Just as Alabama and LSU will be playing the big game of the year, fighting it out on the field to determine who’s the best in the SEC, local businesses and non-corporate teams alike will be duking it out to determine who’s the best on the Gulf Coast at preparing oysters multiple ways.

 Saturday, Nov. 5 will be a big day for the Hangout. They’ll be showing football games all day, including the Alabama LSU game, they’ll be giving away cash and prizes, and they’ll be hosting the Fourth Annual Oyster Cook-Off.

 By the time the football game starts, cook-off winners will be decided with the competition lasting from 11 a.m. until about 4 p.m.

 Based on previous years’ attendance, the Hangout is expecting 3,000 to 4,000 people to come through the facility throughout the day, according to Tara McMeans, Hangout marketing director. The family-friendly event is centered around football, music and, of course, oysters.

 “We are celebrating Gulf Coast oysters,” McMeans said. “There’ll be tons of great oysters to choose from.”

 The Hangout is proud to celebrate fresh, local oysters in this way – with more than 20 teams and businesses getting together and preparing oysters in three categories: Rockefeller, Cajun and raw.

Each team gets their own tent space that they can decorate and then they compete to place in each individual category, people’s choice, best overall and so on. For the winners, the Hangout will give $10,000 in cash and prizes, including Hangout Music Festival tickets. Tent decorations will be judged and there will also be a shucking contest for interested teams. This is a timed competition to see how many can be shucked in that time frame. 

 The event is open to the public with food tickets starting at $1, depending on how much tasting you want to do. People vote on the people’s choice by using their food tickets at each tent. Category and overall winners will be decided by judges, consisting of half media personnel and half food editors or critics.

 The festival is a great way to support local businesses that are competing and just an overall great way to spend a Saturday, according to McMeans. With their beach front location, it’s a great way to enjoy the beach, football, games, fun and so much more.

 Besides the oyster festival winners, the Hangout will be doing their normal games and giveaways during the football games for those attending, with prizes including Budweiser swag and Hangout Music Festival tickets.

 Later that night, the Alabama LSU game will be shown on the large screen in the tower in the courtyard.

 For more information on this event and other Hangout events, visit thehangoutal.com.