The 36th annual Greenport Maritime Festival has been postponed by three weeks because of the developing weather forecast, with organizers announcing Monday that the village-wide celebration will now be held Oct. 16-18.
The forecast for Greenport calls for deteriorating conditions heading into the weekend, with wind and rain Friday and Saturday and continued windy conditions Sunday. One forecast calls for a coastal storm capable of producing heavy rain and localized power outages Friday and Saturday. Forecasts remain subject to change.
The festival had been scheduled for this coming weekend, Sept. 25-27.
One major piece of the Maritime Festival weekend is still on for now. Organizers said the Bug Light Classic Regatta is scheduled to sail Saturday, Sept. 26, weather permitting, with a decision to be made closer to race time when actual sailing conditions can be evaluated. The accompanying Regatta, Reggae & Rum celebration will go on regardless of the weather, but has been moved indoors to the Greenport American Legion. The larger venue also means additional tickets are now available for the previously sold-out event.
The decision to postpone the festival was made Monday morning following discussions among the Greenport Business Owners Alliance, Village of Greenport, Southold Town Police Department and festival partners, according to a press release from festival organizers.
“Maritime has always been about our relationship with the water — and part of that is respecting the conditions around us,” said Sarah Phillips-Loth of the Greenport Business Owners Alliance. “We have the opportunity to make this decision early, together, and give everyone time to adjust.”
The postponement keeps the festival’s full three-day format intact. The Land & Sea Gala will now be held Friday, Oct. 16, followed by the Maritime Festival on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 17-18.
This year’s festival marks a new chapter for the longtime Greenport tradition. After decades of stewardship by the East End Seaport Museum & Marine Foundation, operational leadership shifted this year to the Greenport Business Owners Alliance under a three-year partnership intended to preserve the festival while broadening community participation.
The Seaport Museum remains involved in the weekend’s maritime programming, including the Bug Light Classic Regatta, held in collaboration with the Shelter Island Yacht Club and Stirling Harbor Foundation.
Organizers said the additional three weeks will be used to reconfirm participants and programming, coordinate the new weekend with the village and public-safety officials and give businesses, sponsors, vendors, volunteers and community organizations additional time to participate.
Existing vendors, sponsors, merchants and participating organizations will be contacted directly about the new dates and updated logistics.
“We are extraordinarily grateful to the people who have already put their time, resources, ideas and trust behind this year’s festival,” Phillips-Loth said. “Now we have three more weeks to introduce you to them.”
Organizers are now working with musicians, vendors, sponsors and participating organizations to reconfirm the October lineup. An updated schedule will be released once those arrangements are completed.
