What to know about Norwalk’s 2024 Oyster Festival
NORWALK — The city’s annual Oyster Festival returns this weekend in its 46th year, bringing music, entertainment, and, of course, oysters.
The Norwalk Seaport Association hosts the festival yearly, with 100 percent of proceeds going to the upkeep and restoration of Sheffield Island and its lighthouse, according to Mike Reilly, the association’s president. The association also brings about 2,000 kids out to the island each summer to learn about Norwalk’s maritime heritage, which is supported by the festival’s proceeds, he said.
The Oyster Festival is the association’s “biggest fundraiser,” Reilly said, celebrating Norwalk’s maritime heritage and long history of oystering. The oysters in the festival are provided by Copps Island Oysters by Norm Bloom and Son — a name that has been tied to the oyster industry for over 70 years. Attendees can eat from over 40 booths serving oysters and more this weekend, Reilly said.
“This is fun for the whole family,” Reilly said, noting that his favorite part of the annual festival is “seeing the community and everybody getting together.”
The festival calls Veterans Park at 42 Seaview Ave. home each year. It will run from 6 to 11 p.m. on Friday; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday; and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $15 for adults, $8 for kids 5 to 12, and $10 for seniors. Kids under 5 can enter for free all three days. Kids 12 and under can enter for free with a paying adult on Sunday.
There will be carnival-style attractions, games, arts and crafts all weekend.
On Friday, the festival will feature Funky Dawgz Brass Band and Southside Johnny & the Asbury Jukes on its main stage. Moonrise Cartel, The Willie Brothers, Hard Road, and Out on Bail will perform in the Abbey Entertainment Tent.
Saturday’s lineup is the most stacked. Badboy, J.D. Leonard, and Mike DelGuidice will perform on the main stage. Rubberband, The Ryan Sage Band, School of Rock, The Alter Ego Band, ZX3, The Name Droppers, 2BDetermined, Tor & The Newcomers w/CD, Sketchy @ Best, and Joe Calzone’s Mad Dog Redux will perform in the Abbey tent.
Drew Angus and Let’s Sing Taylor — a tribute band to Taylor Swift — will perform on the main stage on Sunday. The Abbey tent will feature Silver Steel, Sean O’Reilly Trio, The Crush, Meesha Steele’s Riddim Allstars, Elastic Edge, American 27, One Bad Oyster, and That’s What She Said.
On all three days of the festival, Ready Go Dog Show and XPOGO — a group of pogo sticking extreme performers — will present shows twice daily each. Each day of the festival, there will be a medieval swordplay show. With the dog show, pogo stick performers, and Taylor Swift tribute band all on Sunday, Reilly said that day will be best for families with children.
On Saturday and Sunday, there will be chef demos. Tickets for the festival, presented by First County Bank, are available on Eventbrite.