An armada of artworks will dock at the Saugerties Performing Arts Factory at 5 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 14 for the Chamber of Commerce’s 10th annual gala. Amidst libations and snacks, 36 painted and re-imagined sailboats will be sold to the highest bidder by locally acclaimed auctioneers Bob Siracusano and Ray Tucker of Sawyer Motors at the Ahoy Maties Gala. Proceeds will be split between the artists, the Chamber of Commerce, the Saugerties Animal Shelter and a small scholarship for a Saugerties High 2020 graduate. The chamber’s event last year brought in $22,000.
Throughout the summer, the ships have quietly waited for sale outside village businesses; unlike previous years, including an incident involving a punched sailboat in 2018, the boats have remained unvandalized. One is modeled after a 1950s diner; another, a scene out of a storybook; another depicts a fishing scene; and one boat features produce that could be purchased locally at the Saugerties Farmer’s Market.
“All the artists do fantastic jobs and we always appreciate what they do,” said Chamber Chair Mark Smith. “I always say that [the purpose of the event] hangs on three hooks — it shows off the local art the artists have, it brings visitors to the village to see the artwork and third is the gala where we have an auction and it funds things that the community needs.”
The event will feature music by Ian Flanigan and Todd Boyle and Friend.
Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door; they can be purchased at Town & Country Liquors, Smith Hardware, Inquiring Minds Bookstore or online at www.discoversaugerties.com.
Join the family! 
