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Local residents can enjoy oysters and barbecue and help Ebenezer United Methodist Church raise funds for the Western Tidewater Free Clinic.

The 23rd annual United Methodist Men’s Oyster and Barbecue Dinner is from 5-8 p.m. Saturday, March 4 at the Ebenezer United Methodist Church, 1589 Steeple Drive. 

Tickets are $40 for adults and $10 for youth ages 13-17. Children 12 and under are served free of charge. Tickets must be bought in advance at the church office and are limited. Tickets are not being sold at the door.

Church Member and Event Coordinator Bob Patton spoke about the upcoming dinner.

“We call it the United Methodist Men’s Oyster and Barbecue Dinner because we also serve North Carolina barbecue along with oysters. Interestingly enough, we fry our oysters and steam them, which is pretty unusual. If you go to many oyster events around here, we’re the only people that I know of that actually fry the oysters,” Patton said.

Along with fried and steamed oysters and North Carolina barbecue, there will be coleslaw, hushpuppies and baked beans available, as well as pies, cakes and banana pudding for dessert. Hot dogs are being provided for children. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Western Tidewater Free Clinic, Patton said.

“I think that these communities up here in North Suffolk kind of see this as one of their signature events, and it is one of the signature events,” he said. “The camaraderie that you experience, sitting around a table of eight people, eating fried oysters, is really stronger than you believe.”

Despite this being the 23rd annual event, Patton doesn’t find keeping the event fresh to be difficult.

“It’s not really that hard,” he said. “Once you come, you will see that the desserts are worth the price of the admission.”

Ebenezer United Methodist Church office hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. For more information, call 757-238-2359.