This year’s Oyster Festival looks a little different from years past as the town aims to spotlight local harvesters and organizations at the waterfront fair.
The festival will return to Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park Oct. 19-20 for its 41st annual event. The fair will be open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino said this year will be “the best Oyster Fest yet.”
With 150,000 visitors in attendance each year, Oyster Fest is the largest waterfront festival on the East Coast, he said.
This is the first year the Town of Oyster Bay will oversee the festival. In the past, the rotary club was in charge of the fair. This year the town is joining forces with the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Chamber of Commerce to bring local vendors, live music and games to the town’s waterfront.
“Town of Oyster Bay has partnered with the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Chamber of Commerce to make this event better than ever before,” Saladino said.
In addition to local vendors and food trucks, there will be live music, games and oyster eating and shucking contests.
“From great live music to delicious food to craft and merchandise vendors, amusement rides and a family fun zone, this year’s Oyster Fest has something for everyone,” he said.
The festival does more than offer residents a good time, though. Proceeds from the event are donated to local non-profit organizations.
This year’s donations will go towards the Boys & Girls Club, Saladino said. The Boys & Girls Club aims to provide children with enriching programs and mentorship opportunities.
To highlight local Long Island seafood, the town is partnering with local shellfish harvesters at the festival, Saladino said.
“We’re putting the local oyster back in Oyster Fest, with oysters from Long Island growers and harvesters,” he said. “We’re thrilled that over a dozen Long Island oyster farmers are participating in this festival.”
On top of highlighting local seafood, the town wants to protect the marine environment as well, Saladino said.
“With environmental sustainability at the top of our minds, we’re making sure that shells from this year’s oysters will be recycled and used to strengthen our marine ecosystem,” he said.
To do this, Saladino said that the oyster’s shells will be used to help protect local waterways and shellfish populations.
“The shells are put through a curating process and are ultimately placed back into our harbor where they help protect the growth of maturing shellfish.”
Saladino said this process will help the local environment.
This year’s Oyster Fest will be on Friday, Oct. 19, and Saturday, Oct. 20.
With new additions to the festival, such as partnering with the Chamber of Commerce and promoting local oyster harvesters, the town hopes this year’s fair will promote local business, Saladino said.
“As you can see, besides having a great day attending the Oyster Fest supports local charities, local oyster farmers, and local merchants while benefitting the marine environment,” Saladino said.
For more information, please visit www.theoysterfest.org.
