The Oyster Festival takes place every October at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park in Oyster Bay, on Long Island, New York which is about an hour drive from NYC. One of the most massive outdoor festivals in the area attracts over 200,000 visitors, offering plenty of entertainment, activities for all ages, and some old-fashioned fun for the entire family.
Two days of the festival feature live music, premier artisans, pirate shows, and carnival midway rides. There is a tall ship, a fireboat, treasure hunts, scavenger hunts, and an exotic petting zoo. The main highlight of the festival are, of course, the freshest oysters and other seafood. There are many oyster eating and shucking competitions. Foodcourt chefs work all day to cook and serve clam, oyster, and other favorite foods.
Oyster Bay was summer home to the family of Theodore Roosevelt, and community leaders organized a parade and a festival to commemorate the 26th president that turned out as a massive annual celebration. The Oyster Festival was launched in the 1980s by the Oyster Bay Rotary Club and funded by the Oyster Bay Charitable Fund. Food Court sales support some 25 local charities. Carnival rides and merchandise sales benefit additional charities funded by the Rotary Club throughout the year. Admission to the festival is free as well as parking and most activities.
