NORWALK — The 38th annual Norwalk Seaport Association Oyster Festival will be held September 11-13. The Oyster Festival is a weekend full of activities and entertainment of all kinds for the whole family.

Hours are 6-11 pm Friday, 11 am-11 pm Saturday, and 11 am-8 pm Sunday.

The event is held at Veteran’s Park, adjacent to Norwalk Harbor on Seaview Avenue. Admission for adults is $10 on Friday, and $12 on Saturday and Sunday ($10 seniors); ages 5-12 are $5 all weekend; and US military personnel on active duty are free.

A Family Day Special will be offered on Sunday, with children under 12 admitted for free with paid adult, and a special price for unlimited ride passes between 11 and 2.

Tickets can be purchased at www.seaport.org, and will be available at the gate. Credit cards are accepted at the gate.

This year’s live entertainment line-up includes national acts John Cafferty and The Beaver Brown Band on Friday, Dennis DeYoung: The Music of Styx on Saturday, and Smash Mouth on Sunday. All headliner performances will take place on the main stage. In addition, dozens of local and regional musicians will perform throughout the weekend on The Hour/Heineken stage.

Other entertainment will include the return of aerial stunt artists the Nerveless Nocks Thrill Show. This year the Nocks will be adding sway poles to their act, stunts on skyscrapingly high poles, free of wires or other safety means

Also returning is the popular Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, with logrolling, axe throwing, tree climbing, dragster chain sawing, and more

All entertainment is included in ticket prices.

In addition, there will be a Craft Beer tent featuring more than 25 beers, an expanded food court, the Kid’s Cove with rides and games, the largest ever Arts & Crafts Pavilion with more than 100 artisans and crafters, an oyster-slurping contest (7 pm Saturday, featuring local celebrities and politicians), and much more.

Norwalk Seaport Association (NSA) was founded in 1978 as a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation, education and public awareness of Norwalk’s maritime environment and heritage. The Seaport Association and its volunteers are solely responsible for organizing and financing the Oyster Festival.

The association hosts a tent and Oyster Pavilion during the festival, offering Sheffield Lighthouse displays and information, information on its Habitat Restoration Project, oystering history and artifacts, a Soundwaters tortoise touch tank, and visits with local bird-watching expert Larry Flynn.

In addition to the Oyster Festival, NSA owns Sheffield Lighthouse. Its volunteers maintain the lighthouse and grounds as a museum and nature preserve.

The organization also offers harbor cruises, special events, maritime education programs and habitat restoration projects with the US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Those planning to attend the Oyster Festival should note that while families with diaper and baby bags will be welcomed, large tote bags and backpacks will not be allowed onto the field. Outside food and beverages are not allowed into the event.

Discounted general admission tickets are available are area banks and retailers.

Visit NSA’s website for a listing of locations.

There is no public parking on the festival grounds, but nearby parking and shuttle service will be available all weekend.

A City of Norwalk ordinance prohibits dogs from Veterans Park.

For more information, visit seaport.org or call 203-838-9444.