Fun and even more fun at Oyster Bay Day

Thousands of people made their way to Oyster Bay for the annual Oyster Bay Day street fair. The event, which sees Audrey Avenue turn into an open air market reminiscent of an Ottoman bazaar, was only the third such event held in the hamlet since the coronavirus pandemic shut everything down.

For the second year in a row the event was held on the second Saturday of June, which turned out to be a perfect sunny summer day. Families, friends and folks from out of town wandered through downtown Oyster Bay, where there were plenty of opportunities to entertain themselves, from snack trucks to a dunk tank and inflatable bouncy houses.

“We were able to bring in a lot more pieces this year thanks to our sponsors,” said Ravin Chetram, vice president of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the annual event. “It was so much bigger this year than in past years, and that’s really thanks to the amazing work of our board, and especially Amy Reilly Hanley and her husband George.”

Local businesses and event sponsors ran roadside stands, many of them set up outside their own shops, and offered people the opportunity to buy everything from books from Theodore’s to home insurance. Nonprofits also had stands where they offered information about their various causes, such as AmVets, who were there to promote suicide awareness amongst veterans.

One such stand was run by parents and administrators from East Woods School, a private elementary and middle school in Oyster Bay that was also a sponsor for the event. Gina Yankow and Devayani Roberts, two parents who were providing information about the school to passers-by, said that the event was a perfect way to engage with the community and enjoy the beauty and diverse offerings of the hamlet.

“This is really such an amazing event, and such a perfect day for it,” Yankow said.

“It’s a great chance to talk to people about East Woods, and brings in so many people who may never even have visited Oyster Bay before,” Roberts added.

Attendees were also treated to a live performance by musicians from Big Apple Leadership Academy for the Arts, a nonprofit which supports young people’s participation in the arts in New York City. Three performers played New Orleans-style jazz as attendees tapped their feet or danced to the rhythm.

There was plenty of activities for both children and parents as well, including a deluxe video game truck (for children) and an axe throwing event (for adults). There was also a dunk tank, where participants got the chance to knock several people in the water, including a member of the Oyster Bay-East Norwich Parent Teacher Association.