The WaterFront Center floating dock was the site of the opening press conference for Oyster Festival 2003. It was the perfect venue, with the Christeen oyster sloop as a focal point because the big news is that this festival will be held on the waterfront.

Set for the weekend of Oct. 17-19, the alcohol-free festival introduces a variety of new family-friendly attractions this year, including an all-weather arts & crafts center (under a big white tent), an exotic animal petting zoo, and an opening night carnival with a fireworks display. Boating enthusiasts will enjoy the brand new watercraft simulator, a display brought in by the New York Marine Trades Association, and music lovers will enjoy the continuous live musical entertainment.

And there's news that should please every motorist: the new waterfront location will offer expanded downtown parking making access to the festival easier, said Tom Reardon, an Oyster Bay Rotarian and this year's festival chairman.

The Long Island Rail Road sent spokesperson Sam Zambuto to make clear that the company is doing their part to get visitors to the festival. They are offering LIRR tickets that include free oysters! They have expanded their schedule of service on the Oyster Bay and Port Jefferson branches. There will also be express shuttle bus service from Syosset.

Returning festival attendees will find their old favorites back for another year. On everyone's list is a visit to the Food Promenade, which features (of course) oysters prepared nearly every possible way. Other popular attractions include: handmade arts & crafts, the graceful tall ships, the 5K run, the amusement and rides area, and the historic harbor tours.

There will also be a number of special activities planned in recognition of the Town of Oyster Bay's 350th anniversary, said Supervisor John Venditto as he welcomed the press.

"Not only is the Oyster Festival the largest street festival on Long Island, it's been one of the largest on the East Coast, attracting over 200,000 people to a weekend of family fun, food, gift-shopping as well as a chance to meet and support more than 20 local charitable organizations," said Mr. Reardon. The festival, which for the last three years has been organized and run by the Oyster Bay Rotary Club, has helped generate over $5 million for local humanitarian and nonprofit organizations throughout its history.

The Oyster Festival enjoys a well deserved reputation as a place that makes it fun and convenient to sample dozens of unique foods, from Oyster Bay's freshest oysters to the now famous sweet potato pie, a staple of past festivals.

This year the Centro Cultural Hispano is serving specialty foods from south of the border, freshly prepared by local residents. You will be able to enjoy empañadas from Colombia; Guacamole from Mexico; popusas from El Salvador and tostados from Mexico.

Eileen O'Leary of Fiddlesticks is serving a briny oyster stew, not to be missed! There will be funnel cakes, sausages, fried chicken, fried oysters and more, each prepared by a local nonprofit group.

"Oysters will be available in just about every edible form you can imagine," said Beverly Zembko, the festival's food director. "The nonprofit organizations really go all out to have a great selection of not just oysters, shrimp and clams, but a great variety of ethnic foods, funnel cakes, All-American hamburgers and steak sandwiches, roasted corn and phenomenal desserts. For a lot of our nonprofits, the Oyster Festival is their biggest fund raising event!"

For more information about the festival please call (516) 628-1625. To become a festival sponsor, please call Len Rothberg at (516) 935-4944.