47th Annual Milford Oyster Festival: Police Release Guidance

MILFORD, CT — Ahead of the 47th Annual Milford Oyster Festival on Aug. 21, the Milford Police Department is sharing traffic and parking information for citizens, merchants and visitors.

The festival will take place from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., so access to the Milford Center area will be closed from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and parking within the festival's boundaries will be restricted from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., police said.

The streets that will be closed and/or have limited access are: North Broad Street, South Broad Street, Depot Street, New Haven Avenue (from Gulf Street to Daniel Street), Prospect Street (from Cherry Street – New Haven Avenue), River Street (from Darina Place to New Haven Avenue), Armory Lane, Factory Lane, Shipyard Lane, Center Street and High Street (from Jepson Drive to Helwig Street).

Attendees can park at Jonathan Law High School or the rear parking lot of the Connecticut Post Mall and take a shuttle bus to and from the event from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., police said.

Handicapped parking will be available at Milford Senior Center, Harborside Middle School and Wasson Field parking lot adjacent to West Main Street.

Senior and handicap accessible shuttle transportation to and from these parking lots will be available to drop off and pick up passengers at Milford Fire Headquarters across from the library, police said.

Pets and coolers will not be allowed within the festival boundaries.

Railroad patrons will only be able to access the Railroad Station parking lots from High Street, police said, and an officer will be present at the closure.

The City Boat Launch on Shipyard Lane will be closed from Aug. 20 at 5 p.m. to Aug. 21 at 6:30 p.m.

"A mass notification message will be sent to Milford residents and businesses of the parking and traffic restrictions during the festival hours," police said.

The Milford Oyster Festival will have 30,000 oysters, all harvested in the city's waters by Briarpatch Enterprises, Inc., according to the event's website. It will also feature classic cars, amusement rides and a food court.