Locals gird for 27th annual Oyster Festival

The Oyster Festival for the most part means three things to Oyster Bay Village residents: Seafood, shopping and crowds.

Every year the village's long-time tradition, also known as OysterFest, attracts thousands of people to the historic harbor front. Businesses set up tents along Main Street, amusement companies bring rides to Teddy Roosevelt Memorial Park and, not to be overlooked, residents prepare to have their routines disrupted.

Luz Alvarado has been a resident of Oyster Bay Village for 15 years. She describes her home as a quiet, beautiful place -- until OysterFest disrupts the routine.

"A lot of people leave town because they can't handle the traffic," she said.

Nonetheless, while many of her neighbors avoid the village this time of year, Alvarado likes OysterFest.

"You meet a lot of interesting people," she said.

Alvarado recalls people from Florida and Washington, D.C., wandering in to Nobman Hardware, where she works, at previous Oyster Festivals.

Christy Ha, 14, is also a village resident and says she loves the festival.

"I go to the beach with all of my friends. It's good ... there are more things to do," she said.

Jim Whelan has been a village resident for 16 years, is girding for the onslaught of people who will be coming to this weekend’s 27th annual event, which runs Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

He said the festival is usually very good for Oyster Bay, and he and his family try to come out just for one day each year to support the town.

"Most of the time I hide," he said with a smile.