Harbor Days is here! Annual celebration kicks off with craft event
Chloe Fyrderg smiles as she works on her art at a Harbor Days event on Saturday, July 11. Photos by Mari Huglin
The example art project. 
Chloe and Lucy Fyrderg worked away at their projects. 
Small sea creatures could be added to each project. 
Kinsley Crossman paints her project. 
The instructor showed how to use glue and sand to make a glitter effect. 
Artists added sand to their creatures. 
A seascape was the idea. 
Sea creatures from under the deep.
Chloe Fyrderg smiles as she works on her art at a Harbor Days event on Saturday, July 11. Photos by Mari Huglin
The example art project.
Chloe and Lucy Fyrderg worked away at their projects.
Small sea creatures could be added to each project.
Kinsley Crossman paints her project.
The instructor showed how to use glue and sand to make a glitter effect.
Artists added sand to their creatures.
A seascape was the idea.
Sea creatures from under the deep.
MATTAPOISETT — The annual Harbor Days festival has kicked off in Mattapoisett with activities all week long.
On Saturday, July 11 the Mattapoisett Lions club hosted a kids craft day for young artists at Shipyard Park.
Sitting by the water, crafters made sea landscapes complete with seaweed, seahorses and other creatures of the deep.
Mattapoisett Lions Club president Kimberly Ray said Harbor Days started around 50 years ago as a fundraiser for the club.
It is consistently the club’s biggest fundraiser for the year supporting the club and the outreach and scholarships they give out each year.
Her favorite part of the event each year is watching families line up at the pancake breakfast and seeing people have a good time.
“It's just such a great family fun event and people are having a good time, but also it's helping to support the community and beyond,” Ray said.
Ray explained that the event also builds community since the Lions Club works closely with many businesses and organizations in the town to successfully put it on.
The tradition also draws tourists to the area with many people planning vacations around Harbor Days each year. Ray said she is glad to see the tradition live on.
“It's nice to have something that's been around this long that people really enjoy,” Ray said.
Laurie Crossman of Lakeville has been attending Harbor Days and visiting Mattapoisett in the summer on and off since the 1980s.
She said she keeps coming back because the area is so nice and family friendly. She said there are things for kids and adults to do especially at Harbor Days.
“I think [Mattapoisett] is just one of the quaintest, family-oriented and safe towns that I've ever spent time in,” Crossman said.
Crossman and her family usually rent a house with her children and grandchildren in Mattapoisett during Harbor Days. She said she is excited to go to the Taste of Mattapoisett on Tuesday as well.
Nine-year-old Kinsley Crossman was surprised with the art event by her mom and grandmother. Kinsley said she was excited to hang out with her cousins and do other summer things.
“Mostly going to the beach and now that my cousin from Texas is here, I'm having a lot of fun with her,” Kinsley said.
Lucy Fyrderg and her sister Chloe Fyrderg were excited to enjoy the annual Harbor Days tradition of strawberry shortcake.
“We go to Harbor Days, I think every year and I really like it,” Lucy said.
More events are on the horizon with the Mattapoisett Town Band Concert and strawberry shortcake sale on Wednesday, July 15.
There will be an adult paint night on Thursday, July 16, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. A fish fry will be held Friday, July 17, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and a lobster bake is set for Saturday, July 18, and a pancake breakfast will be held Sunday, July 19.
The annual craft fair, featuring approximately 100 vendors, will be on Saturday and Sunday, July 18 and 19. The weekend wraps up later in the month with a triathlon on Sunday, July 26.
