Niantic Bay Oyster Festival Brings Local Oysters, Beer and Live Music to St. John’s Green

Niantic Bay Oyster Festival Brings Local Oysters, Beer and Live Music to St. John’s Green Saturday, Sept. 19, turning the downtown Niantic green into a six-hour celebration of Connecticut shellfish, local breweries, food and live music, all supporting the Miracle League of Southeastern Connecticut.

Now in its eighth year, the free festival runs from noon to 6 p.m. at St. John’s Green, 400 Main Street. The premise is straightforward: eat oysters, sample local food and drinks, listen to three bands and raise money for an organization working to make recreation accessible to people with disabilities.

And the oysters really are local.

Five oyster producers are on the 2026 lineup: Behan Family Farm, Watch Hill Oysters, Niantic Bay Oyster Farm, Sixpenny Oyster Farm and CT Cultured Oysters. Together they give festivalgoers a chance to sample shellfish from several growers rather than getting the experience of a single raw bar.

Beer, Cocktails and Plenty Beyond Oysters

The beverage lineup has a similarly local focus. Niantic Public House & Brewery, Grey Sail Brewing, Tox Brewing Company, Myrcene Ale Co., Outer Light Brewing Company and Taylor Brooke Brewery are among those scheduled, along with By the Bay Niantic and cocktails from Sip, Sip Hooray.

For anyone who doesn’t consider a dozen oysters lunch, the food lineup broadens considerably.

The Black Sheep, Frank’s Wood-Fired Pizza, Keifer’s Kettle Korn, Kona Shaved Ice, Constantine’s on the Bay, Yummy Wagon and Beach Buns Hot Dog Stand are among the announced food vendors.

Food and drinks operate on a ticket system. Tickets cost $1 each and can be purchased with cash or credit at festival ticket tables. Individual vendors determine how many tickets their items cost, so that $1 is the value of a ticket, not the price of an oyster or drink.

Admission itself is free.

Three Bands, Five and a Half Hours of Music

Music starts when the festival opens and continues through most of the afternoon.

Azalea Drive gets the first slot from noon to 2 p.m.

Fusion takes over from 2 to 4 p.m.

Then southeastern Connecticut favorite Wicked Peach closes the musical lineup from 4 to 5:30 p.m. The longtime regional rock band has become a familiar presence at festivals, clubs and outdoor stages around southeastern Connecticut, making them a natural choice for the festival’s late-afternoon set.

With the performances scheduled consecutively, visitors can hear live music for five and a half of the festival’s six hours.

A Festival With a Larger Purpose

The oysters and beer may get people onto the green, but the reason for the festival is the Miracle League of Southeastern Connecticut.

The nonprofit works to provide recreational opportunities for children and others with physical, cognitive and developmental challenges. Its work includes accessible sports programs and a specially designed athletic field intended to remove barriers that can prevent people with disabilities from participating in traditional recreational sports.

The Niantic Bay Oyster Festival is one of the organization’s annual fundraisers, and organizers say 100% of festival proceeds benefit the Miracle League of Southeastern Connecticut.

That gives every plate of oysters and round of drinks a second purpose.

The festival also includes cornhole and a children’s activity area, making this more than an adults-only oyster-and-beer afternoon.

How the Festival Works

There’s no admission charge, although parking on St. John’s Green costs $5.

Food and beverage tickets are sold in $1 increments, with both cash and credit cards accepted at the ticket tables. Tickets are nonrefundable.

Anyone purchasing alcoholic beverages should also bring identification. Organizers say they will conduct a 100% ID check before issuing drink wristbands.

One other rule is worth knowing before bringing the entire family: pets and emotional-support animals are not permitted on the festival grounds. Service animals as defined by the ADA are permitted.

With five oyster growers, a substantial collection of local breweries and food vendors, three live bands and six hours on the green, the Niantic Bay Oyster Festival has grown into considerably more than an afternoon raw bar.

And every oyster, beer and food ticket helps support a local organization built around the idea that everyone should have the opportunity to play.

More information is available at the Event Website link below.

Details

Event: 8th Annual Niantic Bay Oyster Festival
Date: Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026
Time: Noon–6 p.m.
Location: St. John’s Green
Address: 400 Main Street, Niantic, CT 06357
Admission: Free
Parking: $5 on St. John’s Green
Food & Beverage Tickets: $1 each; cash and credit accepted at ticket tables; no refunds
Live Music: Azalea Drive, noon–2 p.m.; Fusion, 2–4 p.m.; Wicked Peach, 4–5:30 p.m.
Oyster Vendors: Behan Family Farm, Watch Hill Oysters, Niantic Bay Oyster Farm, Sixpenny Oyster Farm and CT Cultured Oysters
Activities: Local oysters, food and beverages, live music, cornhole and children’s activities
Alcohol: ID required for drink wristbands
Pets: No pets or emotional-support animals; ADA-defined service animals permitted
Beneficiary: 100% of festival proceeds benefit the Miracle League of Southeastern Connecticut

Featured image is an artistic representation inspired by the event and may not depict the actual people, location, or activities shown.