Three days of fun, food,
entertainment on multiple stages, plus special events for families and friends,
from nine to ninety marks just some of the activities to be found at the 2019 Norwalk
Oyster Festival hosted by the Seaport Association on Friday, September 6,
Saturday, September 7, and Sunday, September 8, 2019, at the 35-acre Veterans
Memorial Park in Norwalk “Our 42nd annual festival is packed with
value-added extras especially when you consider that all the entertainment including the headliners Mike DelGuidice & Big Shot, and Brian Howe,
former lead singer of Bad Company is included in the ticket price,” said Mike
Reilly, President of the Seaport Association. For tickets click here https://www.seaport.org.
The
Music
The 2019 Norwalk Oyster Festival has live music from
dozens of bands on multiple stages throughout the weekend and features a variety of crowd-pleasing entertainment. “The
Oyster Festival is the perfect way to celebrate the end of summer. All music and entertainment is free with the price of the ticket making it economical for the entire family,” says Mike Reilly, President of the Norwalk
Oyster Festival.
On Saturday afternoon,
September 7 the afternoon begins with Ripchord, the Official Band of the
Connecticut National Guard that will play a variety of music from classical and
jazz to rock and patriotic tunes. Saturday night starts to heat up when Alex
Shillo takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. with his eclectic brand of rock and country
music.
Saturday night’s headliner is Mike DelGuidice and Big Shot who has taken
a night off from touring with Billy Joel to perform at the Norwalk Oyster
Festival. This tribute band to the music of Billy Joel with some original music
thrown in packs hit after chart-topping hit in an amazingly high-energy show
that leaves audiences wanting more.
Get ready to swing into Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. with the Commanders that
will perform music from the Big Band Era and beyond on the Main Stage. It is 5’oclock somewhere and at 2 p.m. Jimmy Kenny
and the Pirate Beach Band plugin on the Main Stage. So, put on your best
“Parrothead” gear, grab some food and drinks from one of the nearby vendors and
get ready to sing and dance along to some of the best of Jimmy Buffett, Kenny
Chesney and the Zac Brown Band and other tropical classics.
This year the Oyster
Festival has a grand finale that begins at 5 p.m. when Brian Howe, former Lead
Singer of Bad Company from 1986-1994, closes out the 42nd Norwalk
Oyster Festival with style, exuberance, and a blast from the past of some of
our favorite songs ever. Howe has one of rock’s most legendary voices; and as
he croons hit after hit he will have you dancing as the sun goes down. Today, Howe is performing many popular songs by Bad Company like “Feel Like Makin Love,” “Good Lovin’ Gone
Bad,” “Can’t Get Enough,” and other hits. This is a performance worth waiting
for and the ideal way to end three days of music, fun, and food.
For
the Whole Family – Seaport Circus Spectacular
This year the whole family will enjoy the Seaport
Circus Spectacular that will include national acts from Circus Circus in Las
Vegas, and star performers from the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey
Circus and others.
This magical show includes several amazing acts like
the death-defying performance created by the Dominguez Family. They have been
amazing audiences around the world with riders challenging the Globe of Death,
a giant metal cage, as well as their uncanny skill in navigating the inverted high wire. This
energetic act is perfect for all ages because it always delivers the “wow”
factor.
Hurling, whirling, twirling hula hoops combined with the
amazing acrobatic performance of Nicole Taylor Weiss that defies the eye is another act in the
Seaport Circus. Nicole grew up traveling the world with her circus parents
learning the business of entertainment from a very young age. Nicole’s Hula
Hoop show is high-energy fun at its best. She has been performing for Circus,
Circus, Vargas and Cirque Musica, and with Ringling Brothers and Barnum and
Bailey Circus.
An all-around family favorite, the Hog Diggity Dog
Review is also part of the Seaport’s Circus. A
second-generation circus performer, Hans Klose works with 20 dogs and four
pigs. The performing pigs, Roscoe weighing 750 pounds, and Shelton weighing
around 700 pounds were part of Klose's act when he worked for Ringling Brothers
and Barnum and Bailey Circus. Klose travels throughout the country with his animals
in a specially made RV that keeps them totally pampered. Hans care and love for
his animals is apparent in his laugh out loud routine that will charm audiences
young and old.
Games, rides, and many fun activities can be found at
Kids Cove. There
is face painting, and pint-sized carnival games, plus cotton candy, popcorn,
and candied apples. The Norwalk Oyster Festival is so family-friendly. There is
a special wristband offer on Saturday and Sunday that entitles unlimited rides from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $25. Sunday is Family Day when
kids 12 and under get in free with a paid adult; there are also special kids
meals and the $25 wristband for unlimited rides from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on
Sunday.
If you have always wanted a birds-eye view of the
city, the fairgrounds and Norwalk’s beautiful coastline, climb onboard the 65
foot Gondola Ferris wheel to be treated to a unique and memorable ride you can
write home about. All you have to do is sit back, relax, and enjoy. And, don’t
forget your camera.
If you like to shop, head to the Arts and Crafts area
where there’re more than 100 fine artists and crafters that display whimsical
as well as practical items that appeal to all tastes, budgets, and ages. Jewelry,
paintings, pottery, sculpture, clothing, home décor, and wearable art are just
some of the treasures to be found here.
For the Foodies
A
favorite at any festival is the food, and the Norwalk Oyster Festival never
disappoints. After exploring the fairgrounds head to the International Food
Court that dishes up everything from Mexican, Columbian, and Italian to funnel
cakes, cotton candy, and of course, oysters fresh off the boat, authentic New England
lobster dinners and fresh lobster rolls.
This culinary fare is prepared by dozens of local nonprofit
organizations allowing them to raise funds for their charitable causes. At the
Seaport Tent, learn about Norwalk’s oystering history and browse specialty
items on sale celebrating the Sheffield Island Lighthouse. And, if you have worked up a thirst, no
worries head to the craft beer tent that offers more than forty beers.
Tickets
The event is held at Veteran’s Park, adjacent to
Norwalk Harbor on Seaview Avenue in Norwalk, CT. Admission for adults is $10 on
Friday, $12 on Saturday and Sunday. Senior tickets are $10 all days. Children
5-12 year’s old are $5. Children under 5 and U.S. military personnel on active duty are free. Tickets can be purchased online at www.seaport.org.
Festival Hours: Friday, Sept. 6,
from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday, September 7, from 11 a.m. - 11 p.m., and
Sunday, September 8 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
For those that want to take the train, Metro North is
offering a discount package with free shuttle service from the train station to
the Oyster Festival.
Free parking and shuttle service available from Calf Pasture
Beach and Norwalk City Hall. Ample parking right over the bridge with at the Maritime Garage and other parking lots.
About the Norwalk Seaport
Association
The Norwalk Seaport Association was founded in 1978 as
a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, education and public
awareness of Norwalk’s maritime environment and heritage. The Seaport
Association and its volunteers are solely responsible for organizing and
financing the Oyster Festival. In addition to the Oyster Festival, the Norwalk
Seaport Association owns Sheffield Lighthouse and its volunteers maintain the
lighthouse and grounds as a museum and nature preserve. For more information,
visit www.seaport.org.
or call (203) 838-9444.
