Oktoberfest At The Oysterfest

Had a great time at the festival today. Lots of food options far beyond oysters. Lines were long but moved quickly. We got very lucky with parking but that seemed to be the most annoying part. My only qualm was that the oysters were a bit expensive for a festival but hay no one else seemed to mind and they were good. It was $10 for 5 oysters. They had lots of things for kids from face painting to a free petting zoo to lots of carnival rides. They had 2 live music stages as well. Like I said we had a great time. Would return...

Came here for their 33rd oyster festival. I'm definitely coming back next year! Food was fresh and affordable. There are games and rides for kids and adults. This place is perfect for families, friends, and dates.

This is one of the best seafood festivals I've been to. Mussels, lobsta, oysters and more. You really have to come here early or it maybe difficult to find a parking spot. Beware of the signs, there are lots of areas that you cannot park and can get a ticket. The lines for food are insane. Oyster bay is a beautiful place where you can listen to the water rock back and forth or you can play rock skipping. There was also a fire boat water show which was amazing. They had ships on dock that you can visit and see the inside of what a ship looks like. Prices for food are ok, good seafood cost money. Overall a good atmosphere and a great event to spend your day at.

If you love seafood in all its glory Oyster Festival is your go to place. Heads up, street parking is a freaking nightmare. However, you can get by with several small parking lots around. But be ready, they cost an arm and a leg that come with a $15 20 price tag for the day. Listen, I love Seafood and my husband and I can definitely make a day out of it here...but to me that $15 20 parking is a bit much. OR, you can hop on a shuttle bus from God knows where! Oyster Festival has tons of seafood options. From Clams, Soft Shell Crabs, Lobster dinners and Oysters in all its glory... You name it, Oyster Festival has it! Honestly, you won't leave disappointed. We enjoyed all the Oysters we had that day. But I particularly liked the Fried OREOS tent that I spotted about a block away. It's a long drive though but coming out here was a nice venture.

As for parking, it can be a challenge. We parked for free at a nearby train station and took the shuttle buses to the festival. When we arrived at 10:30 AM (the festival starts at 11:00 AM), the shuttle line was already around 30 people long. We waited for two buses before finding seats, reaching the festival at 11:30 AM. Be assured that shuttles run frequently throughout the day. As for crowds and seating, if you arrive before 1 PM, the lines are significantly shorter, though there will still be a fair number of people. For instance, the line for the raw oyster stand took about ten minutes at one point (with about 40-50 people ahead of us), while when we left around 1:00-2:00 PM, the wait was roughly 30 minutes (with about 100-200 people in line). However, the lines move quickly despite the chaos. There are about 30 tables near the stage, but be prepared for loud music if you manage to snag a spot. In terms of food and pricing, oysters have seen a price increase, now at $15 for 5 oysters compared to $12 before the pandemic. That said, they were delicious and fresh from Connecticut, shucked right on-site. Juicy and flavorful, with condiments available. We even found a little crab sharing our oysters, as is tradition! The turkey leg, priced at around $12, was gigantic, juicy, tender, and worth every penny. The potato twister, which we estimated to be $9, made for a fun side, although there wasn't a lot of food, it was impressive to look at. Wild Bill’s old-fashioned soda pop offers a mug for $25-$35, allowing for unlimited daily refills. The cream soda tastes just like sweet orange creamsicles—delicious but messy. There’s an additional $12 (if I remember correctly) for a rubber lid and straw. The market area is extensive and packed with artisan crafts, including art pieces and beer-related items. There are many outdoor booths providing information about conservation, as well as a petting tank featuring whelks, horseshoe crabs, and spider crabs. There's also an amusement park nearby, and I heard they have a pirate ship to boot, along with boats creating a water show. As for restrooms, there are clusters of porta-potties, but the more convenient ones near the entrance were quite dirty and crowded. However, a large group of porta-potties towards the back had foot pump sinks and were much cleaner and spacious. In summary, be ready for pricey food typical of fairs, a variety of artisan crafts, an amusement park nearby, and make sure to read the parking tips and use the shuttle. Arriving early is definitely advisable!