Plan before you go: Guide to Oyster Fest

BY TRAIN The Long Island Rail Road’s Oyster Bay line is the best way to get to the festival. The train literally lets passengers out at the park's entrance, and service is expanded for the weekend. Or take the LIRR to Syosset and hop on a free shuttle bus to the festival. There's even a discounted roundtrip ticket that includes five free oysters on-the-half-shell. 

BY CAR There's free designated parking at the James H. Vernon Middle School on Route 106 in East Norwich or Mill-Max Manufacturing Corp. on Route 106 in Oyster Bay. From there, take the free Oyster Festival shuttle that drops people off at the festival entrance. Handicapped parking and individual handicapped shuttle service is offered at Spring and West Main streets in Oyster Bay.

BY BOAT Those coming into Oyster Bay Harbor must call ahead to the Oyster Bay Marine Center (516-624-2400 = VHF 71) or Sagamore Yacht Club (516-922-0555 = VHF 78A) to reserve a mooring.

BLUE POINT BEER GARDEN – This year beer will officially be served at the Oyster Festival by title sponsor Blue Point Brewing Company of Patchogue. For those 21 and over, all brew must be consumed inside the Blue Point Beer Garden tent, which will overlook Oyster Bay Harbor at the end of the Food Court and near the Main Stage. Blue Point will serve six different styles including flagship beer Toasted Lager, seasonal Mother Pumpkin Ale and special batch beer, Oyster Fest IPA. All those who enter the beer garden tent must present valid ID and wear a wristband.

NAO SANTA MARIA – A replica of Christopher Columbus’ Santa Maria ship from 1492 will be in port at the Waterfront Center dock on West End Avenue. The 200 ton, three-mast vessel was built in Spain by Nao Victoria Foundation two years ago. Tours will be offered throughout both Saturday and Sunday during the festival.

CLASSIC CAR SHOW – Oyster Bay Cruise Night and NY Autofest have joined forces to put together a Classic Car Show on lower Audrey Avenue, to the right of the Derby-Hall Memorial Bandstand featuring more than 100 cars on Saturday, Oct. 19 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Visitors can actively vote for their favorite automobile and awards will be distributed at the end of the day. A DJ will spin hits from the ‘50s to the ‘80s. Entry for spectators is free while each car entry is $20.  

People come to the Oyster Festival hungry and ready to feast. While the event celebrates the mollusk harvested in the harbor, the food court menu features more than 100 items. Here’s how it breaks down:

SEAFOOD FANS Shellfish lovers should taste the fried oysters, oyster stew and the classic — oysters on the half shell. Like lobster? Go for the lobster bisque, lobster mac-and-cheese, lobster roll or a full lobster dinner. Don’t forget: fried clams, New England and Manhattan clam chowders, clams on the half shell, steamed clams, fish tacos, crab cakes, soft-shell crabs and fried calamari.  

MEAT LOVERS If you’re not a fish fan, there’s everything from cheesesteaks to barbecued ribs to Southern fried chicken to roasted turkey legs. The adventurous can check out a Krispy Kreme sandwich with bacon.  

VEGETARIAN OPTIONS For those who don’t eat meat or fish, vegetarian items include fried ravioli, spinach rolls, pizza, potato pancakes, mozzarepas, Jalapeno grilled mac-n-cheese sandwiches, potato twisters and sweet potato fries.

GLOBAL EATS Latin American treats like churros and empanadas or Polish kielbasa sandwiches and perogies are festival favorites. Go Greek with souvlaki gyros and chicken-on-a-pita or Italian with sausage & peppers heros and calzones.

DO DESSERT Fall apple treats like caramel apples, candy apples, apple pie a la mode or apple fritters will be available along with Hawaiian shaved ice, deep fried Oreos, bananas foster, gelato and who can resist Belgian waffles with strawberries and cream? 

CARNIVAL RIDES & GAMES A 100,000-square-foot midway at Firemen's Field features adult family rides (including Alien Abduction, Super Shot), kiddie rides (such as Puppy Roll, Traffic Jam) and multiple carnival games (Whac-a-Mole, bottle mash, water races) in between.

PIRATE ENCAMPMENT The Kings of the Coast pirate troupe hosts an interactive show twice a day, at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m., on West End Avenue near the Waterfront Center, concluding with a treasure hunt on the beach.

KIDS ENTERTAINMENT The West End Avenue Stage will feature dance performances by Gone Dancing, Oyster Bay Talent Show finalists, children's arts & crafts by Not Just Art and learn the Bing Bang Dance from Stephanie of LazyTown.

OYSTER EATING & SHUCKING CONTESTS These back-to-back activities begin Saturday at 2:30 p.m. on the West End Avenue stage and are worth watching as competitors put on a show for the crowd. Hint: Stay out of the front row or risk getting hit with some seafood shrapnel.

SHOPPING For a break from the crowds and outdoor weather, duck into the arts and crafts tents featuring more than 100 vendors. Everything from jewelry and gourmet foods to candles, soaps, lotions, clothing, woodwork, glassware and potpourri will be for sale.

SCAVENGER HUNT Renaissance Properties will host a scavenger hunt by distributing maps. Each contestant can earn points by deciphering clues and visiting certain areas of the festival grounds. The one with the most points wins $250.

Don’t leave without catching at least one set of live music, which is part of the fabric of the festival. There’s a style to suit every taste.

MAIN STAGE — Saturday, Oct. 19, The Lisa Polizzi Band opens the festival playing a mix of pop and rock covers at 11 a.m., while the New York Exceptions perform '50s doo-wop at noon. After a 1 p.m. set of originals from the Craig Greenberg Band, Like A Pink pays tribute to P!nk at 2 p.m. and Penny Lane plays Beatles songs at 3 p.m. Meanwhile, Full Disclosure delivers the rock at 4 p.m. and Grimm Jack cranks it up a notch at 5 p.m.

MAIN STAGE — Sunday, Oct. 20, Day two begins with the bluesy sounds of the Mike Dorio Trio at 11 a.m. Steve Welner and the WellDiggers blends alt-country, folk, blues and rock-n-roll at noon then catch FLEMT at 1 p.m., Indigo at 2:15 p.m. and Victims of Rock at 3:15 p.m. Pump! plays Aerosmith at 4:15 p.m. then the festival closes out with the blues rock of Stone Blue Rising at 5:15 p.m.

DRESS Choose clothes that are warmer than you think you'll need because the festival is along the shore of Oyster Bay Harbor, where temperatures might be 10 degrees cooler than inland. Hoodies and turtlenecks are key layers.

TAKE THE TRAIN It may sound like a hassle, but it’s easy. Park and ride the Long Island Rail Road, which offers expanded service, from East Williston, Albertson, Roslyn, Greenvale, Glen Head, Sea Cliff, Glen Street, Glen Cove or Locust Valley, and head to the last stop: Oyster Bay. The train will drop passengers off right in the middle of the festival, and every activity is walkable from there.

EAT FIRST Get to the booths before the lines get long. The food is hearty, so skip breakfast. The menu features more than 130 items.

BRING CASH Everything is cash, though some of the arts and crafts vendors accept credit cards. ATMs are available on-site in the food court and in the carnival area at Fireman’s Field.

LOCATE BATHROOMS & REST STOPS Despite all the walking and bustling through crowds, there are areas to rest and use the facilities. Two fields of portable restrooms are situated on West End Avenue and north of the arts and crafts tents. Seating is available throughout both parts of the food court and near the Main Stage. There’s even a baby-changing station on West End Avenue, across from the West End Avenue Stage, stocked with Babyganics products.