Guide to the annual Oyster Fest: Things to do and what's new

At 2 p.m. on the Saturday after Columbus Day, an annual tradition occurs in Oyster Bay. Contestants, equipped with a knife, line up ready to open as many oysters as they can in four minutes during the Oyster Shucking Contest. This feat is followed by an even more daunting task: the Oyster Eating Contest in which hungry contestants attempt to gobble down as many mollusks as possible in two minutes in 40 seconds. These are moments that will take place at the 41st annual Oyster Fest, which comes to Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park in Oyster Bay on Oct. 19-20. The festival is now under the direction of the Town of Oyster Bay, in cooperation with the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Chamber of Commerce.

The event, which draws over 150,000 during the weekend, is filled with sights to see and activities to do. Here are six things not to miss this year.

VISIT THE NEW BEER GARDEN

Grab a brew at the Sands Beer Garden, featuring hightop and picnic tables overlooking Oyster Bay Harbor.

"People will be able to hang out on the sand and take in the view," says Ryan Schlotter, president of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Chamber of Commerce. "The vibe will be very beachy. We want to celebrate the waters of Oyster Bay."

The Oyster Bay Brewing Co., co-owned by Schlotter, will be pouring its signature craft beers such as Barn Rocker Ale, Pumpkin Ale, house IPA, Summer Peach, Oktoberfest and Honey Ale. The area will be roped off for those 21 and over and monitored by a security team checking valid IDs in order to enter.

"Two large flatscreens will play football games. There will also be cornhole, axe-throwing and a golf simulator for visitors to use while enjoying their beer," says Schlotter.

TASTE THE FOOD COURT ADDITIONS

In addition to oysters on the half-shell and piles of seafood, the menu is getting amped up with some new food trucks rolling into the 40-plus vendor food court.

How U Dogin’, of Deer Park, goes gourmet on New York-style Sabrett hot dogs.

"We take the classic All-American hot dog and put a twist on it," says owner Alex Strollo.

Try the 8-inch Brau Haus Dog on a pretzel bun served with beer cheese, bacon jam, sauerkraut and grilled onions ($10) or the 8-inch Karoweena Dog on a brioche bun topped with pulled pork, coleslaw, pickled red onion plus Carolina Gold mustard ($8).

Roadhouse Empanadas, of Northport, offers 20 styles of savory and sweet empanadas ranging from sofrito beef and chicken bacon ranch to apple pie and banana Nutella (two for $10). Don’t forget to taste their award-winning roast pork Cuban sandwich ($13).

B Bistro to Go, of Lawrence, serves up authentic Vietnamese cuisine like the banh mi sandwich filled with grilled and smoked marinated pork, beef or chicken with cucumber, special dill sauce, cilantro, jalapeños and liver pâté ($15), beef pho ($18 — beef broth, vermicelli rice noodles, brisket, meatballs) and a duo of spring rolls ($8).

SHOP IN ARTS AND CRAFTS TENTS

More than 85 vendors will be featured in the Arts & Crafts Pavilion, which has expanded into two tents this year as well as 100 spaces on Audrey Avenue.

"All our vendors are strictly local handcrafted artisans," says coordinator Patricia Stewart, of Massapequa. "This creates a very unique group of crafts ranging from woodworking, candle making and homemade soaps to local honey, handmade sweaters and pet products."

Stewart is also a vendor herself as a jewelry designer from PS Designs.

"I make handcrafted one-of-a-kind pieces as a branded partner with Swarovski crystal," says Stewart. "It’s a mixture of handblown glass, gemstones and crystal. Every piece is sterling silver."

CATCH LIVE MUSIC

Live music is coming back in a big way across two stages. The Main Stage in Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park will house cover bands while the Audrey Avenue Stage downtown showcases local talent.

That 70's Band, which focuses on dance music, plays Oct. 19 at 3 p.m.

"Our live show is authentic and energetic," says co-founder and saxophonist Steve Interrante, of Patchogue. "We don’t use any processing, sequencing or click tracks. It’s all live right down to the cowbell and tambourine."

On Oct. 20, Vinyl Revival gets the party going at 12:15 p.m.

"There’s 250 songs in our catalog therefore the setlist is always evolving," says bassist Tommy Heaney of Seaford. "We play anything from Motown to classic rock to funk to disco. But, we don’t go past the ‘90s."

Nothing is more appropriate than bringing some Billy Joel music to Oyster Bay as tribute band Captain Jack performs Oct. 20 at 2:45 p.m.

"We offer the live feel of a Billy Joel concert from yesteryear," says drummer Sal DiMarco, of Coram. "Our focus is to represent almost every album and do the live versions of the songs."

BOARD THE JOHN J. HARVEY FIREBOAT

Head down to the dock and climb aboard the John J. Harvey Fireboat from New York City, which was built in 1931.

"She’s the first largest modern fireboat built in America with internal combustion," says captain Huntley Gill. "Everything before her was a steamboat."

At 130 feet long and weighing 440 tons, this vessel was created to put out fires pumping up to 18,000 gallons of water per minute.

"A fireboat is basically a big hydrant," says Gill. "They were built with the capacity to supply 22 land-based fire trucks."

Very often the fireboat is used for celebrations to shoot water, and at the Oyster Fest, it will put on a water display every hour.

"The water shoots out eight different deck pipes for five minutes," says Gill.

There will be free self-guided tours holding 100 people at a time on deck.

"Nowhere is off limits," says Gill. "We take people through the engine room where there’s seven diesel engines, two electric compulsion motors, four big fire pumps as well as the wheelhouse."

DISCOVER TREASURE WITH KINGS OF THE COAST

Go on an interactive pirate-themed family-friendly adventure with Kings of the Coast at the marina at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m.

"All participants become part of our crew," says owner and president Tom McKenna, who plays Black Jack Callan. "We follow clues leading up to a buried treasure, which we dig up, bring it back to our base camp and share what’s inside."

Oyster Fest has been the Kings of the Coast’s home port since 2007. It’s a show for all ages with the vibe of a Warner Bros. cartoon.

"It gives people a chance to let out their inner adventurer," says McKenna. "We even teach them to sword fight with foam swords. The kids love it."

By David J. Criblez

david.criblez@newsday.comDavidJCriblez

David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.