Spring has sprung and the cherry blossoms are blooming!
For the entire month of May, AgroCouncil will be celebrating Greenport’s beauty as a Tree City USA, recognized by the Arbor Day Foundation for numerous years, with the “Greenport in Bloom” festival.
Deborah Rivera Pittorino, 23-year owner of the former Greenporter Hotel, started the festival in 2017 while AgroCouncil, an advocacy group for agricultural areas, started promoting the area back in 2008.
“It’s a long winter and most of the businesses in Greenport are small — even family-owned or individually owned — and the spring is a very tough time until Memorial Day Weekend,” says Rivera Pittorino. “I thought it would be a great way to get people into the village — come look at the trees but also support our local businesses — and just make it an all-around spring renewal.”
As a nature lover, avid traveler and appreciator of cultural tradition, Rivera Pittorino felt that the over 300 cherry blossom trees in Greenport composed of seven different varieties had to be celebrated.
The longstanding Greenport Tree Committee had released a cherry blossom map of the town for years but had no associated events. Now, the festival has five weekends packed with cherry blossom-inspired activities and over 30 community entities are involved.
To kick off the fun, on May 2 at 9 a.m. there is a 5K race organized by Nicki Gohorel. It starts at Third Street Park with 8:30 a.m. pre-race yoga. Participants will trod around the village, getting to see the cherry blossom themed window displays and the race ends with a brunch at American Beech (300 Main St., Greenport, 631-477-5939) exclusively for runners.
That evening at Black Llama Bar there will be live music and, for the month of May, American Beech will serve a cherry blossom sangria cocktail.
On May 8 and 9, tree lovers can take the first ever guided walking petal tour, where Tree Committee member John Quinlan will lead you on a journey through Greenport discussing the kwanzan cherry, pear, akame cherry, yoshino cherry, crabapple, snow goose cherry, sargent cherry and red bud cherry blossom varieties.
During the third weekend of the festival, children in grades seven through 12 are invited to participate in “Stories in the Sky: A Kite Decorating Adventure” at Floyd Memorial Library (539 First St., Greenport, 631-477-0660). On May 15 from 2:30 to 4 p.m., they’ll explore the Japanese tradition of writing messages in the Hanami (flower viewing time) during cherry blossom season and decorate their own paper kites to honor the ritual.
Memorial Day Weekend will be full of festival vendor offerings and the final weekend will close out with a performance by Japanese Taiko drummers presented by CAST on May 30 at 2:30 p.m. at the Holy Trinity Episcopal Church (768 Main St., Greenport, 631-477-0855).
To learn more about the festival click here; tag social media posts of trees and festival activities with #greenportinbloom, and pop into these stops for “Greenport in Bloom” themed products, menu items and things to do: Stirling Sake, Little Creek Oyster Farm & Market, The Frisky Oyster, Demarchelier Bistro, Special Tea & Salon, Clarke’s Garden & Home, Greenport Harbor Brewery, Ellen’s on Front, Encanto Crepes & Cafe, Lucharitos, Not Just Bows, Simply Beautiful Boutique, Kessie, Anker, Ralph’s Famous Italian Ices, Weathered Barn, Aldo’s Coffee Company, Blue Duck Bakery Café, Noah’s, Lido, Basso, First & South Restaurant, Andy’s Restaurant, One Kourt Bottle Shop, Mojo Studio Chef Knife Art in Bootleg Alley, The Menhaden, Safe Harbor Marina, North Fork Art Collective.
