MATTAPOISETT – The scent of fried fish filled the air as residents made their way toward Shipyard Park for Friday evening’s Harbor Days festivities. 

The Mattapoisett Lions Club was serving up six-ounce pieces of breaded fish with fries, cole slaw, and tartar sauce for their annual fish fry, sponsored by Oxford Creamery.

The line stretched across the lawn as patrons waited for plates of steaming fried fish that they could eat while looking out toward the ocean, enjoying sounds from live music from the gazebo nearby. 

Local bands played throughout the night, opening with the Yard Sailors and finishing out the night with Jeff Angeley and Pebbles of Rain. 

However, the real draw of the night, said Lions Club President Valerie Kane, was treasurer Connie Hayes’ strawberry shortcake.

“It’s a secret recipe, she won’t share it with anyone,” Kane said. “Everyone looks forward to it. It’s so good.”

Hayes could be seen selling tickets in a hat that read “Strawberry Queen.” 

Kane said she was glad that Harbor Days was making a full return this year with a packed schedule after it was abbreviated in 2021, and cancelled in 2020 due to covid. 

“It’s exciting, it’s nice to have things fully back to normal,” she said.

Kane added that the Lions Club doesn’t make “as much money as people might think” from Harbor Days and the event takes a lot of support from the town to make this happen.

“It’s a community effort,” she said, “I can’t thank the town enough.”