With the 45 annual Milford Oyster Festival coming on Saturday, Aug. 17, the Milford Police Department is offering information to assist citizens, merchants and visitors with traffic, parking and other matters.
The festival, one of Milford’s largest yearly public events, runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Access to the Milford Center area will be restricted from the hours of 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Streets that will be closed and/or have limited access include North Broad Street, South Broad Street, Depot Street, New Haven Avenue from Gulf Street to Daniel Street, Prospect Street from Cherry Street to 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.
Access to the railroad station parking areas for railroad patrons will only be allowed from High Street. An officer will be present at this traffic closure.
On-street parking will be restricted within the festival boundaries between 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Handicapped parking will be provided at the Milford Senior Center, Harborside Middle School and the Wasson Field parking lot adjacent to West Main Street. There will be senior and handicap-accessible shuttle transportation to and from these locations. They will pick up and drop off at Milford Fire Department headquarters across from the Milford Public Library.
Access to the city boat launch on Shipyard Lane will be restricted from 6 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Pets and coolers will not be allowed within the festival boundaries.
Shuttle buses are being provided for festival patrons. They will be picking up and dropping off at two locations: Jonathan Law High School and the rear parking lot of the Connecticut Post Mall (near the old Sears). The shuttle services will operate from 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
There will be free police K9 demonstrations for the public across from the Milford Public Library at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. Milford K9 teams will be joined by officers and their K9 partners from the Orange, Stratford and Shelton police departments.
A mass notification message will be sent to Milford residents and businesses of the parking and traffic restrictions during the festival hours.
For more information regarding the Oyster Festival, visit milfordoysterfestival.com.