By Brian McCready, Milford Bureau Chief
bmccready@newhavenregister.com

MILFORD — Milford Oyster Festival organizers have been saying for the past 36 years that the event gets bigger and better every year.

Oyster Festival President Diane Wallberg says this year is no exception. And she said she can back up her claims. This year, the Milford Oyster Festival has landed its “biggest” musical act to date in securing the multiplatinum Grammy Award-winning Soul Asylum to perform.

The alternative rock band found mainstream success in the early 1990s with its Grammy-winning single “Runaway Train,” and the band even played at former President William J. Clinton’s inauguration bash.

The 36th annual Oyster Festival will commence with a pre-festival event called “Oyster Eve” from 6-9:30 Friday night (Aug. 20), at Milford Lisman Landing and Milford Harbor. There will be music, including the Steve D’Agostino Band and Eight to the Bar. It costs $5 cover to hear the bands, and there will be food, including oysters, of course.

Downtown merchants on the Green will also be participating as there will be numerous artists on hand, who created unique doors to the various businesses as part of the Open Doors of Downtown Milford Art Exhibit and Artist Reception. Children’s rides will also be available behind the Milford Library Friday night.

The main event, the actual Milford Oyster Festival, goes from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 21). An estimated 50,000 people are expected in downtown Milford. There will be more than 200 crafters on the Green, numerous toys, games and rides for children.

“It’s a really fun family day,” Wallberg said. “You meet old friends. It’s like a huge reunion for everyone. There is stuff for everyone of all ages to do. It’s just a great time for everyone.”

This year, organizers have added paintballing and rock climbing to the mix, and the Connecticut RollerGirls will be present, along with a motocross bike stunt show. Magician Adam Parisi will be there to entertain, and a new space walk machine will be on hand.

Behind the library, there will be numerous games for children, including rides, a sing-along show, martial arts demonstration, a clown and a ballet demonstration.

The always-popular Classic Car Hop will be held at Lisman Landing, and the band Flashback will be performing “oldies” all day there. Continued...

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At 10 a.m. Saturday, there will be the annual canoe and kayak race at the boat ramp.

Music as always will be a mainstay of the fest as bands begin performing at 11:30 a.m. at Fowler Field behind the Milford Library. The headliner Soul Asylum will take to the stage around 3:30 p.m. Other musical acts include Crazy on You, which is a Heart tribute band, and local bands Bernadettes and Mike Falzone & the Peppermint Trick.

The Milford Fire Department will have an open house Saturday, and the fire union has a dunk tank with all of the proceeds benefiting the Connecticut Burns Care Fund. The Milford Police Department will have canine demonstrations, and the Milford Boy Scouts will be holding a food drive.

Wallberg said there will be a ton of food including fresh seafood and drinks for festival-goers.

Event organizers say they are encouraging everyone to park behind Target at the Westfield Connecticut Post mall, or at Jonathan Law High School, 10 Lansdale Ave. Free shuttle buses will be provided.

For more about the Milford Oyster Festival, go to www.milfordoysterfestival.org.

Call Brian McCready at 203-789-5730.

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