Overview
The 2026 edition of this event will be held on Sunday, August 23 from noon until 4:00 pm.
Over the past few years, I have organized this event to the best of my abilities, and we had some truly great performers, and it was very much a maritime festival, with names like John Roberts, David Jones, Stout, Joseph and Cliff you know, Johnson Girls, Heather Wood, Tim Radford, Ken Sweeney, to name just a few. It was funded by the Greater Port Jefferson Arts Council. This year, due to an accident sustained by my wife, I was not able to participate in the logistics and organizing, and I thought it had fizzled. A short while ago, the arts council contacted me to let me know that they were running it, this coming Sunday, and invited me to perform. They dont have a lot of funding but they have pulled together some local long island performers, no big names, but among them some fine musicians. It will retain the nautical bent! — Alan Short, from a Facebook Messenger conversation 8/19/2025.
This event was held in October 2023 at the Jeanne Garant Harborfront Park and features live performances by well-known singers from Long Island, the UK and New England singing the songs of the Sea with a grand finale concert featuring all the musicians.
Festival attendees can explore the history and techniques of wooden boat building, accompanied by songs of the great Age of Sail, indoors at the Port Jefferson Village Center.
Meet pirates all around the village and great them with your best Arrrghhh. All are welcome!
The 2023 event was brought to you by the Greater Port Jefferson-Northern Brookhaven Arts Council. This event was also co-sponsored by the Folk Music Society of New York.