All you need to know about the 2026 Oyster Fest in Oyster Bay

Got shellfish?

Over 70,000 oysters will be eaten, consumed and slurped at the 43rd annual Oyster Fest, which returns to Audrey Avenue and Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park in Oyster Bay on Oct. 17 and 18. The event, run by the Town of Oyster Bay along with the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Chamber of Commerce, will feature a plethora of eats and activities throughout the weekend. Here’s a guide of how to get there and what to do.

OYSTERS ON THE MENU AND MORE

Raw oysters are shucked and served on-site, all harvested from Long Island waters from Peconic Bay to Moriches Bay. The mollusks are gathered by members of the Long Island Oyster Growers Association (LIOGA).

"The current record for the most oysters shucked in one hour is just shy of 9,000, which is held by a group of Canadians. We’re attempting to shuck 10,000 in an hour on Oct. 18 at 12:30 p.m.," Eric Koepele, owner of North Fork Big Oyster farm and LIOGA president, said. "Our plan is to bring the oyster-shucking record back to the U.S."

The oysters will be the center of two competitions, the oyster shucking and the oyster eating contests, which will take place on Oct. 17 at 1:35 p.m. on the Main Stage in the park.

In the food court, you can try oysters on the half shell, grilled, fried, Rockefeller-style, in chowder and in po’boy sandwiches. Other seafood on offer will include scallops, calamari, octopus salad, fried clam strips, king crab legs, lobster rolls, lobster quesadilla, ahi tuna and shrimp tacos.

Among the other options: Greek cuisine, Cuban sandwiches, Oktoberfest fare and Korean barbecue; empanadas, bánh mì and kielbasa; sausage and pepper heroes, burgers, hot dogs, roasted corn and turkey legs. There will be lots more on offer, too.

You can wash it all down with some craft brews in the Beer Garden where those 21 and over can enjoy seasonal selections from Oyster Bay Brewing Company such as Barn Rocker Ale, Honey Ale, Oyster Bay IPA and Pumpkin Ale served with a cinnamon sugar rim.

LIVE MUSIC ALL DAY

Throughout the festival's two days, there will be live music on two stages, one in Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park and another on Audrey Avenue.

"We have more bands playing at Oyster Fest than most music festivals across the nation," Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino said. "It makes this event an incredible destination."

On Oct. 17, the TR Park stage welcomes The LP’s (11 a.m.), That 70’s Band (12:05 p.m.), Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band Sons of Skynyrd (2:35 p.m.), Chris Stapleton tribute band Simply Stapleton (3:25 p.m.) and Journey tribute band Anyway You Want It (5 p.m.).

Over at the Audrey Avenue Stage on Oct. 17, the bill features local artists like the Sea Cliff Porch Pickers (11 a.m.), Danielle Gatto (12:15 p.m.), Iridesense (1:30 p.m.), Drop The 4 (2:45 p.m.), Circus Mind (4 p.m.) and the Kelli Baker Band (5 p.m.).

On Oct. 18, the TR Park stage sees Bon Jovi tribute band Bad Medicine (11 a.m.), Vinyl Revival (12:15 p.m.), Beach Boys tribute band Endless Summer (1:30 p.m.), Toby Keith tribute band The American Ride (2:45 p.m.) and Ready in 10 (4:05 p.m.).

Audrey Avenue presents local artists on Oct. 18 including Crisis (11 a.m.), Arianna Chetram (noon), Rob Eberle (12:45 p.m.), the Mark Newman Band (1:45 p.m.), Carolyn Miller (3 p.m.) and MJT (4 p.m.).

"The festival vibe is perfect for us. Once we get started, we tend to draw people in," said saxophone player Steve Interrante from That 70s Band. "Supervisor Saladino will sit in on drums during songs like ‘Brick House’ and ‘Play That Funky Music.’ He can keep up with us and does a good job."

FOR THE KIDS

The younger set can engage in a series of activities all along West End Avenue in TR Park all afternoon both days.

The U.S. Army will present a climbing wall while the NY Islanders offer a blow-up slap-shot booth. And a new art activity will allow kids to dip their hand in their choice of colored paint then put their handprint on a Tesla Cybertruck.

As part of a meet-and-greet, members of the Savannah Bananas baseball team, among them pitcher Frankie Moscatiello, of Rocky Point, will be signing autographs and taking selfies.

There will also be a pirate show: The Kings of the Coast will take place twice a day, at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m., down by the oyster sloop, Christeen. This year’s production, "The Curse of the Watery Witch," is very interactive.

"We go down to the beach, dig up a treasure chest, bring it back to our camp, open it up and share the loot," Thomas McKenna, who plays Black Jack Callan, said.

Down by the pier, kids can check out the John J. Harvey Fireboat, a 130-foot-long and 440-ton vessel built in 1931, which could pump up to 18,000 gallons of water per minute. There will be free self-guided tours of the boat, which can accommodate 100 visitors on its deck.

Over at Fireman’s Field, along Shore Avenue connecting Audrey Avenue and TR Park, Newton Shows will present a series of carnival rides and games for kids of all ages.

SHOP 'TIL YOU DROP

Visitors to the fest can get some early Christmas shopping done at the arts and crafts tents in TR Park where nearly 90 locals artisans will be selling handcrafted items. Local businesses and a second batch of vendors will be also lined up along Audrey Avenue.

"This is stuff you are not going to see anywhere else," said Patty Stewart, the festival's arts and crafts coordinator. "I’m looking to build a unique experience for shoppers."

New this year is the Legame Bayview Patio, near the arts and crafts tents in the park, where people will be able to purchase jewelry from Legame of Oyster Bay or a customized branded hat from Coastal Cowgirl of Northport.

"We help the customer pick a size and help them design it," the owner of both businesses, Jacqueline Kagiwada, said. "The fun part is the branding. We have all types of symbols and letters that can be customized. It’s a hot branding iron that goes onto the hat."