Calling all Merfolk & Mariners to the North Fork’s most popular weekend festival!
All the North Fork fun will be found in Greenport over the weekend of September 22 with the annual Maritime Festival. Co-hosted by the East End Seaport Museum & Marine Foundation (EESM) and the Village of Greenport and sponsored by Stony Brook Eastern Long Island Hospital, the traditional kickoff event is the Land & Sea Gala on Friday evening, September 22. Come celebrate at the fundraiser’s new location: Crabby Jerry’s Restaurant, located at 111 Main Street (on the docks past Claudio’s). This year’s theme is Mardi Gras, so get out your best feathers, boas, beads – if you’re not already dressing as a merperson or a mariner! The celebration begins at 5:30 pm for VIP tickets, and 6:30 pm for general admission tickets. VIP tickets are $225 and General Admission tickets are $175. For tickets and other information, go to www.eastendseaport.org/landandsea. After the Land & Sea Gala ends at 9:30 pm, head next door for the after party at Claudio’s Waterfront for more music, dancing and cocktails!
Saturday’s festival kickoff is the Merry Merfolk Parade at 11 am, which proceeds down Main Street to Front Street. Be on the lookout for the Merry Merfolk Boat Float, as well as the usual East End parade participants: donkeys, floats, fire trucks, representatives of local fire departments and marching bands. All sea creatures, mermaids, pirates, and other seafaring participants are welcome. At the parade’s end, join the participants for an awards ceremony on the new stage in Mitchell Park, with awards for the best costume in each category. Participation in the Merry Merfolk Parade is free, but registration is required. For registration and additional information, please visit www.eastendseaport.org/2023-merry-merfolk-parade. Details on line up location and costume contest will be sent to registrants in advance of parade day. Co-sponsored by Cornell Cooperative Extension Marine Program (CCE) and the East End Seaport Museum, the parade highlights the importance of our marine ecosystem and the maritime missions of CCE and EESM.
The festival continues all weekend, with craft and food vendors selling their wares throughout the Village on both Saturday and Sunday, including local wines, beer and oysters; kid friendly activities are scheduled at “Captain Kidd’s Alley” in Mitchell Park. This year, classic wooden boats will be on display as well as demonstrations of high tech water sports, wood carving and model ship building. Throughout the day, you can visit the U.S. Coast Guard tent for demonstrations and other information. Kayak races will take place behind Porto Bello restaurant and the Carousel on Saturday: set up at 2 pm, races go off at 3 pm. Saturday wraps up with screenings of original movies, music and dancing in Mitchell Park Bandshell from 7 to 9 pm.
It’s easy to overlook the reason for the Maritime Festival: financial support and raising awareness of the mission of the East End Seaport Museum & Marine Foundation. Located in what used to be a Long Island Railroad station and ticket booth, the Museum features artifacts and exhibits about the diverse maritime history of the East End and especially Greenport, which served as a whaling port from 1832 to 1857. Greenport was also a major ship-building port during the mid-1800’s and during World War II (1941-45) when a local shipbuilder built and launched a fleet of more than 50 small warships for the U.S. Navy.
The Museum supports the operation of the Long Beach Bar Lighthouse located just off the coast of Orient at the entrance to the Peconic Bay’s sheltered waters. Known as the “Bug”, this lighthouse continues to help boaters navigate around the hazardous sandbar between Orient Harbor and Gardiner’s Bay. Earlier this year, with a $50,000 grant from the David Lion Gardiner Foundation and other bequests and donations, EESM was able to replace the Sea Life Exhibit, an 800-gallon glass, saltwater aquarium which is the home of aquatic species found in local waters. The aquarium, which enchanted visitors for more than 30 years, broke during routine cleaning 2 years ago; it’s now been restored and ready for your visit. And let’s not forget the Village Blacksmith Shop, located behind the Schoolhouse at First and Front Streets, which is also supported by EESM.
For more information about the museum and programs, please visit www.eastendseaport.org.
