2015 Greenport Maritime Festival Is This Weekend

The East End Seaport Museum & Marine Foundation presents the 26th annual Maritime Festival in Greenport this weekend, September 25–27.

The festivities start Friday with A Land & Sea Gala at Greenport Yacht, 201 Carpenter Street, where more than 23 restaurants, three spirit vendors and more than six wineries will be serving tastes. WEHM will be there for a on-site broadcast and live and Chinese auctions will be held. General admission is $75. Museum members pay $65. The gala runs from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. VIP access is an additional $50 and includes an extra hour, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. with live music and a raw bar.

The official after-party begins at 9 p.m. at Blue Canoe with music by The HooDoo Loungers.

At 10 a.m. Saturday, the St Agnes Roman Catholic Church priests will conduct the Blessing of the Oyster Fleet at the Railroad Dock.

The opening day parade begins at 11 a.m. on upper Main Street and proceeding south to Front Street, continuing west on Front Street through the village. Following the parade, St. Anargyrol Greek Orthodox Church priests will lead paradegoers to the waterfront for the blessing of the waters.

Among the many other activities are nautical demonstrations, 11:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., by marine researcher Brett Curlew with marine artifacts and historic diving equipment. Captain Kidd’s Craft Alley is open from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday. Children can make two or three crafts to take home. Children’s games and relays will take place on the green from 2 to 3 p.m. Kids may also take part in the Merry Merfolk Parade and Contest; pre-registration is required.

Ye Pyrate Brotherhood Show will bring mayhem with shows from 12:15 to 1 p.m. and from 3:15 to 4 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

RC model sailboats will sail in Greenport Harbor from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and 4 to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Camera Obscura, a manually operated machine that reflects a 360-degree image in a darkened room, will be open from 1 to 4 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

Cruises and tours of the Bug Light will be offered from 4 to 6 p.m. with reservations on both Saturday and Sunday.

Tommy Sullivan, a founding member of Brooklyn Bridge, will perform a one-man show at the Mitchell Park Amphitheater from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m.

Additional Saturday events include a fireboat rededication ceremony and water display, a kayak derby, and movies at the Greenport Theatre.

Sunday events kick off with Paul Drum’s Breakfast Fundraiser: A Mermaid and Pirate Experience from 9 to 11 a.m. Breakfast is $18 for 13 and older and $12 for 12 and younger. Proceeds go to the Paul Drum Nautical Education Fund.

Burton’s Book Store on Front Street will host children’s story time from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. and from 2:15 to 3:15 p.m. Children’s games and relays on the green will be held from 11 a.m. to noon. and Captain Kidd’s Craft Alley will be open from noon to 4 p.m.

A snapper fishing contest for kids ages 8 and younger will be held from 1 to 2 p.m. and for kids ages 9 to 16 from 2 to 3 p.m.

Saturday and Sunday, street vendors will offer food, drink and art plus much more.

For more information or to buy tickets to A Land & Sea Gala, visit eastendmaritimefestival.org.