For Jerry Toni, co-chairman, along with Steve Nezas, of the 36th annual Norwalk Oyster Festival, 362 days of planning just came down to three days of events ”” Sept. 6, 7, 8 ”” and $1 million in revenue.
By end of day Sept. 8, 30,000 to 40,000 fairgoers would affirm Norwalk, sometimes called Oyster Town, as the Big Oyster.
The city could also lay claim to Big Heart Town, since volunteers came by the hundreds to help. The festival was expected to deposit $225,000 in the accounts of local charities.
Joe Dudek was there, along with 500 volunteers at the Exchange Club of Norwalk, where lobsters and lobster rolls were the order of the day. Over three days, Dudek hoped to serve 3,000 customers, with proceeds benefiting abused children and school sports programs.
Like other events that size, there were glitches. On the last day, emergency responders reacted when the power failed on a ride, injuring patrons.
“We”™re relieved to hear that there were no life-threatening injuries,” Norwalk Seaport Association Inc., the event organizer, said in a statement. “Our understanding is that 12 of the 13 individuals who received hospital attention were seen and released. Our thanks go out to all of the first responders, who handled this incident so quickly and professionally, including Norwalk”™s police, fire and EMT personnel, as well as mutual aid responders from surrounding communities.”
The Seaport Association and its 1,000 volunteers are solely responsible for organizing and financing the event. The association manages the Sheffield Island Lighthouse and 49-seat, 49-foot catamaran ferry, both of which benefit from the festival.
“Keeping the money in the community is a big thing for the festival,” Toni said. “The overall impact is in excess of $1 million.” He said 20 to 25 charities would benefit, netting $225,000 combined.
At heart, Toni remains the local boy he once was.
“I fished these waters my entire life,” he said. “I have a great affinity for the water. The festival keeps a lot of us going; it”™s a great way to give back. It”™s win-win for everybody.” He sported a yellow event golf shirt and said the association had outfitted every volunteer with one, 1,600 total, although he acknowledged, “A few volunteers might have gotten two.”
Tad Diesel, business development director for the city of Norwalk, said, “The festival represents better than any other single event the hospitality of Norwalk, the friendship of our community and the relationship we enjoy with the Long Island Sound.”
Sponsors included First County Bank, Bud Light/Heineken/Blue Point Beers, The Hour, Stew Leonard”™s and PepsiCo.
