After Maritime Fest Cancellation, Community Helps Businesses, Vendors

GREENPORT, NY — With the weekend's threat of heavy rain and high winds, the decision was made to cancel many festivals and events across the East End this weekend — including the Greenport Maritime Festival.

"Out of abundance of caution, it has been decided by the East End Seaport Museum in consultation with Southold Town Police Department and Greenport Village officials," that the Maritime Festival was canceled, said organizer Diane Tucci on Thursday.

"We must cancel due to the potential Tropical Cyclone 16. It is with great disappointment to all, after a full year of planning, to have to postpone until September 21 and 22, 2024," she said.

After the news, some vendors turned to social media, lamenting the time and effort — as well as non-refundable deposits — that ended up being in vain, due to the weather.

And that's when the hometown spirit of a small town resulted in an outpouring of caring.

Paula DiDonato, owner of the Giving Room in Southold, posted on social media Friday morning, telling any vendor displaced by the cancelation of the Maritime Festival, that they were welcome to host a pop-up at the Giving Room on Saturday.

Those interested should email paulagivingroom@gmail.com.

"I have always been a huge fan of the diversity and quality of offerings on Maritime Weekend," DiDonato said. "I am so sensitive to the economic loss this storm represents, and I wanted to do whatever I could to support our local small businesses. The Giving Room could only benefit from the high quality offerings that have been invited to join us this weekend as an alternative to the festival."

Joyce Grigonis, who lives on the North Fork, also posted: "A lot of you know by now that the Greenport Maritime Festival was canceled due to the impending storm. Most Greenport restaurants ordered extra food and drink for the hordes of tourists that normally would come out for the Maritime Festival weekend," she said.

She added: "If you’re local, a second homeowner or just a diehard tourist, maybe this weekend we should all try to eat at least one breakfast, lunch and/or dinner at the Greenport restaurants, cafés and even the ice cream parlors. Don’t forget other area businesses, too. Many have stocked extra merchandise for the festival. Bring an umbrella! Please feel free to copy and paste this to your own social media pages."

Her message was shared again and again by many who vowed to help, including Wendy Zuhoski, of Wendy's Deli in Mattituck, who took a photo with a sign for Sterlington Deli in Greenport.

One local mom said she and her husband even got a baby-sitter, "so we could go to Greenport and support them!"