Milford Oyster Festival 2019 Guide: Parking, Schedule, Headliner

MILFORD, CT — It's getting very close to the biggest event in Milford each year. The 45th Annual Milford Oyster Festival will be held on Saturday, August 17, 2019 from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. throughout the downtown area including The Green, Fowler Field and behind the Milford Public Library.

Grammy-nominated rock band Extreme will headline the 2019 Milford Oyster Festival concert. The band formed in Boston during 1980's and achieved the height of its popularity in the 1990's with a double platinum album and No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 Song "More Than Words."

"Having Extreme play at the Festival has been a long-term goal," said Jay Pinto, President of the Milford Oyster Festival. "They are going to rock Milford."

Extreme singer Gary Cherone temporarily left the band to join Van Halen in the 1990's.

BADFISH: A Tribute to SUBLIME will open for Extreme. Headliners for past years included Blue Oyster Cult, Gin Blossoms, Bret Michaels and Kansas.

There is a lot more to the Oyster Festival than music. There is a craft beer and wine garden and arts and crafts on the Green. There is a canoe and kayak race too. And of course the main attraction is the 30,000 oysters that will be ready for you to consume along with numerous other food options.

Here are some of the other key events that will occur throughout the day. Click the links below for schedules and info:

Parking, Shuttle Service, Road Closures Information

The Milford Police Department is offering the following information to assist citizens, merchants and visitors with traffic, parking and other matters regarding the festival.

Access to the Milford Center area will be restricted from the hours of 9:30 am-6:30 pm. The streets which will be closed and/or have limited access include: North Broad St, South Broad St, Depot St, New Haven Ave (from Gulf St to Daniel St), Prospect St (from Cherry St – New Haven Ave), River St (from Darina Pl to New Haven Ave), Armory La, Factory La, Shipyard La, Center St and High St (from Jepson Dr to Helwig St).

Access to the Railroad Station parking areas for railroad patrons will only be allowed from High Street. An Officer will be present at this traffic closure.

On street parking will be restricted within the festival boundaries between 9:00 am – 6:30 pm.

Handicapped parking will be provided at the following locations: Milford Senior Center, Harborside Middle School and Wasson Field parking lot adjacent to West Main Street. There will be senior and handicap accessible shuttle transportation to and from these locations which will pick up and drop off at Milford Fire HQ across from the Library.

Access to the City Boat Launch on Shipyard Lane will be restricted from 6:00 am – 7:30 pm.

Pets and coolers will not be allowed within the festival boundaries.

Shuttle buses are being provided for festival patrons which will be picking up/dropping off at two
locations in Milford: Jonathan Law High School and the rear parking lot of the Westfield Connecticut Post Shopping Mall (near the old Sear’s). The shuttle services will operate from 9:30 am – 7:00 pm.

There will be free Police K9 demonstrations for the public being held across from the Milford Public Library at 12:30 pm and 2:30 pm. Milford K9 teams will be joined by Orange PD, Stratford PD and Shelton PD officers and their K9 partners.

A mass notification message will be sent to Milford residents and businesses of the parking and traffic restrictions during the festival hours.

For further information regarding the Oyster Festival please visit their website at

www.milfordoysterfestival.com