Thursday, October 1, 2026
The Nautical Mile Craft and Gift Fair at Sea Breeze Park in Freeport was a bustling scene of commerce this week as vendors and patrons had a wide array of items to peruse. The event was successfully organized by Nassau County Fairs and the Nautical Mile Business Organization.
On July 26, over 30 vendors registered and had various items for sale that represented various needs, interests, and quirks. The fair provided attendees with a welcoming community atmosphere, as fair organizers said their “focus is on continuing to strengthen and grow the event,” according to Alan Finchley of Nassau County Fairs.
“The Craft and Gift Fair is important because it gives local small businesses, artisans and independent vendors an opportunity to showcase and sell their products, Finchley continued. “It also brings residents and visitors together, encourages people to shop locally and helps generate additional activity for the Freeport community. It also gives attendees an opportunity to visit the Nautical Mile and see for themselves what a beautiful place it is.”
The Craft and Gift Fair was unfortunately one of the many community events and initiatives that suffered an extended hiatus due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The fair had not been hosted for five years until last year.
“After such a long break, the main challenges involved rebuilding the event from the ground up,” Finchley told the Herald. “This included coordinating vendors, organizing the event logistics, promoting the fair, and making the public aware that it had returned. Re-establishing an event after five years required a great deal of planning and communication.”
Fortunately for Nassau County Fairs, Freeport locals and other Long Island residents have enthusiastically received the return of the Craft and Gift Fair. Richard Branciforte, the executive director of the Nautical Mile Business Organization, stated last summer that “many locals fondly recall when the fair was held throughout the summer months.” The continued success and return bodes well for both the fair itself and the local Nautical Mile businesses the fair generated traffic for.
