The Wareham Village Association will host the town’s first-ever Oyster Festival in April, and the organization is looking for participation by local restaurants, shellfishermen, and other businesses.

“I’m surprised someone else hasn’t done this already,” said Village Association President Bob Brady. “It’s something we’ve wanted to do for a long time.”

During the school vacation week in April, the association will promote participating local restaurants with an “oyster trail” map.

“There’s a lot of good businesses in town that make oysters,” Brady said. “The response has been overwhelming. It’s about time. Wareham needs to promote its own.”

The event will also include a 5K road race, a gala in the former Tobey Memorial Library on High Street, a speakers’ series and the festival itself on Sunday, April 27.

“It’s a great time. Kids are on school vacation, and people are coming down to open up their shore homes,” Brady said.

Brady added the event was created to replace the annual Swan Festival. The festival is not happening this year due to the Summer of Celebration festivities.

“It doesn’t make sense to compete with those efforts,” Brady explained.

Currently, the organization is focusing on lining up restaurants for inclusion on the Oyster Trail map. To participate, all a restaurant need do is put an oyster-based dish on its menu during that week. A listing on the trail is free of charge.

Brady said the association is also reaching out beyond restaurants -- to upwellers and other shellfishermen.

Restaurant owners, along with other businesses and organizations that wish to sponsor the event, will also have an opportunity to advertise in the program book and on the Oyster Trail map.

“We’re promoting any and all businesses,” Brady said. “This can only be good for business awareness and drive people to Wareham.”

For more information about the event, including volunteering or sponsorship, visit warehamvillage.org, e-mail the association, or call the association at 508-291-3677.