Thanks so much for participating in the 2010 Oyster River Festival!

Despite the windy weather we all stuck it out (quite literally it took a lot of tape!) to have a very successful day! Thanks so much to our sponsors and all the participants who enthusiastically gave their time and talent to make the day a success. It was great to see so many friends gathered together to listen to some great music and support a good cause. We hope to see you all at next year's event! Festival t-shirts are still on sale so contact Anita Mathur at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for info on how to make a purchase!

• Saturday May 15th, 2010 
• 9am-5pm, ORHS field, 55 Coe Drive, Durham, NH 03824
• Music - Art - Food - Friends
• Free of Charge (Donations to the ORAA - Oyster River Teen Initiative warmly accepted)
• Contact: Anita Mathur at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
• Join us on Facebook

Festival Vision: The Oyster River Festival, in conjunction with the Bobcat Bolt road race, is an annual event held in the heart of Durham, New Hampshire that incorporates music, athletics and art into a one-day celebration. The Festival strengthens the relationship between Oyster River students and alumni, the University of New Hampshire, and the wider Durham community by encouraging everyone who has made their home in the Durham area to come together to commemorate the people and place that makes Durham a distinct and special community. Under the auspices of the Oyster River Alumni Association, the Festival also serves as an umbrella for fundraisers that benefit local non-profit community-based causes, such as the Oyster River Teen Initiative. 

Festival Video: Bobcat Bolt/OR Festival Promotional Video 

Price of Admission: 

The OR Festival is FREE OF CHARGE due to our partnership with the Bobcat Bolt road race, generous sponsors, and exhibitors who have paid for entry through a table fee, percent cut of sales, or silent auction donation. So please support the exhibitors and fundraiser by purchasing their wares and bidding on a silent auction item or two!

Food:

Free post-race box lunch provided to registered runners of the Bobcat Bolt road race. There will also be BBQ items (hot dogs, hamburgers, veggie burgers) for sale provided by the Oyster River High School Class of 2011. Bagels and coffee will be sold in the morning. Please support their fundraiser by purchasing your food on site rather than bringing your own. Thanks! Sad Note: Chicken wing eating contest has been cancelled due to insurance issues. Hopefully yummy wings will still be available for purchase though so stay tuned...!

Water: Water will be available in large water cooler/dispensers. Please help us "go green" by bringing your own water bottle from home to re-fill during the day. Stay hydrated!!

Festival Music Line-Up with DJ CHN (Chris Hansen) as MC:

9:30-10:00 The Southworth Brothers (performing "The Oyster River Running Through" See Video) 
10:20-11:00  Mike + Ruthy  
11:20-12:00 ASUM Klub   
12:20-1:00 Chris Merenda and the Wheel
1:20-2:00 Esoteric Generation 
2:20-3:00 Rockspring
3:20-4:00 7th Child

Festival Exhibitors:

Become a festival exhibitor by filling out the Exhibitor Application Form. We are looking for artists, non-profit groups and businesses! We are also looking for silent auction donations to benefit the Teen Center fundraiser. 

OR Alumni Authors (Book Exhibition & Signing): 

Thalia Chaltas
Ellen Jensen Abbott
Jeff and Kelly Halldorson
Richard Tappan
Thomas Townsend
Eric Knapp
Ethan Gilsdorf
Sue Robar
Megan Frazer
Liz Whaley and Liz Dodge
Kay Morgan 

Arts & Crafts:

Esilda Corbin (Paintings)
Nancy Hubbe (Live Portraits)
Gossamer Hollow (Fantasy Art, Figurines and Jewelry, also website2 & website3)
Lisa Bubar (Glass Jewelry)
Matt Camp (Pottery)
Clean Clothing (Sam Karelitz & Eli Chinburg - Designer T-Shirts)
Krzanowski Family (Woodcrafts)
Roseann Meserve (Watercolors)
ORHS Fine Arts Department with interactive exhibit

Non-Profits/Charitable Fundraisers:

Oyster River Alumni Association (Cruise tickets, t-shirts, membership, make a donation!)
Oyster River Teen Initiative
Durham Parks & Recreation  
Durham Public Library (Providing storytime for kids, arts and crafts, hula hoops, dress-up)
Oyster River Parents of Preschoolers  (Providing children's games, bounce house, face painting)
Exercise Science Students Association - UNH
Oxfam International  (UNH chapter)
Relay for Life (ORHS chapter)
ORHS Power of One Voice - for Childhelp, New England Wildlife Center, Central Asia Institute,
Fuller Center (Hurricaine Katrina victims), Coastal Rotary (Orphanage in South Africa) and CSI School for the Deaf
ORHS Junior Class (Providing morning bagels & coffee and afternoon BBQ)
Mouth of the River - ORHS student paper (Selling subscriptions to the best newspaper in Durham!)

Donations/T-Shirt Sales:

Donations to the ORAA-Oyster River Teen Initiative are warmly welcomed. Stop by the ORAA table to make a tax-deductible donation and receive delicious cookies in return! We will also have official Festival and ORAA t-shirts for sale ($20 each).

Silent Auction Fundraiser: 

You may also help the Oyster River Teen Initiative by making a bid or two on the wonderful items in the silent auction fundraiser. Please remember to bring your checkbook!

Silent Auction items:

Autographed copies of books by OR authors
Liz Whaley Book Collection
Books for Children & Adults by Durham Public Library 
Oil Painting by Esilda Corbin
Handcrafted Watch by Lisa Bubar
T-Shirt by Durham Parks & Recreation 
T-Shirts, Cards and Magnets by Roseann Meserve
T-Shirts by Clean Clothing 
Gift Basket by Sweet Scoops Frozen Yogurt 
Faery Illustration, matching necklace & hair clips by Gossamer Hollow (Heather Lynn)
Pillow Crochetwork by Dena Hale
Photography by Hilary McHone 
Photography by Cozette Carroll
Gift Certificates from Libby's Bar and Grill
T-Shirts by Hayden Sports 
Gift Certificates by Dominos Pizza, Durham
Gift Certificate by Stat's Place
One Month Membership Gift Certificates by Wildcat Fitness
Gift Certificates by Three Chimneys Inn
Gift Certificate for Tutoring by Tutor Doctor
Gift Certificates from Runner's Alley

Isles of Shoals Evening Cruise: 

The last band finishes at 4pm so we have time to shift the sound system from ORHS to the Portsmouth Isles of Shoals Party Cruise!! This cruise is the evening after the festival and race, May 15th, 7pm-10pm, on the Isles of Shoals Steamship Co m/v Thomas Laighton in Portsmouth. The Jim Devlin Band will be on board providing great entertainment and dancing! Come to the ORAA exhibit table at the festival to purchase tickets. Cruise is 21+. You may also reserve them ahead of time by emailing Anita Mathur at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Suggested donation $10 per ticket although we'll happily take more! :-) Food and drinks galore will be available for purchase on the ship! 

Rain or Shine, bring lawn chairs, blankets: 

Festival is rain or shine! The music will be held outdoors under a tent so bring rain gear. The rest of the festival (artists and other exhibitors) may be moved indoors into the ORHS building.  Please bring your own blankets and lawn chairs to enjoy the music concert.

Special Thanks to our Business Sponsors: 

Gault Builders
Durham Marketplace 
Minute Men Painters 
Direct Capital 
Great Bay Rotary Club
Exeter Hospital
Sperry Tents
Durham Chiropractic
Isles of Shoals Steamship Company
Wonder Lake Media
Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse
Foster's Daily Democrat
Lenk Orthodontics
Community Church of Durham, UCC
Durham: It's Where U Live (With GreenUp Durham)
Runner's Alley
The Pines Guest House
Madiha Farag, Masiello Real Estate