Pirates and floats bring Greenport Maritime Festival to Main Street
Chilly temperatures couldn’t dampen the spirits of Greenport’s Maritime Festival on Saturday, as costumed marchers brought color to Main Street for the rescheduled annual parade.
Floats and marchers, including the Mattituck Lions Club Strawberry Queen and the grand marshal, made their way down Main Street and turned onto Front Street as spectators cheered them on.
Among them were Greenport residents Jeremy and Carolina Skehan, who first discovered the area through the Maritime Festival nearly a decade ago and have had a home in the village since 2017.
“This is our favorite festival of the year,” Mr. Skehan said. “The weather cools down, it’s pleasant. It’s normally the most visited festival that Greenport has. It’s a good way of ending the season.”
For Ms. Skehan, the festival is also a chance to see neighbors support local businesses and enjoy a family-friendly event.
“Anybody can come and enjoy something here,” she said. “I’m glad that even with the weather, people came out.”
The festival, which kicked off Friday night with the Land & Sea Gala, was originally scheduled for Sept. 25-27. A nor’easter forced organizers to postpone it until Oct. 16-18, three weeks later.
At noon in the village, it was 53 degrees, with a feels-like temperature of 41.
The chill did not deter Jenny Kennedy and Ryan Farrell, who return each year to march in the parade for the “love of the game.”
This year, they made their first float.
“We made the Whalecome Wagon on a grocery cart, keeping with the true history of Greenport’s whaling history and we love pirates,” Ms. Kennedy said. “We just love being a part of the Greenport community.”
Mr. Farrell credited Ms. Kennedy with coming up with their designs and outfits.
“We march in all the parades, but Jenny is the mastermind in terms of always orchestrating all the cool designs and crazy outfits,” Mr. Farrell said. “She’s the one that always pulls it together — you name it, she does it.”
The festival continues Sunday with a fish-filleting contest, a cardboard boat regatta, a work boat race, sea shanties and a fishing derby, according to the organizers’ schedule.
The forecast calls for sunshine and a high near 57, with a steady morning breeze.
Photos by Nick Mongiovi
