Inaugural 'Sea Faire' in Glen Cove Has it All

By Joe Dowd

Thousands of people are expected to attend the inaugural Sea Faire festival, which opened Saturday in Glen Cove and offers something for everyone.

The well-organized event, with shuttle buses running smoothly from four downtown locations to the festival site, has the feel of a county fair with a seafaring component that transcends time.

The festival, which continues Saturday evening and all-day Sunday, features live entertainment, local food, regional crafts, beer and wine, root beer varieties, amusement rides and fireworks Saturday night. (See our photos attached to this story.)

One of the big attractions is an hour-long ride on NY Waterways, a 149-passenger catamaran that takes passengers from the mouth of Hempstead Harbor into Long Island Sound and back. Gold Coast mansions and the towers of Manhattan come along with the view.

The ferry ride costs $12 per person and leaves daily on the hour until 3 p.m.

Visitors can also board The Christeen, America's oldest oyster sloop, built in Glenwood Landing in 1883. There is a suggested donation of $20.

The festivities are presented by Glen Isle Partners, in cooperation with the City of Glen Cove, the Glen Cove CDA/IDA, and with support from Bethpage Federal Credit Union, Chevrolet and State Farm. Partial proceeds from the event will be donated to the Glen Cove Youth Bureau.

Free parking (including handicapped parking) will be available at:

• Pulaski Street Garage
• Brewster Street Garage
• Robert M. Finley Middle School
• Glen Cove High School

A free shuttle bus will transport festival-goers from your parking location to the Sea Faire and back.