Sag Harbor Partnership Hosting Inaugural The Big Tent: Party For The Park

Sag Harbor Partnership is presenting the inaugural The Big Tent: Party for the Park on Sunday, July 10th from 5 to 8 p.m. on the Long Wharf.

“Wind, Sea, Light, 2016” by April Gornik. (Courtesy Photo)

“Our Party for the Park is an event that is drawing the entire community together like never before, much as a park provides a space for enjoyment for all people,” remarked Event Chair, April Gornik. “We have an opportunity to preserve and beautify an area of our Village that respects our waterfront, and celebrates the fact that we are the only town in the Hamptons to be on waterfront, and the plans drawn up by landscape architect Ed Hollander include water remediation from runoff and other sound ecological approaches. It will be a model of what a modern waterfront park can be, and will benefit generations to come.”

Prior to the big party, galleries throughout the Village will kick-off the event with an Art for the Park Auction, where over 60 artists will present their work in support of the cause. Participating galleries include Grenning Gallery, Monika Olko, RJD Gallery, Romany Kramoris Gallery, Massarah, and Tulla Booth Gallery. Pieces will be shown on the day of the event from 2 to 8 p.m. and the contemporary art sale is powered by online auction house, Paddle8 at paddle8.com. The auction will be live Friday, June 24th through Sunday, July 10th.

Prices start at half retail value, and opening bids range from $75 to $4,000. Featured artists include John Alexander, Ross Bleckner, James Croak, Eric Fischl, Francine Fleischer, Ralph Gibson, April Gornik, Bryan Hunt, Dan Rizzie, and many more.

In addition, Sag Harbor in Focus, a new show featuring contemporary art by Pierson High School students, will be on display at Dodds & Eder (11 Bridge Street, Sag Harbor) from Thursday, July 7th through Sunday, July 10th. Artists of the exhibit’s top 11 pieces will be awarded a $100 check, generously funded by artist Eric Fischl.

“Untitled” by Eric Fischl. (Courtesy Photo)

And, there’s more! There will be family-friendly activities, including a puppet workshop face painting within the tent. Also, the Wildlife Rescue Center will bring their red tailed hawk and horned owl for visitors to see up close. Apart from those fun activities, there will be a “Taste of Sag Harbor”, featuring a full array of local restaurants, vineyards, food purveyors, and a BBQ, hosted by Sag Harbor Fire Department, and music by the HooDoo Loungers.

“This event is going to be the most fun because it’s family-friendly, affordable, with a kind of ‘barefoot’ party feel. We are offering the riches Sag Harbor Village and our surrounding community has to offer, with ‘tastes’ from local restaurants, great wines from Wolffer, Channing and Bedell, kids’ activities like face painting,” added Gornik. “And the band that has stepped up to play is the great HooDoo Loungers!”

Sag Harbor Partnership hopes the entire community comes out to support the cause. “We wanted to be as inclusive as possible, and wonderful sponsors have come forward to make it affordable,” she said. “We’re also inviting people to explore during the day before the event by seeing what specials stores might have to offer in honor of the Park, and to enjoy the fantastic Art for the Park art auction that will be held at all of our fine art galleries in the Village, with work ranging in starting prices from $75 to $4000, on display from 2 to 8 p.m.”

Tickets to The Big Tent: Party for the Park are $50 for adults ($60 at the door) and $10 for children ($15 at the door).

Sag Harbor Partnership (formerly known as Serve Sag Harbor) is a 501(c)3 designated not-for-profit that is committed to “the preservation and enhancement of the quality of life in Sag Harbor.” Proceeds from Party for the Park will support “the Mayor and Village Trustees in their initiative to create a Waterfront Park on the site owned by the Village.”

To learn more, visit www.sagharborpartnership.org.