The 36th annual Maritime Festival will return to Greenport this year, assuming it receives the expected permit from the village at its board meeting on Thursday, Feb. 26.
The East End Seaport Museum & Marine Foundation, the organizer of the September tradition celebrating the village’s seafaring heritage for the last 35 years, initially announced it waspulling out of running the eventlate last October.
This year, stewardship will be transferring to the Greenport Business Owners Alliance, a group of village business owners separate from the Business Improvement District. The alliance is led by Rena Wilhelm of The Weathered Barn, Kara Hoblin of North Fork Art Collective, Kim Loper of Harbor Pet and Sarah Phillips of First and South.
Ms. Phillips addressed the village board at its Feb. 17 work session, seeking approval for the event and the required public assembly permit.
“There’s a bunch of collaborative groups here in Greenport that I think could come together for this year in a really positive way and highlight all of the things that we’re all doing together,” Ms. Phillips told the board. “I don’t see any real changes happening for the festival this year. I think it would be best for us to make small additions, incorporate more of the businesses. Let’s make sure it’s beneficial for everybody, make sure that it’s safe, make sure that it’s fun, that it’s family-oriented and maritime-oriented.”
The East End Seaport Museum released a statement about this year’s plans shortly after the work session. Along with a three-year partnership with the Business Owners Alliance, there will be support fromthe Hold Fast, Stay True fund,the Greenport BID and the village.
Under the new agreement, the museum said it will benefit directly from the festival’s success, “receiving a graduated share of festival revenues.”
“Local nonprofits, businesses, and the village came together with a shared goal: to ensure that the Maritime Festival and related events are vibrant, sustainable, and beneficial to all in the community,” executive director Erin Kimmel said in the statement. “We are grateful for the collaboration and excited for what lies ahead for the festival and our community.”
The Business Owners Alliance will also be granted management of the annual Land and Sea Gala. Proceeds from the gala’s auction will directly benefit the museum, “reinforcing the event’s longstanding role as a critical source of support for maritime preservation, education, and programming.”
Ms. Phillips told the Village Board that she was on the museum board for six years and ran the gala for those six years.
Source: The Suffolk Times
