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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.    

 

2023 OYSTER FESTIVAL COMMITTEE
 

  • Festival Chairman - Monica Rubin

  • President - Rotary Club of Oyster Bay - Monica Rubin

  • Honorary Oyster Festival Chair people

    • ​Town of Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino

  • Special Recognition

    • Town of Oyster Bay​

    • Deputy Supervisor

    • Department of Parks & Recreation

    • Department of Public Works

    • Department of Public Safety

    • Nassau County Police

    • Oyster Bay Fire Company

  • Event Producers - Harlan Friedman & Patrick Greenawalt

  • Sponsorships / Main Exhibitors

  • Media Relations - Kerry Gillick-Goldberg

  • Oyster Tent Advisor

  • Food Court

  • Arts & Crafts Coordinator

  • Staff

  • Carnival Rides

  • Oyster Eating and Shucking Contest Coordinator

  • Judge

  • Raffles

  • Hospitality Tent Coordinator

  • Staff

  • Family Fun Zone Advisor

  • Kids Activity Zone

  • First Responder Area

  • Audrey Avenue

  • Website

  • Bookkeeping- Nicole Heid

  • Special Advisors

For the latest up-to-date information, visit

www.theoysterfestival.org

Did you know?

The Oyster Festival Record was set in 1998 by David Leonard of Central Islip with 480 oysters chugged in two minutes and five seconds.

Record for Oyster Shucking

The Oyster Festival Record is held by Rodney Dow, who beat Andy Schuller in a shuck-off in 1985. The two men had both shucked 57 oysters in the allotted time. Dow shucked another 22 oysters in 2 minutes to win the shuck-off.

About Rotary/Oyster Bay Rotary Club

Rotary brings together a global network of volunteer leaders who dedicate their time and talent to tackle the world’s most pressing humanitarian challenges.  Rotary connects 1.2 million members from more than 200 countries and geographical areas.  The Oyster Bay Rotary Club is composed of members who are dedicated and passionate for both community service and friendship.  Becoming a Rotarian connects you with a diverse group of professionals who share your drive to give back.

About Oyster Bay Charitable Fund

The Oyster Bay Charitable Fund has a single mission to promote Oyster Bay and to provide support to not-for-profit organizations that operate for the betterment of the oyster bay community.  The Oyster Bay Charitable Fund’s Oyster Festival is one of the largest cooperative non-profit fundraising events on the east coast hosted by a 501C(3) organized by the Rotary Club of Oyster Bay.

The Storied Past of the Oyster Festival

More than 150 years ago, Theodore Roosevelt – the 26th President of the United States – was born to a wealthy family that summered in Oyster Bay not far from the waterfront property that today bears his name. To honor his memory, community leaders organized a parade to celebrate his 125th birthday. The parade proved so successful that it provided the roots of what would become the Oyster Festival in 1983.

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