Virginia City takes the phrase, “have a ball” to the next level with the 32nd annual Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry. This St. Patrick’s Day celebration in historic Virginia City unites daring revelers for a wild and outlandish festival featuring tasty testes, a Ballbreaker Saloon Crawl, St. Patrick’s Day Parade, costume contests and more.
This spring go nuts in Virginia City, Nevada, with the 32nd Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry taking place Saturday, March 11, 2023, where chefs from all over the region go head-to-head for bragging rights as the best land oyster cooker in the west. There’s no better way to celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day weekend, along with Irish music, a parade and costume contest, than in a place that honors its Irish heritage all year long.
Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry attendees can join in on the Silver State’s largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration by sampling all the fried, pounded, peeled, poached, grilled, smoked, sauteed and braised Rocky Mountain Oysters they desire. The less adventurous eaters can celebrate Virginia City’s Irish heritage with the Ballbreaker Saloon Crawl for even more festive food and drink while discovering some of the oldest, most historic saloons in Nevada. New in 2023, the saloons are competing for the best Irish-themed drink and your vote for the inaugural People’s Choice Award.
Make a weekend of it! Plan and book a room in town before lodging options sell out. View Virginia City’s lodging options here.
Cooks compete for bragging rights (and cash prizes) by preparing their most innovative and, sometimes, outlandish recipes featuring oysters of the land variety. You might forget what you’re really eating – it’s that good. Purchase a sampler and select from grilled, smoked, fried or even in a taco, or, go balls out and try them all with the VIB’er – Very Important Baller with front of the line access and a medallion nothing your baller status.
