Port Washington will be the place to be on Sunday, June 1, when the annual HarborFest Festival envelops downtown.
There will be art exhibits, tours of Manhasset Bay, free kayaking and trolley rides, a food court, over 100 arts and crafts vendors and a lot more. Admission is free and all events begin at 10 a.m. at the Town Dock, Baxter’s Pond and lower Main Street.
This will be the 24th year HarborFest has been held and sponsors—the Port Washington Chamber of Commerce and the Town of North Hempstead—are pulling out all stops to make it the best.
“We’re going to provide fun all day for the whole family,” said Bobbie Polay, executive director of the Port Chamber of Commerce. “HarborFest is a real celebration of our nautical heritage, as well as our beautiful community.”
HarborFest was started nearly a quarter of a century ago as an environmental initiative to bring awareness to protect Manhasset Bay. It grew over the years to include activities to broaden its appeal. Today, HarborFest draws about 12,000 people from all over.
“It’s a wonderful tradition, with people coming together to enjoy the beauty of our incredible waterfront, said Chris Bain, president of the Cow Neck Peninsula Historical Society. “It’s appropriate that it takes place by the water, because that is really where the roots of Port Washington are.”
HarborFest “is truly one of the most anticipated events of the year in Port Washington, featuring so many great activities for the whole family,” Town Supervisor Judi Bosworth said. “I encourage residents and their families to come out and enjoy a beautiful day in picturesque Port Washington.”
The festival also shows Port Washington as a “destination,” a place that people will want to return to, said Councilwoman Dina De Giorgio. “We’re featuring our dining and shopping, in addition to our beautiful waterfront.”
Among prime attractions this year:
• A juried craft show along lower Main Street near the Town Dock, with over 100 craftspeople.
• “Art In The Park,” organized by The Art Guild, featuring local artists displaying their work in Sunset Park, along the Manhasset Bay waterfront.
• Tours of the bay throughout HarborFest provided by Port Washington’s Water Taxi and the crew from LI Boat Rentals. Atlantic Outfitters will offer kayaking for the more adventurous.
• Demonstrations of the Port Washington Fire Department’s new fire boat, which will be moored at the Town Dock for the festival.
• The HarborFest Family Fun Park, which will have at least four inflatables, as well as crafts and carnival games in the Fun Tent.
• The 80’ schooner SoundWaters, which will depart the Town Dock for a sunset sail from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, May 31. During HarborFest, SoundWaters will sail at 12 p.m., 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. Reservations for all sails may be made online at harborfestcruises.eventbrite.com.
A mission of each year’s HarborFest is to promote environmental awareness. The HarborFest committee will be offering free booths to organizations that do so. This year’s Enviro-Expo will have new hands-on demonstrations, special displays about Manhasset Bay and up-to-date information and products.
Grassroots Environmental Education has organized a timely environmental education project for elementary school students
which will be on display. The Town of North Hempstead Office of Sustainability will have a prominent booth near the dock entrance to distribute reusable shopping bags and important information for all residents.
There is free parking and free shuttle buses and a trolley will depart from the Long Island Rail Road station and Manorhaven Park. For additional information about HarborFest, call the Port Washington Chamber of Commerce at 516-883-6566, email office@pwcoc.org, or visit www.pwcoc.org and www.pwguide.com.
