named programs · 3 · from sources
What they call their work
Children's Parade
Annual parade during Harborfest where children march through downtown Oswego; themed annually, open to all without registration, and features giant puppets from Catskill Puppet Theater.
Children’s Park
Dedicated family space at Harborfest featuring live performances, puppet shows, trampoline acts, crafts, bounce houses, and interactive games for kids; includes a T-shirt workshop and wildlife encounters.
Harborfest Festival
Four-day waterfront festival featuring live music across multiple stages, local food vendors, a midway, community events, and a large fireworks display over Lake Ontario.
activities · 4 groups
What they do
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Community Festival & Event Production 2 activities
- Operating family-friendly programming and activities at HarborfestManages a dedicated Children's Park at Harborfest offering interactive experiences, rotating live entertainment, T-shirt workshops where children design and create personalized keepsakes, and other hands-on activities designed for youth engagement during the festival.
- Organizing the Children's Parade at HarborfestCoordinates an inclusive, annual Children's Parade during Harborfest that is open to all children without registration or auditions. Participants march in costumes through downtown Oswego, with pre-parade craft activities available at Franklin Square / West Park to create themed items for use in the parade.
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Recreational Boating and Sailing Programs 1 activity
- Coordinating professional water ski performancesProduces the Water Ski Thrill Show during Harborfest, featuring professional athletes performing stunts and choreographed routines on Lake Ontario as part of the festival’s entertainment lineup.
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Event and Production Volunteer Coordination 1 activity
- Engaging and training volunteers for festival operationsRecruits and trains hundreds of volunteers who serve in four- to six-hour shifts to support festival logistics, including stage setup, guest services, traffic direction, program distribution, and general event management.
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Uncategorized 4 activities
- Hosting a major fireworks display during HarborfestHosts a choreographed fireworks show over Lake Ontario each year during Harborfest, lasting 20+ minutes and recognized as the largest in the region. The display is launched from barges and scheduled between 9–10 PM, visible from the entire Oswego waterfront.
- Offering helicopter rides during HarborfestProvides helicopter rides above the harbor during the festival weekend, giving attendees aerial views of Lake Ontario and the event grounds as a special attraction.
- Organizing and hosting an annual waterfront festival (Harborfest)Produces a four-day, admission-free waterfront festival each July in Oswego, NY, featuring over 30 live musical acts across multiple stages, local food vendors, regional artisans, rides, family activities, and a large fireworks display over Lake Ontario. The event has been held annually since 1988, attracting approximately 50,000 attendees each year.
- Providing free shuttle transportation during HarborfestOperates two shuttle routes during the four-day Harborfest event, including a dedicated route from SUNY Oswego's Romney Field House parking lot to Novelis Breitbeck Park, offering continuous access for $5 per person (children 10 and under ride free) to connect off-site parking with key festival locations.
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financials · form 990 · fy2023
revenue
Total revenue$594K
Contributions & grants$410K69%
Program service revenue$184K31%
Investment income$00%
Other revenue$68
expenses
Total expenses$575K
Program expenses91%
Admin / overhead5%
Fundraising3%
Salaries & benefits$54K
Grants paid out$0
Largest expense lineCompensation
balance sheet
Total assets$212K
Cash$199K
Investments$0
Liabilities$15K
Net assets$197K
Liquid reserves4.2 mo
5 years on record · 2019–2023 · YoY revenue -0.5%
leadership · form 990 part vii · fy2023
Who runs it
board members · 13
- ANGELA CLEARY — MEMBER
- CHUCK HANDLEY — PRESIDENT
- CRAIG TYRRELL — MEMBER
- DAN CAPELLA — TREASURER
- DAVE THOMPSON — MEMBER
- JESSICA WESTBERRY — MEMBER
- KYLIE WYMAN — MEMBER
- LARRY GETMAN — MEMBER
- MARGARET MAHANEY — MEMBER
- MARIA HUDSON — MEMBER
- NIK WHITESIDE — MEMBER
- PATRICK CHALONE — CORRESPONDING SECRETARY
- SIERRA SULLIVAN — MEMBER
relationships · 46
Who they work with
- Alpha Gen Partner — Platinum sponsor of the Harborfest festival
- Be the first to know what’s happening at Harborfest Partner — Platinum sponsor of the Harborfest event
- Best Western Plus Oswego Hotel and Conference Center Partner — Waterfront-adjacent lodging partner recommended for visitors seeking proximity to Harborfest activities and local attractions.
- C&S Companies Partner — Silver sponsor of the Harborfest festival
- C's Farm Market & Beverage Center Partner — Silver sponsor of the Harborfest festival
- Catskill Puppet Theater, Inc. Partner — Collaborates with Catskill Puppet Theater, Inc. for puppet performances and participation in the Children's Parade.
- City of Oswego Government — Gold sponsor and municipal partner of the Harborfest festival
- Clarion Hotel & Suites Riverfront Partner — Waterfront lodging partner located in close proximity to the festival venue, recommended for attendees seeking convenient access.
- Community Bank Partner — Silver sponsor of the Harborfest festival
- Compass Federal Credit Union Partner — Community sponsor of the Harborfest festival
- Constellation Partner — Funding partner supporting the Harborfest festival.
- Constellation Partner — Platinum sponsor of the Harborfest festival
- EAGLE BEVERAGE Partner — Gold sponsor of the Harborfest festival
- Empower Performing Arts Partner — Collaborates with Empower Performing Arts to offer carnival-style interactive games and activities in the Children's Park.
- FLX Helicopters Partner — Provides helicopter rides above the harbor during the festival.
- Grace and Glory Animals Partner — Hosts Grace and Glory Animals to provide an up-close wildlife experience for children at the festival.
- Grucci Partner — Collaborates with Grucci for the fireworks show at Harborfest.
- Grucci Family Fireworks Partner — Provides the fireworks display for the annual Harborfest event.
- H. Lee White Maritime Museum Partner — Collaborates with the festival through shared focus on Oswego's maritime heritage and waterfront community engagement.
- Harbor Eye Associates Partner — Gold sponsor of the Harborfest festival
- Holiday Inn Express & Suites Oswego Partner — Recommended lodging partner providing modern accommodations with easy access to Harborfest and local institutions.
- Impact Entertainment Partner — Features The Rainbow Thief from Impact Entertainment for high-energy performances in the Children's Park.
- Integrated Power Services (IPS) Partner — Gold sponsor of the Harborfest festival
- Jared Campbell Partner — Features Jared Campbell as a performer in the Children's Park with high-energy music and storytelling.
- Kinney Drugs Partner — Community sponsor of the Harborfest festival
- Knights Inn Partner — Lodging partner offering convenient access to the festival venues and amenities for travelers with vehicles.
- NBT Bank Partner — Community sponsor of the Harborfest festival
- NOVELIS Partner — Platinum sponsor of the Harborfest festival
- National Grid Partner — Funding partner supporting the Harborfest festival.
- National Grid Partner — Gold sponsor of the Harborfest festival
+ 16 more
strategies · 3
How they approach the work
Named approaches extracted from this org’s sources. Where others share an approach, follow it to see the full set of orgs running it.
- Community-Driven Production Leveraging Volunteerism and Sponsorshipmethodology: community-driven event productionBy relying on volunteer labor and local sponsorship, the festival sustains free public programming while deepening community ownership and connection, because active participation in production fosters civic pride and long-term support.
- Free Access Model to Maximize Community Engagement and Economic Impactmethodology: community_gift_modelBy eliminating admission costs through community and sponsor funding, the organization increases accessibility and broadens public participation, which in turn strengthens community bonds and stimulates local economic development because inclusive access encourages higher attendance and sustained local engagement.
- Multifaceted Experiential Design to Enhance Engagement and Movementmethodology: multi-stage experiential layoutBy organizing multiple stages and attractions across the waterfront, the festival creates varied, flexible experiences that encourage exploration and prolonged attendance, because spatial diversity increases perceived value and reduces congestion while sustaining engagement.