As Sag Harbor gears up for Harborfest weekend, work behind the scenes has focused on the popular whaleboat races.
“There was a tremendous community effort to rebuild the whaleboats,” Ellen Dioguardi, the president of the Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce, said. “For me and the board, that is a tradition that can’t not be upheld, and it’s one of the most important.”
“We did a fund-raiser, Save the Whaleboats,” she continued, “thinking it would take the rest of the summer, but we raised close to $15,000 in one night. I keep trying to find the right word, but I think it’s ‘gratifying.’ “
Rick Pickering of Ship Ashore Marina did the bulk of the work, a full rebuild of the boats, taking them down to their shells. Now they will take center stage at the races starting at noon on Saturday at Windmill Beach after a blessing of the fleet and the reading of a poem. The races continue at noon on Sunday, concluding at 3:30.
Also on Sunday will be the annual clam chowder contest, starting at noon and this year benefiting the Sag Harbor Cinema. There are eight entrants, and to participate as a taster costs $25 for a 2024 Harborfest mug.
Away from Long Wharf, at 9 a.m. on Sunday a tour of the Old Whalers Church will include a demonstration of its pipe organ, the oldest in a Long Island church. And the 725 Art Show and Sale continues at the Sag Harbor Whaling and Historical Museum from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Additionally over the weekend, the Eastville Community Historical Society will have an exhibition on the Forgetting to Remember Project and Eastville tintypes, with work by the artist Michael A. Butler, from noon to 3 p.m. both days. Registration is required by emailing [email protected].
Live musical performances scattered throughout the village are a staple of Harborfest, and starting at 3 on Saturday afternoon the Lynn Blue Band will be playing in Steinbeck Park, followed by Gene Casey and the Lone Sharks at 4 and the HooDoo Loungers at 6:30.
Ahead of that, the festivities will kick off tomorrow night at 7 with a performance by Nancy Atlas and her band at the Old Whalers Church, where all proceeds will go toward the chamber’s next project, rebuilding the Harborfest whale. General admission tickets are $50 on Eventbrite; V.I.P. tickets are $70.
Across the village there will be other ways to donate to the Save the Whale fund, including buckets on Long Wharf and fliers with QR codes.
A full Harborfest schedule can be found on the Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce website.
