2025 Oyster Fest guide: New things to do

During the week, Thomas McKenna, of Levittown, works as a sign shop manager at the Bronx Zoo, but come mid-October, he transforms into pirate Black Jack Callan at the Oyster Fest, which comes to the historic hamlet of Oyster Bay on Oct. 18-19. He can be seen swashbuckling as he takes on his adversaries twice a day (12:30 and 3:30 p.m.) as part of The Kings of the Coast pirate encampment helping kids search for buried treasure at the festival since 2007.

"We teach people how to be a pirate," he says. "Our goal is for everyone to leave with a sense of adventure."

The festival, presented by the Town of Oyster Bay with the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Chamber of Commerce, annually draws more than 150,000 people to Audrey Avenue and Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park.

To get the full Oyster Fest experience, here are six must-do things to hit this year.

TASTE LOCAL OYSTERS

The Oyster Fest will source all of its oysters from more than 10 Long Island oyster farms, which are part of the Long Island Oyster Growers Association (LIOGA).

"Last year, we went through 70,000 oysters over the course of the two days of the festival. This year, we are going to try and beat that number by getting up closer to 90,000," says Eric Koepele, owner of North Fork Big Oyster Farm and president of the Long Island Oyster Growers Association. "They are harvested 24 hours before the festival begins, then served raw on the half shell with various mignonettes, lemons, cocktail sauce, horseradish or hot sauce."

Not a fan of raw shellfish? There will be grilled oysters, fried oysters, oysters Buffalo style as well as in chowder and po’boy sandwiches. An extensive seafood menu beyond oysters includes lobster rolls, seared scallops, ahi tuna steaks, lobster mac and cheese, fried calamari, lobster bisque, New England and Manhattan clam chowders, king crab legs, fried shrimp, shrimp cocktail, seafood paella plus a whole lobster dinner with corn on the cob and potatoes. Non-seafood items are also going to be served such as bratwurst, wood-fired pizza, gourmet soul food, Mongolian barbecue and more.

HEAR LIVE MUSIC

More than 20 bands are set to perform live on the Main Stage in Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park overlooking the food court as well as on the Audrey Avenue Stage downtown in the hamlet.

The festival begins Oct. 18  with Kamellot at 11 a.m. followed by That 70s Band at 12:15 p.m. The nine-piece group focuses on the disco and rock of the decade.

"We encourage people to move their groove things," founder-saxophone player Steve Interrante says.

After Simply Stapleton pays tribute to country superstar Chris Stapleton at 2:15 p.m., Echo of the Eagles ramps up the country rock at 3:30 p.m. playing hits like "Heartache Tonight"  and "Hotel California."

"People really dig the harmonies," bassist-vocalist Kevin Hawkins says. "There are times we have all six guys singing."

Crash My Party’s Luke Bryan tribute closes out day one with a set at 5 p.m.

On Saturday, the Audrey Avenue stage hosts Al Smith (11 a.m.), Ape Theory (12:15 p.m.), Juice (1:30 p.m.), the Chris Ruben Band (2:45 p.m.), Dysfunktone (4 p.m.) and Miss J Experience (5:15 p.m.).

Day two welcomes Ready in Ten at 11 a.m. and Vinyl Revival at 12:15 p.m. to warm up the crowd. Diva and the Bar Band Heroes tackle Top 40 from the '80s to today at 1:30 p.m., and Glass Houses’ Billy Joel tribute will feel right at home at 2:45 p.m. playing the Piano Man’s classics.

"We concentrate on the live versions you’d hear Billy play in concert," singer Jonni Drue says. "Our focus is on recreating that sound making people feel like they are at a Billy Joel concert."

Radio Flashback serves as the finale at 4 p.m. jamming out '70s and '80s classic rock radio hits from Foreigner, the Doobie Brothers, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Bad Company, Joe Jackson, Billy Idol and Meat Loaf.

The Audrey Avenue Stage will be busy on Sunday with Ariana Chetram (11 a.m.), Crisis (11:45 a.m.), Rob Eberle (12:45 p.m.), Mark Newman (1:45 p.m.), Moxie Poe (3 p.m.) and Drop the Four (4:15 p.m.).

GET A BREW

Last year, the debut of the Craft Beer Garden, under the direction of Oyster Bay Brewing Company, proved to be popular and remained manageable.

"We kept it controlled by not doing a crazy high volume," says Ryan Schlotter, owner of Oyster Bay Brewing Company and president of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Chamber of Commerce. "Everyone was limited to two beers at a time."

Those 21 and older enjoyed fresh-brewed suds overlooking Oyster Bay Harbor while seated at umbrella tables. This year OBBC’s most popular styles will be poured — IPA, Pumpkin Ale, Barn Rocker lager and seasonal Oktoberfest.

DO SOME SHOPPING

Oyster Fest has a reputation for having top-shelf handcrafted artisans as well as choice street vendors. There will be more than 170 booths on Audrey Avenue and under tents in Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park.

"We have some new cool crafters this year such designer Lynn Pisciotta from The Natural Flair who sells wire botanicals as well as Woodworks by Claudio DiPietro from Italy who makes hand-carved charcuterie boards," says arts and crafts coordinator Patricia Stewart. "The aisles in the tent are wide and easy to navigate."

WATCH OYSTER CONTESTS

One of the most exciting moments of Oyster Fest is witnessing people competing with mollusks. All contests will be overseen by LIOGA’s Koepele and a panel of judges.

For the Oyster Shucking Contest, whoever can shuck a dozen oysters the fastest wins, but there’s a catch. Each oyster must be presentable to the judges.

"Speed is important, but you also need an intact oyster to present on the plate," Koepele says. "We will be judging on both speed and presentation. Points will be knocked off for little bits of shell left in the oyster or if the oyster is chopped up."

The Oyster Eating Contest involves 50 pre-shucked oysters and the winner is the quickest to consume them. But like in the shucking contest, there are rules.

"People will be disqualified if they drop oysters on the ground or not being able to keep the oysters down," Koepele says. "It’s the fastest to 50."

A bag of 100 oysters will be distributed to the winners.

FUN FOR KIDS

In addition to catching the Kings of the Coast pirate show, there’s a plethora of fun activities taking place all throughout the Oyster Fest.

New this year will be a photo-op with a 45-foot-long and 9-foot-tall inflatable whale presented by the Whaling Museum and Education Center in Cold Spring Harbor.

"This is a traveling teaching tool for the Long Island community," executive director Nomi Dayan says. "You get to have the feeling of standing in front of a whale eye-to-eye."

Come aboard the John J. Harvey Fireboat, which was built in 1931, located at the pier on Oyster Bay Harbor. This 130-foot-long and 440-ton vessel was built to help put out fires, pumping up to 18,000 gallons of water per minute. The boat holds 100 visitors on deck at a time and offers free self-guided tours.

Additionally, The Waterfront Center will provide a touch tank of sea creatures for kids to observe as well as offering harbor tours on the oyster dredge Ida May ($25 per person) at noon, 1, 3, 4 and 5 p.m. on both days.

The Newton Shows carnival returns to Fireman’s Field bridging the Audrey Avenue portion of the festival with the Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park section. With more than eight games, the carnival will present rides like the Expo Wheel, the Rock Star, the Super Slide and the Dragon Wagon.