The third annual Pore the Core hard cider festival is set to unfold at the Peconic Bay Winery on Main Road in Cutchogue Saturday, despite some initial reservations by Southold Town Supervisor Scott Russell.
The event will feature over 30 types of local and national hard cider brands, as well as seminars on Cooking with Cider, Cider Cocktails, and more. Proceeds from the event, which takes place from 1 to 5 p.m., benefit the Beer for Brains Foundations, craft beer lovers against brain cancer.
Tickets cost $40 plus tax in advance and $65 on the day of the event, with tickets for designated drivers $10. To purchase tickets, click here.
In September, at a town board work session, Russell said in his opinion, special events were events were designed to enhance produce sold on site; the Peconic Bay Winery, he added, is no longer in operation.
Starfish Junction Productions, the Bay Shore company organizing the event, is still a for-profit company, he said, even though it “specializes in raising money for different causes.”
Town Attorney Martin Finnegan said the company had applied appropriately.
Starfish Junction Productions, he added, hosted two other events at the site this year, including a craft beer and a potato festival.
Before approving the event, conditions were addressed, including the heavy dust that’s been stirred up by cars in the parking lot a the previous two events; organizers agreed to water down the field. Parking on Stillwater Avenue was also addressed.
The board voted to approve the event, with Russell and Councilman Bill Ruland voting no.
“I don’t think this was the purpose of special events legislation,” Russell said.
Councilman Bob Ghosio, however, said he did not see the event as “out of character for our area” and voted for festival; Councilwoman Jill Doherty agreed and said there hadn’t been any issues with prior events at the site.
