MATTAPOISETT — For a lot of people, the annual Friday Fish Fry marks “the official kickoff” of Harbor Days, said outgoing Mattapoisett Lions Club President Kimberly Ray.

On Friday, July 14 Lions plated fish and chips for hungry customers while acoustic music played from the gazebo in Shipyard Park.

“This is definitely one of our most popular events,” said Ray. “People have been asking about it for weeks.”

The fish fry was a prelude to a weekend of vendor booths, strawberry shortcake, lobster dinners and live music as a part of the Mattapoisett Lions Club annual Harbor Days event.

On Saturday, July 15, over 100 vendors peddled their wares to Harbor Days attendees. From artisan olive oil and jellies to all kinds of hand-made crafts, there was something for everyone.

Harbor Days went “unbelievably well,” said Mattapoisett Lions Club member Johnathan Gray, who was selling food tickets under the Lions’ big white tent. “The crowd is as thick as I’ve ever seen it.”

Also under the tent were booths set up by non-profit organizations to raise money for their respective causes.

The Friends of the Mattapoisett Council on Aging sold Mattapoisett-themed merchandise to raise money for the programs they host like free lunches for seniors and events hosted by the Mattapoisett Council on Aging.

The Mattapoisett Fire Department also set up a booth alongside a fire engine “because every kid loves a fire truck,” said Mattapoisett firefighter Chapman Dickerson.

“It’s nice to have a booth and represent the town and get our name out there,” he said. “This is for the community to see us — we’re not scary.”

Dickerson joked that he hopes to bring in some young recruits from this event.

According to four-year-old Travis Knutsen, who climbed onto the fire truck, he would like to be a firefighter some day.

“This is what he lives for,” said Knutsen’s father. “He loves the fire engine, this is what he thinks Harbor Days is.”

According to Knutsen, his favorite part of a fire truck is the steering wheel.

The fire truck didn’t completely steal the show at Harbor Days, another popular treat was the Lions’ home-made lemonade, sold by Chase Renzi, Catherine Renzi and Chelsea Eby.

According to Catherine Renzi, the lemonade recipe was created 35 years ago by her mother.

“The first year they had a lady hand-squeezing lemons,” she said. “[Then] they made this recipe after 25 tries and all different types of lemonade — then they came up with this concoction.”

This year, Chase Renzi, 13, is carrying on the family tradition of selling lemonade at Harbor Days.

“It’s really busy,” she said. “It’s [going] really good though.”

Harbor Days and the Mattapoisett Lions Club are no strangers to tradition.

Selling custom-made 2023 Harbor Days shirts was Madeline Blackburn, third vice president of the Mattapoisett Lions Club and granddaughter of Harbor Days founder Arthur Blackburn, Jr.

“I think it’s a great honor to carry on his legacy and give people joy and happiness,” she said. Harbor Days has “gotten bigger and bigger every year.”

As the first full day of Harbor Days began to wind down, incoming Mattapoisett Lions Club President Lynne Foley reflected on the day.

It was “absolutely beautiful,” she said. “The weather changed for the best and everyone had a beautiful day — the vendors were excited, the music was awesome, I think everybody was in a good mood.”

Sunday, July 16 is the final day for Harbor Days.

Sunday starts early with an $8 pancake breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. Then Harbor Days attendees have a second chance to visit a craft fair featuring over 100 vendors from 9  to 11 a.m. and a silent auction, 50/50 raffle, and a “U Pick ‘Em” auction from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Shipyard Park.

From 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. the Lions Club grill will be open for lunch and the Oxcart will be open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Finally, this is the last day to get strawberry shortcakes from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. — or until they sell out.

Sunday’s entertainment features the music of Caroline Wingate from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m., the Showstoppers from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and the Johnny Bickford Band from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m.