Kiwanis Club Organizing Westhampton Oyster Fest

Members of the of Westhampton were on hand at the Westhampton Beach Village meeting on Wednesday evening to garner approval for a new, annual Westhampton Beach Oyster Festival to be held on the Saturday of Columbus Day weekend.

Ralph Schenk, a Kiwanis committee member, said his club is looking to create an event similar to one held each year in the Village of Oyster Bay, complete with a chowder contest, wine tasting, blue grass music, vendors, rides for the kids and of course, fresh oysters and clams.

A large part of the festival - which would be held at the on Library Avenue - will focus on education and the importance of protecting the area's waterways.

For example, Schenk said Cornell Cooperative Extension will be providing a touch tank; kids will have the chance to adopt an oyster by naming it and putting it in the bay; the Coast Guard will have a water safety display; and the Southampton Trustees will have educational pamphlets.

"We do not want this to be a street fair or carnival," said Schenk, pointing out that all vendors who display at the event will be required to have a marine component. For example, he said vendors such as bait and tackle stores, and artists that paint or carve water fowl will be invited.

The festival will also include six to eight vendors that sell seafood.

"We think it will be great for the village," said Schenk, who said that the same weekend, the village is hosting an arts and crafts festival at the gazebo, the and a side-walk sale.

"People can walk around the village and go from one thing to another," said Schenk.

Village board members all agreed. 

Trustee Toni-Jo Birk said, "I think this is a fabulous idea."

Trustee Hank Tucker added, "I think this will come at a perfect time of the year."

The idea for the oyster festival, said Schenk came after Kiwanis members met with Cornell Cooperative Extension educators and realized that something needed to be done to get the word about about the state of the bays. 

"When it comes to cleaning up the bays, the next generation can make a difference," said Schenk.

The event, said Schenk, will also help raise funds for eel grass plantings and claim re-seeding projects and well as for the Kiwanis Club, which also hosts an annual carnival at .

That carnival may be near extinction, said Schenk, as construction is expected to begin for the next year.

"We have to find a new location and we don't think it will be as big as it has in years' past," said Schenk.