Cruise around Fire Island with Splashes of Hope

Splashes of Hope’s ninth annual Bay Cruise around Fire Island is Saturday, June 2, and this year for the first time it’s going to be a catered affair.

The event is given by the Huntington-based Splashes of Hope Inc., a nonprofit public charity that has artists and others paint murals to brighten the environments at hospitals, social service facilities and health care centers.

“There’s going to be a wonderful barbecue this year, says Mel Weinzimer, Splashes of Hope president. “Every other year we did it ourselves, but this year we wanted to do it in grand fashion.” He said the food will be catered by The Cull House in Sayville.

On the menu: clams, chicken and shrimp scampi and drink choices of wine or iced tea.

“It’s a wonderful barbecue,” Weinzimer says. “We expect the people to get off the boat hungry and we expect to feed them.”

HOPPING FIRE ISLAND

Live music, a scavenger hunt and a visit to a nightclub will also be part of the day, which starts with the ferry departing from Sayville at noon for the half-hour trip to Sailors Haven, where the barbecue will take place.

“We’ll stay at Sailors Haven a couple of hours and then go on to Cherry Grove — people can actually walk to that destination if they prefer to," Weinzimer says. “It’s about a 20-minute walk along the beach, so some people might want to walk if it’s a nice day.”

At Cherry Grove the island hoppers will visit the Ice Palace nightclub, where they will get vouchers for a free drink.

“There’ll be entertainers who’ll encourage people to participate in some way. It’s a drag show and a lot of fun,” Weinzimer says. The ferry returns to Sayville about 5 p.m.

Tickets are $85 in advance and $100 at the dock, and only those 21 and older can go on the cruise. Weinzimer urged those who want tickets to get them in advance so they’re guaranteed seating on the ferry.

Dockside registration will be run, however, Weinzimer says, with live music and a scavenger hunt to help set the mood for the day.

“There’ll be music before the boat even leaves, and at registration we’ll be serving coffee, pastries and snacks so people can relax a little bit before they get on the boat,” Weinzimer says.