HarborFrost in Sag Harbor brings out hundreds
Undeterred by the wind and 20-degree temperatures, hundreds of people made their way Saturday to the Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce’s fourth HarborFrost, a winter festival with ice carving, live music, fireworks and fire dancing.
“It started four years ago as a way to kick-start the economy in the dead of winter and do something fun,” said Gavin Menu, chair of the event that was held along Main Street and at Long Wharf.
Menu said he expected about 1,000 to attend.
Laurie Marsden and her children Eve, 11, and Edward, 9, moved to Sag Harbor two years ago from Brisbane, Australia, and immediately fell in love with the community and the events it offers.
“No one realizes there’s a lot happening here in the winter,” said Marsden, who has been taking her children to HarborFrost since they moved to the community. “It’s nice because you can get chili, hot cider or hot chocolate at nearby restaurants. But we really look forward to the fireworks show and seeing the fire dancers. It warms you up.”
The dance group, The Fiery Sensations, lit up Long Wharf with dances that incorporated rings of fire. Its performance included fire breathing on the beach.
“The name of the game is to bring people to town, to walk up and down Main Street and shop and eat in the restaurants,” said Menu, who is also publisher of the Sag Harbor Express and the chamber’s recording secretary. “Everybody is cooped up this time of year. It’s one weekend where everyone can come together and have a lot of fun.”
Shannan North, who posed for a picture behind an Eskimo ice sculpture, said she had a blast on Friday night at Muse in the Harbor on Main Street, which hosted an open bar event called Frost Ball.
“I’ve lived here all my life, so I never miss this,” said North, 29. “I was really looking forward to the Frosty Plunge, but that was canceled because of the weather. It’s cold, but at the same time it’s not because the whole community kind of huddles together for the fire dancing and firework show. It’s something you look forward to and a real experience.”
The event continues through Sunday with a pancake breakfast until noon at the firehouse on Brick Kiln Road for $10 and a showing of The Beatles on the "Ed Sullivan Show" at the Bay Street Theatre at 7 p.m. for $5.
For more information and to see the full schedule, visit http://sagharborchamber.com/harborfrost-2014/.
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