The Oyster Festival turns 25 this year, and organizers promise more attractions, food and fun for lovers of the shell-encrusted delicacy plucked from the waters of Oyster Bay Harbor.
The 2 1/2-day outdoor event, sponsored by the Oyster Bay Rotary Club, began as a birthday celebration for President Theodore Roosevelt. This year's festival coincides with TR's 150th and is expected to attract more than 250,000 people from the eastern seaboard and abroad.
"We look at it as Long Island's premier festival," says spokeswoman Cindy Smith. "It's a family event. It's a free event. And there's always something new going on."
ABOUT THE OYSTER FESTIVAL
It all kicks off Friday evening with amusement park rides and a midway on Firemen's Field, near the Oyster Bay Long Island Rail Road station.
The festival's two full days begin at 11 a.m. Saturday along Audrey Avenue and continuing to Theodore Roosevelt Park and the new-and-improved Western Waterfront. Saturday night's festivities will be capped by Grucci fireworks.
WHAT'S ON THE MENU
Festival-goers who come hungry will find a food court with more than 30 booths, featuring everything from gumbos and papusas, to steamed clams and burgers, to deep-fried Oreos and sweet potato fries. At the Whole Foods Market booth, diners can cast ballots to award their favorite the title of "Best of the Food Court."
The main attraction, of course, is the oysters, which will be served on the half shell, fried, in stews and every other conceivable way. Oyster-lovers also can show off their skills in oyster-shucking and oyster-eating contests, too.
Rotarian Donna Lee, who works the oyster booth with her husband Scott and a small army of volunteers, says they shucked about 40,000 oysters at last year's festival. "We pretty much sold out," she says. "This year, we're hoping to do the same."
SALES, MUSIC AND MORE
There's more to the festival than food, incluing two large arts and crafts tents with about 150 vendors and their wares, an antiques market, exhibits, live music, street performers and kids' games. Entertainment also includes The Ultimate Air Dogs, canine jumpers from the Eastern Seaboard and Canada performing aerial tricks.
From shore, visitors will be able to see four tall ships -- the Christeen, Unicorn, Roseway, and SoundWaters -- in Oyster Bay Harbor, where cruises will be available (donation).
FOR THE KIDS
This year, an expanded the children's entertainment area will feature a petting zoo, camel rides and a unicow -- a cow with one horn -- named Oliver. A band of pirates will be encamped along the waterfront at Pirates Cove, doing live shows and twice-daily hunts (at 1 and 3:30 p.m.) for buried treasure.
NEW THIS YEAR
The Oyster Bay Marine Center will host the first Oyster Bay Match Racing Championship. Competing crews will race around the harbor in identical Swedish Match '40 boats.
PARKING
Free shuttle buses will pick up and drop off between parking sites and the festival.If you're driving to this year's Oyster Festival, parking is available in the following locations:
- Syosset Train Station
- Oyster Bay Road/Jackson Avenue and Underhill Boulevard.
- Vernon School, 880 Oyster Bay Rd. (Route 106), East Norwich.
- Roosevelt School, 150 W. Main St., Oyster Bay.
- Oyster Bay High School, 150 E. Main St., Oyster Bay.
- Mill-MaxManufacturing parking lot, 190 Pine Hollow Rd. (Route 106), Oyster Bay.
- Oyster Bay Jewish Center, 11 Temple Lane at Berry Hill Road.
- The Equestrian Center, Route 106 between Route 25A and Muttontown Road.
Limited handicapped parking also is available. If you have the appropriate permits, you'll find it at Fireman's Field at Spring and West Main streets.
BY TRAIN
For those who prefer to take public transportation, the LIRR also has added more trains on the Oyster Bay line.
