This year's Oyster Festival has been canceled, organizers say
The Oyster Festival held in Oyster Bay, pictured here in 2019, has been canceled. Credit: Newsday/Steve Pfost
Due to the rise of local COVID cases and the delta variant, The 2021 Oyster Festival, held in the hamlet of Oyster Bay, has been canceled, organizers said.
The annual event was scheduled to take place Oct. 16 and 17 in Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park, where it typically draws 150,000 people to the waterfront for a weekend of food and live entertainment. The festival's marquee attraction is the dozens of food booths serving once-a-year specialties from fried oysters to seafood gumbo, besides plate after plate of fresh oysters on the half shell. The 2021 event, which also features live music, juried craft vendors and midway rides, would have marked its 38th year.
"The health and well-being of the residents of our beloved Oyster Bay-East Norwich community and the festival attendees is our primary concern," a joint statement from co-hosts the Rotary Club of Oyster Bay and the Oyster Bay Charitable Fund said. "We will concentrate our efforts on the triumphant return of this iconic festival on Oct. 15 and 16, 2022. We look forward to seeing you all then."
Last year, the festival was held online because of the pandemic.That festival was redesigned into a series of smaller events, mostly virtual over the course of seven days. Additionally, an online auction was conducted offering unique experiences (such as a dinner at iconic East Harlem restaurant Rao’s) and a variety of memorabilia including signed 1986 Mets collectibles. The event also coincided with Oyster Festival Restaurant Week and featured deals on festival-style eats throughout the week.
The traditional oyster eating and shucking contests, long a staple of the festival's in-person entertainment schedule, also went on virtually in 2020.
The main purpose for the festival is to raise funds for the local nonprofit organizations through the Oyster Bay Charitable Fund..
David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.
