After a two-year hiatus, the 39th annual Oyster Festival returns Oct. 15-16.
The festivities will be at Oyster Bay’s Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Drawing more than 150,000 visitors a year, the event is the biggest waterfront celebration on the East Coast.
The occasion raises money for local charities while promoting Oyster Bay’s beauty and history. The event took place virtually in 2020 but was not held in 2021.
Live music and entertainment, vendors and nautical attractions will be showcased at this year’s festival. Included is the return of oyster eating and shucking contests.
Together with the traditional festival fare, volunteer chefs and culinary experts will prepare and serve dozens of original oysters, clams and other seafood dishes in the food court. It will have both traditional food booths and food trucks.
This year the Belgium Beer Garden is a returning, albeit altered. Only those 21 and older are allowed entry and no drinks are permitted outside. The Waterfront Experience, which features environmental groups teaching about the area, is also coming back.
The oyster eating and shucking competitions, as well as a performance from The Electrix, will take place on Oct. 15 at the Len Rothberg Main Stage. The festival’s West End will feature a musical performance for children and a unicycle training and balance center.
DJ Theo and That 90’s Band will play on the Main Stage on Oct. 16. The balance center will be back in the West End, along with several kid-friendly programs.
Admission to the event is free. The Syosset train station and the James H. Vernon School in East Norwich will serve as the primary hubs for bus shuttles. The Long Island Rail Road will also offer a unique Oyster Festival package to promote rail travel.
