Come and enjoy the Milford Oyster Festival Harbor Activities

(See Festival Map)

• The East Coast Shellfish Growers are back with 18,000 oysters served raw, grilled and fried.
• Cruise Long Island Sound on the tall ship The Schooner Soundwaters. Cruises are available Friday evening and throughout the day Saturday, including two-hour sunset cruises.
• Saturday events kick-off with our annual Canoe & Kayak Race, hosted by our Mayor Richetelli.
• Oyster Eating Competition and Oyster Shucking Contest on the Oyster Stage
• Oyster shell decorating is available for kids next to the Children's Stage at Fowler Pavilion.

Annual Milford Oyster Festival Canoe and Kayak Race

Come and watch experienced and novice canoe and kayak racers compete for the Mayor’s Cup at the Canoe and Kayak Race.

Schooner Cruise

Annual Milford Oyster Festival, Inc. ("AMOF") in conjunction with the Schooner SoundWaters invite you to enjoy our Schooner Cruise the evening before and the day of the Festival. Come aboard the Schooner SoundWaters and experience the thrill of sailing in Long Island Sound. Come aboard a tall ship for an unforgettable experience. You can enjoy 1-1/2 hour daytime cruises as well as two-hour sunset set cruises, all of which depart at the Milford Boat Ramp, behind Milford Library.

Click Here for more info about the Schooner Cruise.  | Click Here for more info about the Canoe / Kayak Race

Oysters

Located in the food court area, directly behind the library the Annual Milford Oyster Festival along with the East Coast Shellfish Growers Association Oyster Booth will feature several varieties of oysters from Virginia to Maine.

Several varieties of oysters will be sold at the Festival representing some of the most prominent oyster growers on the east coast. Eat one or eat a coupla' dozen. Enjoy oysters both salty and sweet grown from Maine to Virginia. Many of the growers will be at the Festival with their oysters so you can ask them how they do it and why their oysters are the best.

Click here to view the Oyster Menu

Consider making a donation to Friends of the Fisherman. Click here to learn more

Oyster Eating Competitions

There will be a series of oyster eating challenges at the Oyster Stage, located next to the East Coast Shellfish Growers Association's tent in the Food Court at 2:00pm. Come see some of Milford's famous and no-so-famous try to down a dozen oysters in record time.

Oyster Shucking Contest

The oyster shucking contest at this year's Milford Oyster Festival is shaping up to be a battle of the giants. Some of the world's fastest oyster shuckers will be there and the premier oyster houses of America will be competing for the title of "Greatest Shucking Oyster House".

The competition will be in two heats at 12:15pm & 1:15pm and is run using international rules. The contestants are timed shucking 24 oysters, and then the oysters are judged for their presentation on the plate, and for how cleanly they have been opened. Competitors are rewarded for presentation and their scores docked for poorly shucked oysters. The judges are all oyster experts. Winners will be announced immediately after the Oyster Eating Competition. This year the cash prizes are $1000 for first place, $500 for second and $250 for third.

Racing Boats

Offshore Racing boats brought to you by BoatShowDirect.net in Stratford, will be on display at the Milford Boat Ramp Friday August 19th and Saturday August 20th. Come on down and see the fastest , sleekest cigarette-style racing boats available!

USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 24-03

The USCG Auxiliary Flotilla 24-03 will be distributing Boating Safety Information at our "Base" location on Helwig Street during the 2009 Milford Oyster Festival. This year we are celebrating our 70th anniversary!

Stop by - come in our "Base" and see various displays and pick up copies of the latest available Boating, Canoe & Kayaking information including both state of Connecticut & Federal Regulations. Information regarding Boating Safety classes & Vessel Safety Examinations will also be available.