Norwalk Oyster Fest 2011: Kids Get a Variety of Fun

There's gotta be something to thrill any kid at the 34th annual Norwalk Oyster Festival this weekend in . Pirates, superheroes, motocross, carnival rides aren't even the half of it.

Here's some information that may help you decide whether to take the kids, and what to make sure you do once you get there.

Some basic info (more at the end of this article)

The festival starts tonight at 6 pm. and runs till 11 p.m., then runs 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

Admission for kids 5-12 years old is cheap at $3, and it's free for kids under 5 or wearing a pirate costume. You'll likely be spending more on rides, food or something else inside the gates.

Saturday or Sunday?

Should you take the kids on Saturday or Sunday (or both)? Well, Family Day is Sunday, with somewhat reduced admission prices (although admission doesn't seem to be a large part of the expense) and on Sunday you can get a $15 bracelet for unlimited rides from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. At 1 p.m. Sunday, there will be a show with Marvel Comics superhero characters (see below).

Make your plans accordingly, but also keep the weather in mind: According to the National Weather Service (which has a constantly updated 7-day forecast specifically for Norwalk online), here's the weather lineup:

• Friday: Slight chance of thunderstorms and showers (20 percent chance of precipitation)
• Saturday: "A chance of showers, mainly between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. ... Chance of precipitation is 30 percent." High temperature: 79 degrees. Saturday night: 20 percent chance of rain or drizzle.
• Sunday: "A chance of rain or drizzle, mainly after noon. ... Chance of precipitation is 30 percent." It will be cooler, with a high temperature of 69 degrees.

This forecast is as of 10:05 a.m. Friday, and they'll update it.

Thar be the Skull & Crossbones, matey

Pirates don't just say "ARRRRGGGGHHHH" over at the "Pirate's Coast Adventure" part of the festival. After kids enter their interactive encampment at the south end of the park, pirate re-enactors, including Jack Sparrow, will engage them in treasure hunts, demonstrations, story-telling, and rollicking piratical songs and dancing.

On the Oyster Festival website, there's a schedule of Saturday and Sunday shows on the "pirate stage" as well as of demonstrations, and a video sample of what some of that is like (although it's mostly a commercial).

Kids are encouraged to wear their own piratical costumes and get into the festival for free. (And if your little pirate wants to board a real sailing ship, see "Tall ship," below. Harbor tours are also offered on a different boat, in case somebody needs to pretend he's on the Spanish Main.)

You can tell your buccaneering boys and girls that the notorious pirate Captain Kidd actually sailed Long Island Sound, and some of his buried treasure just might be out there somewhere ...

Carnival rides and more

Carnival rides, games and "kid-friendly entertainment, including "Sally and Seymour's Seriously Silly Circus" with acrobats, a comedy magician and a clown (there's a schedule of performances on the Seaport Association's website), music and cheerleading exhibition," are offered in the "Kid's Cove" section of the festival.

Giant sand sculpture

World sand-sculpture champion Alan Matsumoto will be busy during the carnival creating a 7-foot-high sand sculpture of the Sheffield Island Lighthouse. It'll be something for both kids and adults to see.

Superheros on hand

In case any super villains show up to cause havoc at the Oyster Fest, Marvel Comics will have a "Super Hero Search" show on Sunday at 1 p.m. on the Main Stage. The show will feature live appearances of Captain America, Thor and the Green Lantern. Kids can get free photos and autographs with the men in tights after the performance.

Motocross and mountain biking Slamfest

At the Slamfest, there will be motocross and mountain biking competitions and events.

BMX and Motocross stunt shows will feature "Thrust Moto FMX (Freestyle Motocross) and BMX Teams, plus eight times National Mountain Bike Trials Champion Mike Steidley, one of the most exciting and extreme mountain bike riders in North America," according to the festival website. There's a YouTube commercial for the Slamfest.

Here's the schedule for the stunt shows:

• Friday: 6, 6:45 and 7:45 p.m.
• Saturday: 1,3,4, 5 and 7 p.m.
• Sunday: 1,3 and 5 p.m.
  

Arts & Crafts activities

For something a little quieter, at the Green Pavilion there will be "environmentally focused activities and exhibits to keep you thinking green," incuding making art and crafts from recycled materials and "the creation, with the help of children and parents, of a tile mosaic made with reclaimed/recycled kitchen tiles."

Touch tanks

At the Oyster Pavilion, Earthplace and Soundwaters will have exhibits on the environment, and the will have touch tanks for kids to get to know some sea creatures up as close as anyone can get and very personal.

Tall ship

At the festival docks, kids and adults can board Soundwaters, an 80-foot replica of a Chesapeake Bay sharpie schooner.

Food

Does your kid like funnel cakes? No? OK, how 'bout seafood? Turns her nose up at that too? Well, don't even the worst brats like bratwurst? Not necessarily, you say? How 'bout burgers and french fries?

Look, even the finickiest small fry must find something to like in the food court, which has just got to have some favorite food for anybody. Vendors are from area nonprofit organizations and include the East Avenue United Methodist Church, Flotilla 72 of the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary, Sons of Italy, St. Ann Club St. George Greek Orthodox Church.

THE BASICS:

Timing: The festival starts tonight at 6 pm. and runs till 11 p.m., then runs 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

What you can't bring: No pets are allowed in the park (a city rule). No coolers, bottles, cans, food or beverages are allowed in.

What you should bring: Comfortable footwear and sun block (and maybe a hat). You'll be in an outdoor park.

ADMISSION for adults is $10 on Friday and $12 on Saturday and Sunday. Children under five are free, children 5-12 years old get in for $3. And if they wear a pirate costume and are with an adult, they get in free as well. Senior citizens (aged 62 and older) are charged $10. You can buy tickets online or by calling (800) 838-3006 at any time of the day or night, seven days a week.

Family Day Sunday admission: For each adult paying admission, one child 5-12 years old can get in free (a $3 savings); a $15 bracelet entitles the wearer to unlimited rides between 11 a.m. (when the festival opens) to 2 p.m., and there are special kids meals.

Weekend passes and family discounts are available online (click "Begin Order" for details). Otherwise, a ticket is only good for one day.

Metro-North fare & admission deal: The railroad offers a special discounted fare on the New Haven Line to the South Norwalk Metro-North station, a free shuttle bus to the festival from the station, and discounted admission to the festival.

PARKING off-site is free. You then take a regular shuttle bus to the festival at :

• On Friday, parking is only at (blue shuttle bus) and at (yellow shuttle bus).
• On Saturday and Sunday, parking is at the same two lots as well as at 10 Norden Pl. in East Norwalk (orange shuttle bus) and at (red shuttle bus).

Here's a downloadable map if it helps (south is at the top of the map, if it matters).

The Norwalk Seaport Association has more information on the Norwalk Oyster Festival on its website, and a Frequently Asked Questions page.