The 36th Annual Maritime Festival is expected to get its permit to return this year from Greenport Village next week, organized by the new Greenport Business Owners Alliance, a collaboration between several Greenport businesses and community groups.
This year’s festival would be held Sept. 26 and Sept. 27 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., with a parade to be held on Saturday morning, according to the public assembly application filed with the village.
The non-profit East End Seaport Museum, which has run the festival for the past 35 years, had announced last fall that it would no longer run the festival, which brings crowds to the village in late September each year.
Sarah Phillips, owner of First & South restaurant and a leader of the new business alliance, asked for and received the Greenport Village Board of Trustees’ blessing for the event at the board’s Feb. 19 work session, and later that afternoon, the Seaport Museum released a statement about this year’s plans. A formal vote is expected at the board’s Feb. 26 regular meeting.
“I am pleased to announce a new collaborative chapter for the Maritime Festival, reflecting a shared commitment by local nonprofits, businesses, and civic leaders to ensure the vitality of the iconic community tradition,” said the museum’s Executive Director, Erin Kimmel, in the statement.
“Beginning in 2026, stewardship of the festival will transition to the Greenport Business Owners Alliance (GBOA), a collaboration of several Greenport businesses, with the support from Hold Fast, Stay True, the Greenport BID as well as the Village of Greenport,” she added. “This three-year partnership reflects a community-driven approach to strengthening and sustaining one of Greenport’s most cherished annual events.”
Ms. Phillips told the village board that the group is an informal one, led by four local business owners — herself, Rena Wilhelm of The Weathered Barn, Kim Loper of Harbor Pet and Kara Hoblin of the North Fork Art Collective.
“As both a Greenport business owner and year-round resident, the Maritime Festival has always been a tradition I deeply admire and look forward to,” said Ms. Phillips in the Seaport Museum’s statement. “To help steward this next chapter is both an honor and a meaningful responsibility. We are committed to preserving beloved heritage events like the Snapper Derby, while creating new opportunities for our brick-and-mortar businesses to participate in ways that benefit visitors, residents, and the broader village economy. We look forward to moving this forward together in 2026.”
“We would like to get more non-profits in the village involved — The Friends of Mitchell Park, the Carousel Committee, Hold Fast Stay True, and highlight all of the things we’re all doing together,” she told the Village Board. “We are many groups working together toward the same goal. I don’t see any changes for the festival this year, except to incorporate more of the concerns of the bricks and mortar businesses. We want to make sure it’s safe, fun and family and maritime oriented.”
“I like the idea of the community coming together, and I like the idea of the festival expanding to include others,” said Village Trustee Mary Bess Phillips. “New ideas always bring a breath of fresh air.”
“I want to thank you for stepping up. I think you’re the right person for the job, and I’m looking forward to it,” Deputy Mayor Patrick Brennan told Ms. Phillips.
“You’re well qualified, for sure,” agreed Mayor Kevin Stuessi. “It’s obviously a significant amount of work, and I do hope the BID [Business Improvement District] will support this with some level of funding.”
A smattering of moments from past Maritime Festivals
Greenport BID President Rich Vandenburgh, who had initially said last fall after the Seaport Museum announced plans to cancel the festival that the BID would make sure it happened, told the Village Board Feb. 19 that “we’re going to have a Maritime, no matter who runs it.”
“I always said the BID is going to 100 percent support any entity that can run it,” he said. “I ask for communication, feedback and involvement, and will be following up… I applaud Sarah and the group for taking on the task.”
Under the three-year agreement with the Greenport Business Owners Alliance, the Seaport Museum said it will benefit directly from the festival’s success, “receiving a graduated share of festival revenues,” according to the museum. “This structure ensures continued support for the museum’s core mission while allowing new partners to take on operational leadership.”
The Museum said the GBOA will also assume management of the annual Land & Sea Gala, and the auction at the gala will continue to directly benefit the museum.
The museum said it will remain actively engaged in the festival’s waterfront events, including the cardboard boat race, snapper contest, and kayak races.
“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. We are grateful for the collaboration and excited for what lies ahead for the festival and our community,” said Ms. Kimmel. “This new partnership allows the museum to focus on its core programs while ensuring that treasured community traditions continue to thrive.”
BID Rolls Out New Initiatives
Mr. Vandenburgh also announced several proposed Business Improvement District initiatives at the Village Board’s Feb. 19 meeting.
The initiatives, which would still need to be voted on by members of the BID, would be funded through an account containing $100,000 the organization had received in FEMA Covid-19 relief funding.
Key among the initiatives is a partnership between the BID and the commercial arm of the real estate brokerage firm Brown Harris Stevens, which Mr. Vandenburgh said is working with the BID on finding new shops to occupy the 17 currently or soon-to-be vacant storefronts throughout the village.
Mr. Vandenburgh said Brown Harris Stevens will be working with the BID to find businesses interested in locating in Greenport, with a priority on year-round businesses like hardware stores, marine-oriented retail and community health businesses, as well as outdoor gear purveyors and bike shops, and businesses that encourage “creative and art-based experiences, food halls and pop-ups.
He said the BID is hoping to create a “village business concierge process” as a liaison to help prospective shop owners navigate the process of opening a business in Greenport.
“There are creative ways we can find, together, to turn the tide on the increasing vacancy problem,” he said. “I remain confident that the will exists and we can build the way together.”
He said the BID plans to put $5,000 toward that effort, with the broker fees paid by prospective tenants.
“We will be working with any and all local brokers to achieve the goals we’re striving for,” he added.
Mr. Vandenburg made two other proposals that were met with positive feedback from the Village Board — to install year-round lighting on village streets and trees, which can change color to coordinate for different holidays, and for the BID to buy coordinated municipal trash receptacles and to hire someone to empty them during peak tourist times in the village.
The Village Board had reservations about a fourth proposal, to purchase a mobile security camera system, which could be set up to monitor parking lots behind Front Street or at events.
“I have extreme concerns about this,” said Mayor Stuessi. “I absolutely believe in public safety, and I believe more can be done, but I wholeheartedly don’t believe in private security cameras… It’s extremely problematic.”
“I have concerns about privacy and video surveillance,” agreed Village Trustee Julia Robins. “It can be abused. It can be hacked. I think it could be a liability for the village as well.” — BHY
Keep Independent News on the East End
The Beacon is able to provide all of our content online free of charge thanks to support from our readers. Be a vital part of keeping our community informed!
Advertisement
Are you suspending the parking meters for the Maritime festival? It was a horror show finding parking last weekend for the Tall Ship. Preston’s employees said everyone is complaining, no input from the business community, and you are going to lose people
Spending money in town…we left and went to Billy’s.No parking problems there. FYI port jefferson suspends the fees during the holidays, will Greenport…3.50 an hour?
You are absolutely correct with the insane parking fees in greenport. If you want to attract visitors lose the fees to park. It’s chasing away people and you wonder why there are business vacancies.