Norwalk Oyster Festival



If you are looking for an exciting event to go to next month, head on over to Norwalk! On Friday September 6, Saturday September 7, and Sunday September 8, the Norwalk Seaport Association will be holding the annual Norwalk Oyster Festival at Veterans Park near the Long Island Sound. This is a festival that first started in 1978, and funds raised by it help the Seaport Association maintain the Sheffield Island Lighthouse as well as develop science education classes. In this post, I will be discussing all the features at the festival, in hopes that it will convince you to go check it out. 

One of the main features at the festival is a series of tents that are described as being the New England Village. I remember from going there in the past that some of the tents are for some of the sponsors like the local radio stations and businesses, as well as some vendors, as I remember getting a pretzel and fudge from there in past years. Other tents there sell items like handcrafted jewelry, artwork, sculptures, photographs, decorative and functional pottery, woodcrafts, kid-sized toys, boxes, furniture, clothing, accessories, wearable art, and more. One vendor that I remember seeing more than once was one that sold Lego minifigures that are both official and customized.

The next feature at the festival is called Kids’ Cove. As its name suggests, this area features a variety of things that are targeted towards kids. These include typical festival activities, such as face painting and parades. There is also live entertainment in this section, which in past years has included an animal circus called the Hot Diggity Dog Review, a magic show with award-winning master magician Doc Swan, a pirate show, daredevil shows, a lumberjack show, and puppeteers. When I have gone there in the past, I saw some acrobats called the Nerveless Nocks perform there with motorcycles in a spherical cage. This area also has a small carnival that features games and rides that are supplied by local carnival manufacturer Stewart Amusement. These include games where you throw balls, shoot water guns, pop balloons, and a high striker, and rides such as a swing ride, a carousel, a Ferris wheel, bumper cars, a mini coaster, a super slide, and spinning rides. This year, judging by their website, it appears that the entertainment they will have includes a circus performance and a performance from XPogo Stunt Team, who has performed at the Stamford Downtown Parade Spectacular. 

The next feature at the festival is an International Food Court. As its name suggests, this is where you can get a variety of different foods from around the world. These range from traditional carnival foods like cotton candy, popcorn and funnel cakes, to international cuisines like Mexican food, Colombian food, Italian food, Greek food, and Jamaican food, and authentic New England lobster dinners, fresh lobster rolls, and fresh oysters that are shucked right in front of you, as well as many options for drinks including a craft beer tent that offers more than forty beers. I remember that one year that I went, I saw some people making paella right in front of me, which I felt was a cool thing to watch. 

Like many other festivals that you have probably gone to, this one also features live music from a variety of performers. There have been many notable performers over the years, including “American Idol” contestant Bo Bice, rock and roll singer Dion DiMucci, 80s rock band Asia, 60s rock band Jay and the Americans, disco artist Kathy Sledge, disco group The Village People, 70s rock band Kansas, legendary country singer Charlie Daniels, Joe Walsh from The Eagles, legendary country singer Willie Nelson, 60s rock band Blood, Sweat & Tears, legendary Latin jazz singer Tito Puente, rock band Cheap Trick, 70s rock band Little Feat, 60s rock band The Monkees, legendary folk singer Judy Collins, 90s rock band Smash Mouth, country singer Jana Kramer, 70s rock band America, legendary rock and roll and R&B singer Chubby Checker, 70s funk group Kool & the Gang, 70s rock singer Peter Frampton, Gary LeVox from Rascal Flatts, and even rock and roll legend Little Richard. While the names they have this year might not be as big as the names that I just mentioned, I am sure that they will all put on amazing shows. The first performer they have scheduled for Friday night is New Jersey rock band Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes, who are best known for their songs “I Don’t Want to Go Home,” “Havin’ a Party,” and “The Fever.” The second performer they have scheduled for Saturday night is Mike DelGuidice, a local Billy Joel tribute artist who has also performed with Billy Joel himself during his shows at Madison Square Garden. The final performer they have scheduled for Sunday night is called Let’s Sing Taylor, which is described as the ultimate tribute to the music of Taylor Swift that is performed by a Taylor look-alike.

Overall, there are many fun things here for people of all ages, so get your tickets and go have fun in Norwalk this September!


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