33rd annual Seafood Festival draws crowds to sample oysters, lobster rolls, more
Frank Palermo, owner of Claws Seaford Market, left, with employees Christopher Felser, James Freisem and Matthew Young at the Long Island Seafood Festival Saturday. Credit: Joseph Sperber
At Claws Seafood Market, preparations for the annual Seafood Festival in West Sayville begin the day after Christmas.
Owner Frank Palermo said the two-day festival at the Long Island Maritime Museum brings in about 20% of annual sales. A washout — as Saturday's forecast predicted a chance of rain — would have been "devastating," he said.
As the 33rd annual festival opened under overcast skies, Palermo and his crew of about 30 breathed a sigh of relief as only an intermittent drizzle fell. A steady stream of customers ordered lobster rolls, fish and chips and shrimp kebobs.
"It's a traditional summer event," Palermo said. "To most people it's a fun thing. They come out with their families and their kids."
Joanie Hitz, of Babylon, shows Jayda Gill, 7, of Shirley, Fiora Oresto, 5, of West Sayville, and Saylor Oresto, 6, of West Sayville, their freshly painted faces in a mirror. Credit: Joseph Sperber
The festival serves as an annual fundraiser for the nonprofit museum. While seafood dishes are the main attraction, the festival also features live entertainment with five bands each day, dozens of vendors, Blue Point Brewing Company beer tents and kid-friendly activities like a performance by the Kings of the Coast Pirate Show.
"Who doesn't want to come to the Great South Bay and have seafood and music?" said Terry Lister-Blitman, the museum's executive director.
Palermo said he introduced a new dish this year: a seafood boil that includes lobster tails, crab, shrimp, corn, eggs and potatoes. The $80 meal feeds two.
Those looking for a lighter sampling headed to Lucky 13 Oysters to taste Blue Point oysters fresh out of the Great South Bay.
"We like to think that we farm a great oyster and just kind of giving people a taste of what the Great South Bay is like," said co-owner Joe Welling.
He said they planned to serve a couple thousand oysters over two days.
From left, actors Gregory Serra, Rich Delasant, Steve Gozdziewski, Tom McKenna and Diane Marmann performed at the festival. Credit: Joseph Sperber
Mike Kestenbaum and his wife Pam, who visited the festival for the day from Westchester, sampled the oysters and clams.
Mike Kestenbaum said they both "love seafood" and he was curious how the oysters would look after a deep freeze in the winter damaged the aquaculture industry. His first impression was positive: "Really good," he said.
His wife agreed: "The oysters were fabulous," she said. "If you like seafood, this is the place."
The festival has become an annual tradition for Cape May Crab Cakes, said owner Courtney Romberger, who traveled about four hours from New Jersey.
Their specialty is the Chicago Crab Dog, which she said is built in the "style of a Chicago hot dog" as a sandwich covered with coleslaw, corn salsa, dill pickle, chipotle mayo and pepperoncinis.
"We love this festival," she said, adding that she's been attending for about 15 years. "The people that come here seem to really enjoy it."
Rows of tables were set up under a large tent for festivalgoers to enjoy their food. Ginny Kim, of Westbury, said she sampled oysters, a lobster roll and shrimp kebab. The oyster, she said, stood out as her favorite.
She had her sights set next on a sweeter treat: a chocolate chip and bacon cookie and "definitely the funnel cakes."
The event resumes Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in advance at limmseafoodfestival.org.
Joe Werkmeister joined Newsday in 2022 and covers Suffolk County government and politics. He is a graduate of St. Bonaventure University and previously worked as the editor of two North Fork community newspapers.
