Each October, the Oyster Festival in Oyster Bay brings together more than 200,000 visitors down to the waterfront to celebrate one of Long Island’s treasures—the oyster. 

Inside The Food Court chefs and culinary pros work side by side, cooking and serving dozens of unique oyster, clam and seafood concoctions along with traditional festival fare.

But the most popular attractions (aside from the tasty oysters themselves) are the Oyster eating and shucking contests.

“You get ‘em in the back and your try and pry them open that way,” said David Smith, one of the contestants, while sharing his technique prior to the contest.

The winner with 37 oysters was Ralph Alarcon. “Get in there deep and pop them open,” he said was his strategy.