DC on the Half Shell
Join CBF as we celebrate the Chesapeake Bay and its beloved oyster.
DC on the Half Shell is the Chesapeake Bay Foundation’s signature celebration, honoring an exceptional steward of the Bay with the Clean Water Legacy award. This bi-annual event attracts more than 600 guests—including business leaders, legislators, and dedicated Bay advocates.
The evening is both a tribute and a toast to one of the Bay’s most essential natural resources: the oyster. Guests enjoy an unmatched tasting experience as oyster farmers from across the Chesapeake serve a curated selection of the region’s finest, sustainably harvested oysters. Passed hors d’oeuvres, a full buffet dinner, and decadent desserts round out a culinary celebration of Chesapeake Bay flavors.
Since its debut in 2016, DC on the Half Shell has deepened our presence in the D.C. community, elevated awareness of the oyster’s critical role in Bay health, celebrated aquaculturists and watermen, and raised more than $4 million to support Bay restoration and education.
Past Honorees of DC on the Half Shell
2016 – Michael D. Hankin, President and CEO of Brown Advisory
2017 – Marriott International
2018 – Washington College & Virginia Wesleyan University
2019 – Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States
2020 – Mars, Incorporated
2022 – William C. Baker
2024 – Senator Ben Cardin
See our Past Honorees webpage for photos and more information.
By supporting DC on the Half Shell and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, you are helping to create a Bay where plants, animals, and people thrive, together.
If you’re interested in sponsorship, please contact us at tdwan@cbf.org or 443-482-2111.
