Norwalk Oyster Festival

The Norwalk Oyster Festival is an annual fair in the city of Norwalk, Connecticut, USA. The festival takes place on the first weekend after Labor Day in Veterans Park, near Long Island Sound.

It features various forms of food, vendors, and entertainment, and celebrates the history of the oyster industry based in Norwalk. In the past, featured performers have included the Village People, Kansas, Charlie Daniels Band, Joe Walsh, Willie Nelson, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Tito Puente, Cheap Trick, Little Feat, The Monkees, Judy Collins, and Little Richard.^{[citation needed]}

The 29th annual Oyster Festival took place Friday, September 8 to Sunday, September 10, 2006. Bo Bice, Dion, and Asia were featured performers.^{[citation needed]}

The 30th annual festival took place September 7 to September 9, 2007 with the Village People heading up the entertainment, the band's third appearance. Jay and the Americans were also booked for the event.^[1]

The 31st annual festival took place September 5 to September 7, 2008. The festival was called off on Saturday the 6th to accommodate the rain from Hurricane Hanna.^[2] Los Lonely Boys performed Friday evening and Kathy Sledge performed Sunday evening.^[2]

The festival has been run by the Norwalk Seaport Association, a non profit organization, since its inception in 1978. Average annual attendance exceeds 90,000. Each year, the Oyster Festival contributes over $5 million to the local economy.^{[citation needed]}

Funds raised by the festival help the Norwalk Seaport Association maintain the Sheffield Island Lighthouse as well as to develop science education classes. The festival is also used by more than 20 other local non-profit organizations raise funds for annual operations.

Carl Palmer of Asia at the 29th Norwalk Oyster Festival on September 10, 2006

See also

• Oyster festival
• Milford Oyster Festival

Notes

1. ^ Breslow, Matt. "Village People will be main act at Oyster Festival". The Advocate Norwalk edition (Stamford, Connecticut): pp. 1, A4. 
2. ^ ^{a b} Kobak, Steve (2008-09-06). "Hanna has officials thinking twice about continuing Oyster Festival". The Hour (Norwalk, Connecticut) 137 (244): pp. A1. 

External links

• Norwalk Seaport Association Oyster Festival

Coordinates: 41°05′43″N 73°24′56″W / 41.0954°N 73.4155°W / 41.0954; -73.4155