Mystic River Oyster Festival 2017

This one-day event is a celebration of all things oyster, and features six local and regional oyster purveyors who will have oysters available for tasting and will show off their shucking skills. Food service will be from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Mystic River Oyster Festival is free with regular Museum admission. Food is subject to an additional charge.

This year’s vendors:
Fishers Island Oyster Farm
Jonathan Island Oysters
The Noank Aquaculture Cooperative
Matunuck Oyster Bar
Walrus and Carpenter Oysters
Behan Family Farms

Visitors can learn about the history of oystering on Long Island Sound and take in tonging (harvesting) demonstrations. They can also hear firsthand about the life of a modern-day oysterman during a talk by Ben Franford, a dentist who owns Jonathan Island Oysters. His oyster trade name is “Pearly Whites.” Another talk during the Festival is by Bill Lucey, the Long Island Soundkeeper, who works for Save the Sound as the watchdog for the bays and harbors, monitoring water quality, and making sure there are no infractions of the Clean Water Act. Oysters need clean water!

Traditional sea music entertainment will be provided by the Mystic Seaport chantey staff:
Craig Edwards & David Iler, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Geoff Kaufman & Anayis Wright, 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.

There will be presentations and booths by:
Clean Up Sound and Harbors (CUSH), a grassroots environmental organization that operates out of Stonington in an effort to monitor water quality and educate the public about how to improve local water quality.

Connecticut SeaGrant, an environmental organization funded by NOAA and the State of Connecticut. They encourage the stewardship of marine resources through education and research and provide the resources for the Connecticut Shellfish Commission, which works with local oyster farmers to help with water quality, aquaculture, and education. They will also be offering information about shellfish conservation efforts.

Vendors during the festival include R. Murphy Knives, who sell premium oyster knives and other tools and equipment.