The Norwalk Recreation, Parks and Cultural Affairs Committee voted unanimously on Nov. 12 to authorize city agreements for three community events: the Norwalk Seaport Oyster Festival at Veterans Park in September 2026, a Friends of Norwalk Dogs holiday party at Taylor Farm in December 2025, and Club Connecticut’s Boston Build Up 10K at Brian McMahon High School in January 2026.

The committee authorized Mayor Harry W. Rilling to sign a permit for the Oyster Festival, scheduled Sept. 11–13, 2026, with set‑up beginning Aug. 14 and tear‑down by Sept. 30. Organizers told the committee they expect roughly 35,000 people over the multi‑day event. "We just, again, we just, have to be subjected to the weather," said Jerry Tony of the Norwalk Seaport Association, describing cooperation with police, fire and park staff and noting lower attendance this year because of rain.

The committee also approved a single‑day permit for Friends of Norwalk Dogs to hold a holiday party on Dec. 21, 2025 for about 70 attendees, and a permit for Club Connecticut to hold the Boston Build Up 10K on Jan. 4, 2026 with an expected field of about 125 runners. Jim Gurep, representing Club Connecticut, described the event as part of a long‑running winter race series.

Why it matters: The approvals clear the calendar for recurring community events and formally assign operational responsibility to organizers and city departments for traffic control, safety and post‑event cleanup. Festival organizers emphasized coordination with emergency services and parks staff; the committee recorded no conditions beyond standard permitting procedures.

What happened next: Each item was moved and approved by the committee and will proceed to any required administrative processing (agreements signed by the mayor; permits issued).