Oyster Festival

This weekend's gathering on Oyster Bay's waterfront is expected to draw 200,000 people. Here are some last-minute tips for attending.

Saturday's weather is expected to be cloudy with a chance of rain or thunderstorms, particularly toward evening and windy. Mid-day temperatures in the 60s. A jacket is recommended. Sunday's forecast looks better.

Northbound traffic into Oyster Bay via Route 106 is notoriously arduous, particularly at mid-day. Local residents use words like "nightmare" and "Armageddon" to describe the congestion in the hamlet of Oyster Bay on festival weekends.

Parking fields are set up at various locations leading into Oyster Bay. They include the Equestrian Center off Route 106 in Muttontown, the Vernon School lot in East Norwich and the Mill Max Mfg. parking garage and lot on Route 106 (Pine Hollow Road at that point) just past the CVS and McDonald's restaurant.

You can even take the Oyster Bay branch of the LIRR right to the site from places along that route such as Glen Cove, Locust Valley and Garden City. The LIRR is running extra trains on that branch all this weekend.

Please know that the BEST way to get to the festival is the Long Island Rail Road. You'll be dropped off literally AT the festival with no hassle. They are offering DISCOUNTED packages that include free oysters and specific ride coupons.