Harborfest 2018 is the 31st anniversary of a community event that would not be what it is today if it weren’t for the thousands of volunteers who have given their time and energy. It is very rare for a city the size of Oswego to have a festival that provides its citizens and thousands of others free headline musical entertainment and spectacular fireworks.
Volunteering is about giving of yourself to help someone or some organization, often without the thought of reward, simply the satisfaction of knowing that you are giving.
We at Harborfest are thankful to have such a wonderful group of people come together and make this the event of the year every year. Won’t you consider being a part of this winning team.
The Volunteer Program is proudly sponsored by Pathfinder Bank.
Please VOLUNTEER for Harborfest!
These are customer service positions where we will all be promoting Oswego Harborfest, the City of Oswego, and even Oswego County! Remember to put on a smile, be friendly, and HAVE FUN!
Goals & Objectives:
To provide a positive experience with mutual benefits to both the volunteer and the festival.
SCHEDULING:
Minimum 4-hour shifts for most festival positions. Other positions will be scheduled through the Volunteer office based on the needs of the requestor.
Festival scheduling is based on request, first come, first served. Every attempt will be made to match skills to the appropriate volunteer job task at times that are acceptable to the volunteer and the organization.
If you CANNOT make your scheduled shift, please contact the Volunteer Coordinator as soon as possible.
There are a variety of volunteer positions that may be available throughout the year—committee membership, office helper, Halfway to Harborfest, and others.
TRAINING:
All volunteers must attend orientation training and position-specific training. All will receive training related to emergency plans including emergency reporting procedures, fire escape, equipment, evacuation routes, etc.
TEEN VOLUNTEERS:
Teens under the age of 16 must have parental/guardian permission signed on their Volunteer Registration Form. On a case by case basis, depending on the job task and former Harborfest experience, teen volunteers may be able to work a task without direct adult supervision. This will be determined based on interview, discussions, and other feedback.
PRESENTING A POSITIVE FACE:
You represent everything that is positive about Oswego and the surrounding area! Please be professional and positive and SMILE .
MAINTENANCE:
Keeping the parks safe, clean, and neat at all times is the job of all volunteers. This helps keep our community beautiful and presents our best face to visitors and local folks alike.
ALL VOLUNTEERS MUST GO THROUGH AN INTERVIEW AND TRAINING PROCESS
Harborfest 2017, A Volunteer Perspective
By Nick Little
As the Volunteer Coordinator for Harborfest this year, I had the pleasure of meeting some of the most dedicated and community-centered people. Being that I was raised in Cortland, NY, I was not made aware of how much of an impact Harborfest has played on the lives of so many people; it has truly been an absolute pleasure working with such wonderful people this year. Volunteers are the foundation of the Harborfest program. I can say without any hesitation that the amazing events, the cleanliness of the grounds, and awesome atmospheres could not have happened if it weren’t for the many dedicated people out there making this happen every single year.
Since 1988, the Harborfest Volunteer Office has kept track of all the hours every volunteer provides. As a thank you, each volunteer is offered an official Harborfest t-shirt, a goody bag full of swag and coupons to local shops. To further extend our gratitude the Volunteer Office has teamed up with Murdock’s Bicycles and Sports right here in Oswego, to raffle off a brand-new bicycle to one lucky and dedicated person who worked at least one shift this season. Each volunteer was given one ticket for every shift they completed.
This year, I am honored to share that our winner is: Carrie Izzo. Carrie has been a volunteer for Harborfest for many years and still has the wonderful, wholesome personality that truly plays a positive impact on visitors. Once you meet Carrie it is impossible to forget her. It was with immense pleasure that we present her with this award as a symbol of our appreciation for her endless effort in making Harborfest the best one yet. We look forward to seeing her again next year, with her amazing personality. All interested in volunteering for next year are encouraged to contact the volunteer office during the off-season by emailing the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@oswegoharborfest.com
Click here for the list of Volunteer Opportunities and to complete the 2018 Volunteer Application.
Online Volunteer Applications will be available at a later date.
Click here to complete the 2017 Volunteer Application Online