Second L.B. Oyster Fest kicks off Sept. 23

The second annual Long Beach Oyster Festival is set to kick off on Sept. 23.

The event is expanding and will take place at the Long Beach Catholic Regional School’s parking lot from 2 to 6 p.m., and guests can expect hours of live music, beer and oyster sampling. Two types of local oysters from Blue Island in Sayville will be served: Blue Island and Naked Cowboy.  

The festival — sponsored by Blue Point Brewing Company — is organized by West End resident Terence Mulligan, who also puts together the annual Wee Craic Festival in Long Beach, a showcase of Irish short films and music, as well as the Rockaway Oyster and Music Festival.

Representatives from Jet Blue will be at the festival to hold a “win a trip” contest with the proceeds benefitting scholarships for the LBCRS.

"We are excited to host an annual event in the lot at the LBCRS and [donate] a portion of the proceeds to scholarships,” Mulligan said. “It should be a fun afternoon of oysters, Blue Point beers and an awesome music lineup for Long Beach residents.”

Guests can expect an eclectic list of music acts, including artists Jahstix and the Brothers Yee.
"This is great news that Long Beach now has an annual oyster and seafood festival every September,” Jahstix said. “I look forward to playing the festival and jamming with the Brothers Yee as well!”

Festival organizers are also working with the Billion Oyster Project, an ecosystem and education project aimed at restoring a billion live oysters in New York Harbor. Because the shells from the festival will be collected for the project, the festival is a zero-waste event, Mulligan said.

“We look forward to building long term in the lot at the LBCRS and making it an annual event for Long Beach,” Mulligan said. “Get ready to slurp, sip and have some fun!”

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.thecraicfest.com.