Pirates, mermaids and Poseidon take over Greenport for 36th annual Maritime Festival parade

by Jeremy Garretson 3 hours agoOctober 18, 2026

Parade grand marshal Dave Abatelli, dressed as Poseidon with his trident, led Saturday's festivities. Credit: Jeremy Garretson

Chilly October temperatures couldn’t dampen the maritime spirit in Greenport on Saturday, as pirates, mermaids, sea creatures and colorful floats made their way through the village for the 36th annual Greenport Maritime Festival parade. The procession stepped off at 11 a.m. on Main Street before turning onto Front Street, where spectators lined the sidewalks to cheer on the marchers. The skies remained overcast, but the rain held off, giving the village a welcome break from the wet weather that had already forced the festival’s postponement by three weeks. Photojournalist Jeremy Garretson was on hand to capture all the excitement for the North Fork Sun.

Leading the nautical-themed festivities was grand marshal Dave Abatelli, a longtime Greenport civic leader, dressed as Poseidon, the Greek god of the sea. The procession featured whimsical sea creatures created with the help of Greenport’s VEME Studios, pirates from the East End Seaport Museum, hula-hooping mermaids and even Aquaman, while the sounds of sea shanties performed by Ethel’s Mermen filled the streets.

Originally scheduled for Sept. 25-27, the festival was postponed until Oct. 16-18 because of a nor’easter forecast. This year’s celebration also marked a changing of the guard for the beloved village tradition, with the Greenport Business Owners Alliance taking over operational leadership from the East End Seaport Museum & Marine Foundation, which had organized the festival for decades. The three-day celebration continued through Sunday with boat races, maritime demonstrations, live music, contests and family activities celebrating Greenport’s working waterfront and seafaring heritage.