Chamber of Commerce's Food and Beverage Tent Provides New Opportunity for HarborFest Visitors

HarborFest has been a fixture in the Village of Sag Harbor since the 1960s, attracting visitors for a wide variety of reasons: the thrill of the whaleboat races, the kid activities, the celebration of history and also, the food.

Last year, the popular fall festival created a new and exciting element for those looking for an expanded culinary experience — the Chamber of Commerce’s food and beverage tent at John Steinbeck Waterfront Park.

The creation of Steinbeck Park, which officially opened in May 2023, was a boon for the village for many reasons, but it also created an opportunity for expansion for HarborFest. Chamber of Commerce President Ellen Dioguardi, and fellow chamber members Rory McEvoy and Jesse Matsuoka seized that opportunity, working together to create a new area for festivalgoers to grab a drink and enjoy some food from local vendors, relax, and listen to live music while being somewhat removed from the hustle and bustle on Long Wharf, but close enough to still take it all in.

Like last year, the chamber’s food and beverage tent will once again offer beer and wine options from Kidd Squid Brewery, the Sag Harbor brewery owned by McEvoy and his wife, Grainne Coen. Matsuoka’s popular Japanese restaurant, Sen, which has been a fixture in the village for more than 20 years, will also provide sushi and other menu items for purchase under the tent.

HarborFest has grown in popularity every year, and that growth seemed to explode after the pandemic. It was a good problem to have, but meant the organizers needed to create more food and beverage options for visitors.

“Long Wharf, where normally all the HarborFest action has been, has gotten increasingly crowded,” Dioguardi said. “And the arts and crafts fair in Marine Park is busier than ever. We knew after the first HarborFest post-pandemic that we needed more food.”

The tent at Steinbeck Park fills that need and more.

“We needed a different spot for people who maybe watching the whaleboat races is not the only reason they come to Harborfest,” Dioguardi said. “They might want something different. Our goals were to have another space where we can have some live music and food, and maybe some kids games, and people can hang out and gather that’s not on Long Wharf. And lo and behold, there’s Steinbeck Park, and it’s perfect.”

There are still the usual lineup of food vendors on Long Wharf, as well as kid activities and community groups that set up there. But the tent at Steinbeck Park offers a great alternative option.

Hay bale seating will allow visitors to the tent to get off their feet for a bit, and there are plenty of picnic tables in the area as well.

“It’s a bit more downbeat than the full activities on the wharf, but still next to it,” McEvoy said. “It’s meant to be a bit more of a chill experience, and it’s a good complement to all the great stuff going on, on the wharf.”