Community Corner
Annual Milford Oyster Festival Announces Major Change
Organizers cited a variety of factors, including rising costs and a lack of new committee members, for making the change.
MILFORD, CT — The Milford Oyster Festival, which brings 50,000 people to downtown each summer, is being scaled back. Beginning in 2025, the festival will be an evening-only event in the Fowler Field area.
The oyster festival, which is in its 50th year, will continue on the same third weekend in August. The 2025 festival will be Aug. 15 and 16 from 5 to 10 p.m.
The festival will no longer include events on the Milford Green, Lisman Landing, Armory Square, Rotary Pavilion, and Milford Harbor, according to a statement.
Find out what's happening in Milfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
However, this will allow for the expansion of the "Oyster Eve” event from one night to two nights with live music, oysters, food, beer, and wine.
"The decision to revamp the Oyster Festival was not an easy one made by our all-volunteer Festival," according to a statement from the oyster festival.
Find out what's happening in Milfordfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
They cited "several combined factors" that led to the move.
"Specifically, significant rising costs in all areas while maintaining a free event, changes in the concert industry that have created tremendous challenges to book national-level musical acts, and as is the case with many organizations in today’s world…a lack of new committee members that are able to dedicate hundreds of volunteer hours every year to this cause," the statement reads.
Organizers said they recognize that the change will not be easy for many of the vendors, supporters, and others who participate in the festival, but that the move is "a necessary evolution that will solidify (the festival's) future for years to come."
Jay Pinto, festival president, said, “Out of respect for the Milford Oyster Festival and what has been accomplished in 50 years, we believe it is the right time to close this chapter and begin a new one."
The festival has received numerous accolades, including being named the best food festival in the state by National Geographic and the 5th best oyster festival in the country by Fox News. Yankee Magazine also put the event on its list of best summer seafood festivals in New England.
Read the full statement from the festival regarding the change by clicking here.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
