Oyster Fest in Oyster Bay reboots with help from chamber, town
Kevin Ruggiero, of Seashore Seafoods, preparing food during Oyster Fest at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park in Oyster Bay Saturday. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Oyster Fest weekend has become a local holiday on the North Shore of Long Island. Annually, more than 150,000 people pack Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park and Audrey Avenue in the historic hamlet of Oyster Bay seeking food, fanfare and fun.
Now in its 41st year, the event has gotten a bit of a reboot as the Town of Oyster Bay, partnered with the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Chamber of Commerce, has taken the leadership reigns from the defunct Oyster Bay Rotary.
On opening day, Saturday, the 70 degree weather cooperated.
FOOD FOCUSED
The line for raw oysters on the half shell was 40 people deep at the opening and Joe Hinden, 39, of Glen Head, was up front.
“When you get here first, you get the freshest oysters of the day,” he said while his sons, Colin, 4, and Liam, 2, enjoyed a different kind of seafood — Goldfish crackers.
No time is too early for Kenny Printz, 41, of Long Beach, to consume mollusks.
“I can eat them at 6 a.m. or 6 p.m.,” he said.
Every year Ben Pape, 69, of East Islip, makes a point to get his fill of fish at the Oyster Fest and he enjoyed a plate of oysters on the half shell as well as some seared scallops.
“This is a tradition for me,” he said. “It’s the only time I have it.”
Valerie Fine, of West Babylon, and her daughter, Amy, had a smorgasbord of seafood paella, a lobster roll and, of course, oysters on the half shell.
“The menu is just amazing,” said Fine, who is over 50. “We share everything. That’s the fun of it.”
Farmingdale residents Jessica Cotrone, left, with her daughter, Morgan, about to enjoy some seafood during Oyster Fest. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
Sisters Eileen Foley, of Anchorage, Alaska, and Kathleen Rehm, 67, of New Jersey, who both grew up in Mineola, returned to their Long Island roots at the Oyster Fest.
“I get king crab, salmon and halibut in Alaska but not too many oysters. I had to come to Oyster Bay for some oysters,” said Foley, 63, while devouring a crabcake.
Despite living in Oyster Bay for five years, this was Andy Post’s first time at Oyster Fest.
“I’m usually working,” he said in between bites of crawfish. “This year I was off, so we decided to take the kids.”
His 5-year-old son Matthew had a massive Dungeness crab on his plate that he wrestled with and the juice went flying.
“I never had it before,” said Matthew. “It looks like a monster.”
All oyster shells were being collected by the Town of Oyster Bay Shell Recycling Program.
“We take the plates from people when they finish eating and we recycle the shells separate from the garbage,” says Deborah Perrone of Huntington, who was collecting the shells in big pails. “The shells are returned to the harbor to help new oyster growth.”
TAKING IT TO THE STREETS
Local organizations like Raynham Hall and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 8033 were nestled between stands selling roasted corn on the cob and freshly-made kettle corn. However, it was the handmade crafts vendors that were the happiest to return to the streets.
“I like to be in the sunshine. My jewelry sparkles in the light,” says Amy Schwing, of Huntington, owner of Crystalness Company, who has been a vendor since 1984 selling silver jewelry. “I don’t want to be in the shade all day. Sometimes if I’m in the tent I feel trapped. I prefer to be out in the open.”
Ellyn Ladd, of Starfish Creations, from Merrick, who sells handmade tie-dye clothing for all ages, agreed: “I used to be in the craft tent, but I didn’t do well in there. It was cold and dark. I like being in the street because it’s easier to talk to people.”
BEER GARDEN PARTY
One of the newest additions this year is the Sands Beer Garden containing picnic tables and serving suds from Oyster Bay Brewing Co. overlooking Oyster Bay Harbor.
“I love this!” announced Dawn Costello, 54, of Sea Cliff, toasting her pint. “Let's go Mets!”
Steve Dougherty, 58, of Glen Cove, preferred the new layout to last year’s beer tent.
“We like being out here in the open with the people,” he said among his foursome of friends enjoying some brews. “It’s better than being in one of the circus tents.”
Kelly MacGilvray, 28, of Glen Cove, was loving her seasonal pumpkin ale.
“This is awesome with the sugar and cinnamon rim,” she said. “I like that this area is in a separate section by itself. Plus, it’s a nice place to sit.”
MacGilvray and her friends took the Long Island Rail Road to the fest.
“No drinking and driving,” said Daniel Billian, 34, of Sea Cliff, who was sipping his Summer Peach Ale. “Just drinking and riding.”
NEW SHUCKING & EATING RULES
The Oyster Shucking & Eating Contests were revamped.
For the shucking contest, each contestant had four minutes to open 12 oysters.
Israel Montes, 35, of Greenport, won in a tiebreaker with Donovan Sanchez, 22, of Greenport.
The oyster eating contest was also different as it was time-based as opposed to amount consumed. The winner was the first to finish a dozen on the half shell plus 5 cups of 10 oysters.
Returning oyster champion Mike Chodkowski, who grew up in Hicksville, drove from North Carolina to regain his title. Chodkowski, 56, was the reigning oyster eating champ for nine years from 1999-07. He once ate 312 oysters in less than 2 minutes.
This new contest was a breeze for Chodkowski, who finished his oysters in 1 minute and 30 seconds.
While holding up his plaque, he said, “Truth is … I could do that five more times!”
The Oyster Fest continues Sunday, Oct. 20, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.
