Milford Oyster Festival 2025 Details Released: Music Headliners, 250+ Vendors And Much More

MILFORD, CT — There are a lot of changes this year to the annual Milford Oyster Festival, which routinely brings 50,000 people to the downtown area.

First, the festival is now broken into two different events on Saturday, Aug. 16. And there is also an evening of entertainment on Friday, Aug. 15.

On the day side of Saturday, is the Fair on the Half Shell, which will feature 250+ vendors, live music, mini golf, lego stations, bounce house, 30 food trucks, art and more. The event is free to attend. This event is held from 8:30 a.m. until 3:30 p.m. on the Milford Green.

Since February 2025, the Downtown Milford Business Association (DMBA) has taken over organizing the event from the Milford Oyster Festival, rebranding it as Fair on the Half Shell with a "strong focus on arts and crafts and supporting small businesses." Fair on the Half Shell is sponsored by UI, an Avangrid company. Find out more information by clicking here.

And then the new Milford Oyster Festival After Dark, sponsored by Xfinity, takes over from 5 to 10 p.m. at Fowler Field on both Friday, Aug. 15 and Aug. 16.

Friday evening's activities, according to the oyster festival website:

On Friday evening, the Festival welcomes Backstage Pass, a "high energy tribute band that recreates the concert experience of an arena style 80’s rock show with HAIR, LIGHTS, MARSHALL STACKS, SMOKE, SHREDDING GUITARS, BIG DRUMS, THUNDERING BASS, and harmonizing vocals performing the greatest 80’s anthems from Bon Jovi, Poison, Guns & Roses, Motley Crue, Loverboy, Ratt, Van Halen and more," according to a statement on the festival wesbite.

Opening for Backstage Pass is Milford’s own School of Rock.

Saturday evening's activities, according to the oyster festival website:

On Saturday evening, Almost Queen will be the headlining band. The setlist includes: Queen’s best-loved songs, like Somebody to Love, Don’t Stop Me Now, Fat Bottomed Girls, and Radio Ga Ga. And of course, no Queen tribute concert would be complete without classics like Bohemian Rhapsody, We Will Rock You, and We Are the Champions!

Opening for Almost Queen will be Philadelphia Freedom: A Tribute to Elton John and is "one of the ULTIMATE and most REALISTIC Elton John tribute currently touring." Doug Delescavage is Elton John as he was in his 20s. "Owning the stage with his inventive fashion sense, awe-inspiring piano abilities, and captivating voice, Doug rivals no one but Mr. Captain Fantastic himself," the oyster festival committee said.

Also performing include: Dave & Chrissy, a local duo playing acoustic music.

The Festival will also feature locally sourced oysters from Milford’s own Briarpatch Shellfish Company, food and beverages including beer, wine, hard seltzers and canned cocktails. The fun continues with amusement rides, including $35 wristbands per day.

Festival admission is $8 per night. Children age 13 and under are free and must be accompanied by an adult.

For more information on the Milford Oyster Festival, click here.