feature live music at the restaurant from 7 to 10 p.m.

Monday, September 7: Andrew Diehl

Tuesday, September 8: Dave Specter

Wednesday, September 9: Rick King’s Royal Hustle

Thursday, September 10: Mississippi Heat

On Friday, September 11th, the restaurant will host two live performances. From 7-10 p.m., Linsey Alexander will take to the stage and from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m., as part of the big Oyster Fest After Party, Big Dog Mercer will keep the night going with a high energy show.

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2015 Oyster Hall of Fame Inductee:
This year’s Oyster Hall of Fame inductee is Hama Hama, a fifth generation family run shellfish farm. OnWednesday, September 9th, the restaurant will feature a special curated Oyster Sampler from the owners and farmers of Hama Hama, as well as an oyster tasting and class from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. On Thursday, September 10th, Shaw’s will host a Hama Hama Meetin’, Greetin’, and Shuckin’ event from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

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Oyster Fest Presented by Shaw’s Crab House:
Returning to Chicago on Friday, September 11th from 3:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for its 27th year, Oyster Fest 2015 expects more than 6,000 guests to descend upon the corner of Hubbard St. and Rush St. to hear live music from indie pop headliner, St. Lucia, and taste fresh seafood from the most renowned seafood restaurants and oyster houses across North America, including The Optimist, Hog Island, and The Publican.

Curated by Shaw’s Crab House and the team behind Windy City Smokeout, Oyster Fest will feature fresh seafood, including a large variety of oysters on the half shell, from some of the best restaurants and growers around the country, including:

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Drago’s Seafood Restaurant (New Orleans, LA)
Hama Hama (Lilliwaup, WA)
Harbor House (Milwaukee, WI)
Hog Island (San Francisco, CA)
Luke’s Lobster (New York, NY)
Montauk Pearl (New Brunswick, Canada)
Naked Cowboy Shellfish (West Sayville, NY)
Notkins Oyster Bar (Montreal, Canada)
The Optimist (Atlanta, GA)
The Publican (Chicago, IL)
Shaw’s Crab House (Chicago, IL)
Standish Shore (Duxbury, MA)
Taylor Shellfish (Shelton, WA).

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Many of the most popular oyster varietals will be on site, like Naked Cowboy’s namesake oyster, as well as some of the most rare, like the Olympia from Totten Inlet, WA, the Shibumi from Puget Sound, WA, and the Row 34 from Duxbury, MA. Available dishes include Shaw’s signatures items like King Crab Bites, as well as other regional favorites from Oyster Fest partners, like Clam Chowder, Lobster Rolls, and Crab Rolls from Luke’s Lobster, an Oyster Fry accompanied by Cajun Sausage, Cheese Curds, Dill Pickles and Brioche by The Publican, Sir Kensington’s famous Crab and Garlic Waffle Fries, the namesake sandwiches from Cecil’s Po’ Boys, and World Famous Charbroiled Oysters from Drago’s Seafood Restaurant.

In addition to the delicious seafood, Oyster Fest will have a number of food options for land-lovers: Chicago’s own Bub City’s Southern Fried Chicken, Hickory Smoked Ribs, and its Dynamite Double Barrel Cheeseburger, as well as sweets from Summer House Bakery and a signature custard made especially for the festival by the best name in frozen treats: Shake Shack. An array of beverage options will be available for festivalgoers at Oyster Fest this year including wine, a wide selection of cocktails, and an extensive craft beer list, with limited release brews from Goose Island, Founders, Bells, Moody Tongue, Ommegang, and Local Option.

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For the first time ever, oyster aficionados will have a chance to see how they stack up against the competition in Supreme Mother Shucker: the nation’s largest cash prize oyster shucking contest presented by Supreme Lobster at Friday’s Oyster Fest and emceed by SAVEUR Editor-in-Chief, Adam Sachs.

Also new to the Block Party this year is a special crab dinner for $75 per person with seatings at 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m.

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Tickets for Shaw’s Oyster Fest cost $30 per person and can be purchased at oysterfestchicago.com, along with tickets to all special events.

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For more information, or to purchase tickets, please visit www.oysterfestchicago.com and be sure to follow all the action with #OysterFestChi.