Market headed for port
Published 7:04 pm Monday, March 5, 2012
Now, hear this; now, hear this: an event that’s nearly all things nautical — the second-annual Washington Marine Market — returns to Washington’s waterfront April 28.
This year’s Marine Market will have added attractions and expanded hours, according to the Washington Harbor District Alliance, organizer of the event.
The Marine Market will include, but is not limited to, a marine flea market, used-boat corral, new-boat show and an artists market.
“The Washington Harbor District Alliance saw a niche that was not being filled. Beaufort County has strong ties to the marine industry,” said Beth Byrd, executive director of WHDA, in a news release. “Our citizens are lucky to live on the nations’ second-largest estuarine system. That means there are great numbers of consumers and vendors for this type of an event. What better place to stage the market than our beautiful downtown harbor district?”
“We’re just hoping for more of the same because it worked out really well last year,” Byrd said in a brief interview Monday.
“I think we’re going to have a very special ship, but I can’t really say. … We’re not sure how it’s going to work out,” Byrd said Monday.
WHDA is trying to bring the schooner Jeanie B. to Washington for the festival. There are some hopes the Jeanie B. will make Washington its homeport, Byrd said. For that to happen, the city would have to approve, she noted.
The 72-foot-long, gaff-rigged schooner, owned by Lee Sutton, visited Washington last year. The vessel, in the summertime, works with Camp Sea Gull (girls) and Camp Seafarer (boys).
While the schooner was docked on the Washington waterfront last year, Sutton, a biology professor at East Carolina University, presented a program, Biography of Man Through the Stars, at the N.C. Estuarium.
The Marine Market takes on a musical component this year.
“This year’s event has a wonderful addition to the lineup,” Byrd said in the release. “We are very excited to announce that the Beaufort County Arts Council will present the BOCO Music Festival on the same day.”
The BOCO (short for Beaufort County) Music Festival offers a full line-up of talented musicians, according to Byrd.
“We hope everyone will join us for this exciting event,” she said.
Past Marine Market participants will be back this year, including the N.C. Estuarium, Park Boat Company and the Carolinas Chapter of the Antique Outboard Motor Club. Fresh, prepared seafood and landlubber grub will be available during the event. Also returning are roving pirates and George and Martha Washington, who are ready for photographic opportunities with festival-goers.
Vendors or flea-market participants may register early by contacting WHDA at whda@washingtononthewater.com.
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