If the winter grays have you awfully blue, make tracks to Sag Harbor Village for HarborFrost this weekend on Saturday, February 4th. “HarborFrost gives people a chance, after being huddled in their homes all winter, to come out, have fun, walk up and down Main Street and pick up mittened hand and say hello,” says Ellen Dioguardi, president of the Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce.
While Saturday is indeed looking a little on the frosty side, it’s unlikely to beat last year’s HarborFrost record of 9°F. But even that didn’t dissuade fans of the fire-and-ice festival. Expect your favorite spectacles and some new surprises this year, all culminating in the spectacular winter fireworks diplay.
Leading up to that, though, there’s a full day of family-friendly activities to dive into, starting with a get-back-to-nature walk lead by Dai Dayton from Friends of the Long Pond Greenbelt (meeting spot: the bleachers in Mashashimuet Park on the corner of Main Street and Jermain Avenue).
That half-hour hike may well leave you feeling hungry, but Sag Harbor Historical Society has you covered. From 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., they’re sponsoring a satiating culinary stroll through town. The $50 ticket gets you a special dish at Il Capuccino, Lulu Kitchen & Bar, Page at 63 Main and K Pasa. Bonus: Wear the most spectacularly decorated chef’s hat and win a prize.
Along the way, there will be live music around town, Valentine crafts at the Wharf Shop at noon, fun frosty face bling-making at Stella & Ruby at 2 p.m., or, at that same hour, a nose-nipping sailing regatta via the Breakwater Yacht Club (entry fee is $15 per person), and the incredibly detailed ice sculptures from Ice Memories, owned by master ice carver, Rich Daly (he’s won over 200 titles in ice carving—expect to be dazzled!) kicking off at 2:30 p.m.. Says Dioguardi: “It’s a cool thing to watch a person with a chainsaw make a piece of art out of lump of ice!”
If staying outside all day sounds a little too rugged for your liking, view the polar caps in comfort at the day-long South Pole documentaries session running at Sag Harbor Cinema (who will also be giving out hot cocoa) or throw down 10 bucks and warm up at the Old Whaler’s Church with hot soup, bread, and a sweet treat, along with toe-tapping live music to warm up the tootsies.
Sundown will bring out the hot talents of Keith Leaf and his Flaming Friends, with their fire-dancing and juggling show at Windmill beach near Long Wharf—the perfect prelude to the world-famous Fireworks by Grucci at 5:45p.m., generously co-sponsored by Propane Depot.
If you still have energy to spare, head over to April Gornick and Eric Fischl’s The Church at 48 Madison Street to kick-off the much-anticipated opening reception of their new exhibition, “Return to a Place By the Sea,” featuring the works of African-American artists Nanette Carter, Gregory Coates, Al Loving and Frank Wimberly starting at 6 p.m.. Following that, push your daily steps count into brag-worthy territory by strolling back down to the Wharf for comedian Joseph Vescey’s all-star comedy show at the Bay Street Theater–because there’s no better way to warm up than a good laugh.
‘HarborFrost is one of my favorite things the Chamber does, honestly. It’s a lot of fun, especially in February when it’s not like there’s a ton of stuff happening,” says Dioguardi. “Sag Harbor is a very close and tight-knit business community. It’s frankly that way as a community in general. To still walk up and down the sidewalks and see places that for over 40 years or more are still doing business is pretty amazing. There’s something for all here.”
For more details and event sign-up information, click here.