Something For Everyone at 20th Annual HarborFest

In most cities, Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, but in Port Washington, this Sunday's 20th Annual HarborFest Dock Day and Craft Festival really gets the town ready for some fun in the sun.

Presented by the Chamber of Commerce and running from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Town Dock, Baxter Pond and Lower Main Street, HarborFest will be a day of art, music, crafts and even a talent show. In addition, the Wells Fargo-sponsored stagecoach is returning to offer free rides from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., as well as cruises around the bay, which may or may not be invaded by pirates.

According to Bobbie Polay, executive director of the Port Washington Chamber of Commerce, there will be something for everyone at the annual festival.

"This is our 20th year, and the event seems to get bigger and more popular every year," Polay said.

More than 100 craftspeople will descend upon the Town Dock for the annual craft show. The show, which has been part of the festival for 15 years, was organized by Wendy Collett and Richard Strautman and, according to the organizers, will have a cornucopia of crafts, such as handmade cell phone cases, car models made out of coke cans, and wax hands, to name a few.

"I've been doing it for seven or eight years now and we have really good vendors coming," said Strautman, co-president of the Chamber of Commerce and co-chair of the Craft Fair. "There's about a 60 percent return rate of vendors who came last year."

HarborFest will also have free family entertainment all day on the Family Fun Stage, organized by Debbie Greco.

"This is such an incredible community event," Greco said. "The child-related businesses that perform are all great, but the best part of the entire day is the children's talent show. Kids ages five through 18 sing, dance, play instruments and entertain the audience that at points through the day grows to more than 400 people. After the talent show, the bands take over the stage to rock the Town Dock until HarborFest ends at 5 p.m."

Another highlight of the day is the nautical exhibit, which Greco helped organize and create. "This year's exhibit on the history of the yacht clubs of Manhasset Bay is really fascinating," she said. "The youngest yacht club on the Bay is over 100 years old which says a lot about the depth and richness of our boating and nautical heritage overall. I've lived in Port Washington all my life and didn't know anything about the history of Port Washington. But after compiling these exhibits for 10 years now, I am almost a walking history book on Port's nautical past that spans 360 years."

There's also something for the kids at the Harborfest Fun Park, set up by Cari Gatto and Claudia Rudegeair of the Parents Resource Center. At the park, kids will have the opportunity to get their face painted, do crafts, play games, and take part in lots of other great activities.

"We are very excited to be a key participant in HarborFest once again this year," Gatto said. "The Fun Park is a great family destination for kids of all ages. We look forward to sharing some PRC fun with the families of Port Washington and the surrounding communities."

Rudegeair added, "The Parent Resource Center is excited to once again be a sponsor of the HarborFest Fun Park. We are delighted to provide fun and affordable children's activities at this highly anticipated community event. We look forward to seeing families enjoy their Sunday with us."

Admission to HarborFest is free. There is free parking and free shuttle buses at the LIRR station and Manorhaven Park. For additional information about HarborFest, call the Port Washington Chamber of Commerce at (516) 883-6566, e-mail pwcoc@optonline.net or visit www.pwguide.com.