Oyster Festival 2011

Program from the 2nd Oyster Festival held in 1985
This is my third Oyster Fest as a (not so new) newcomer. The one two years ago ended before I could get to it, but it was also a little stormy if I recall. In 2010 the weather was uncooperative to say the least. Having met with the folks at the Rotary I knew how many organizations benefit from their monetary support – many organizations that do good work to help the young and senior citizens of our community.

I walked around this Oyster Festival very proud of what our community had accomplished. The weather was perfect, possibly a little too warm at times, but the streets and T.R. Memorial park were crowded with what looked like a lot of satisfied people.

There was certainly plenty to see. From the mini-mart style vendors along Audrey Avenue, the Pirate show at the Pirate’s Cove, the amazing Lynx Schooner and our special guest the John J. Harvey, and naturally the oysters! I even say my first kangaroo – groggy though he was. Along with other organizations in our fair hamlet, the Oyster Bay Historical Society held down, sometimes literally, our own tent. Elizabeth Roosevelt, the society’s 2nd Vice President was there alongside Jacqueline Blocklyn, Director of our School of Domestic Arts. The booth had items made by students and teachers of the school including embroidery, glycerin soaps, and pincushions. There were books and maps of Oyster Bay in addition to some of Elizabeth’s sought after photographs.

There is no question that this was a banner year for the Oyster Festival. It seemed like everyone stepped up to the plate at the food court - no pun intended. There was a kind of cohesive esthetic to the booths that made the whole area look really put together.


I hardly saw anyone I knew from town in the crowds, but that was mostly because everyone was working. And working hard. Nonstop crowds left no rest for the weary. I know I have only been here a few years, but as I ran back and forth from the booth on Audrey to the Earle-Wightman House I couldn’t help but be proud of Oyster Bay; like it was my town really coming together to support the causes it cares about.

Sometimes we take for granted the natural beauty of this hamlet and the harbor. I realized as I was taking a lap around the festival that many people were stopping to sit down on the beach or near the water to admire the moored boats, blue water and cool breeze. Maybe some of our guests came in from the city, or maybe from the east end or south shore, but they arrived and they stayed and they spent. That adds up to a beautiful weekend for the town of Oyster Bay and new energy for the Oyster Festival. ~N. Menchise

Photographs and Oyster Bay Festival program courtesy of the Oyster Bay Historical Society