ABOUT THE OYSTER FESTIVAL

The Oyster Festival is a project of the Oyster Bay Rotary Club and run by the Oyster Bay Charitable Fund, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization whose mission includes providing a family friendly event, promoting the beauty, history and resources of Oyster Bay and supporting local charities through fundraising activities during the Festival.

The Oyster Festival has a long tradition as the East Coast's largest waterfront festival with more than 150,000 attendees each year.  The Festival is known throughout the region for its fun mixture of new activities and old favorites that are certain to entertain the entire family including live entertainment, ships, top-notch artisans, pirate shows, midway rides, and the iconic oyster eating and shucking contest. And of course...the Food Court, where volunteer chefs and culinary pros work side by side, cooking and serving dozens of unique oyster, clam and other seafood concoctions along with traditional festival fare.    

The October 2020 Festival will be different.

 We are modifying the format for 2020 to adapt to the new environment with local, smaller scaled activities while honoring the tradition of fundraising for our local charities through a series of activities and initiatives. 

New features for the 2020 will include a gofundme campaign at https://www.gofundme.com/f/oyster-bay-charitable-fund.

Monies raised benefit local charities. We are introducing a new “Oyster Festival Restaurant Week” featuring “Oyster Week” inspired to-go meals, take out kits, and more. Additional activities will be announced soon - check back on this website and our Facebook page for the latest updates.

The bigger live physical experience will return to its former glory with new elements and sections better than ever in October 2021.

2019 OYSTER FESTIVAL COMMITTEE

Festival Chairman – Oyster Bay Charitable Fund – Jim Fuccio

President – Rotary Club of Oyster Bay – Carl Marcellino

Honorary Oyster Festival Chairpeople

• Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor – Joseph Saladino

• Frank M. Flower – Dave Relyea

Special Recognition

• Town of Oyster Bay

  • Deputy Supervisor – Gregory W. Carman, Jr.

  • Department of Parks & Recreation - Commissioner Joseph Pinto

  • Department of Public Works - Commissioner Richard Lenz

  • Department of Public Safety - Commissioner Justin McCaffrey

• Nassau County Police

• Oyster Bay Fire Company

Executive Event Producer – Carson Tang, Carson Worldwide

Sponsorships / Main Exhibitors – Harlan Friedman

Media Relations – Alissa Marti, BFP Solutions

Oyster Tent Advisor - Michael Smith

Food Court – Bev Zembko

Arts & Crafts

• Coordinators – Mel Warren & Richard Dutilly

• Staff – Richard Dutilly

Carnival Rides – Jim Werner

Oyster Eating and Shucking Contest

• Coordinator – Betty Tiska

• Judge – Darryl Dowers

Raffles – Hamid Nazif

Hospitality Tent

• Coordinator – Judy Wasilchuk

• Staff – Robert Romanelli

• Staff – Jeane Duhamel

Craft Beer Tent – Ryan Schlotter, Oyster Bay Brewing Company

Family Fun Zone Advisor – Rachel Paredes

Kids Activity Zone – Long Island Actors Resource Room

Waterfront Experience – Heather Johnson

First Responder Area – Carl Marcellino

Audrey Avenue – Mark Fox

Car Show – Austin Azzaretto, Oyster Bay-East Norwich Chamber of Commerce

Oyster Tent Coordinator - Jim Lester

Website – Chelsea Melodia

Bookkeeping – 

Special Advisors – Pat Marcellino, Vicki Walsh, Eva Regulski, Monah Paredes, Rich LaMarca, Sue Rassekh, Kelly Fuhrmann, Richard Elias, Harriet Gerard Clark and Meredith Maus

Advisor and Co-Chair Emeritus - Walter Imperator