Sylvester Manor: Farm Updates | 4th Parade | Shakespeare & Fair | Cocktail Class | Creekside Concert ….

Thank you to all 380 guests who joined us for our 13th Annual Farm to Table Benefit! Your generosity, enthusiasm, and belief in Sylvester Manor’s mission made for a spectacular evening. From the delicious cuisine and lively music to meaningful conversations and generous giving, the night was a true reflection of what makes this community so special.

Our farmers worked hard this spring planting, weeding, and tending the fields. Now that summer is here, all the hard work is paying off with abundant harvests. Lots of vegetables and flowers are coming from the farm and tomatoes, eggplants, raspberries and blueberries are on the near horizon. Our amazing farm crew and volunteers harvest everything we grow for the CSA, Farmstand and our Farm to Food Pantry program. Please contact us if you’re interested in volunteering this summer.

With the team focused on harvesting, we decided to invest in our first electric tractor to help cultivate the fields, control weeds, and loosen the soil around carrots and potatoes in preparation for harvest. It was acquired earlier this spring and has already been put to good use. Picture this: an electric cultivator tractor that quietly removes weeds without the operator needing to wear earplugs or breathe diesel fumes. What a welcome change!

Alongside our harvest, fresh eggs and pork, we continue to restock our Manor Made prepared foods each week. Chef Susan is preparing a rotating selection of seasonal offerings inspired directly by what’s growing on the farm, including fresh baked bread, assorted quiches and pocket pies, seasonal soups, house-made dips, fresh pasta, and more. 

We’re also excited to see new items arriving in our Manor Mercantile section of the Farmstand, including our signature Sylvester Manor wine tumblers and thoughtfully curated goods for summer gatherings and island living.

Follow along for harvest updates, event announcements, Farmstand restocks, Manor Made features, and behind-the-scenes moments from the fields:

Facebook: The Farm at Sylvester Manor
Instagram: @thefarmatsylvestermanor

July Farmstand Hours
Open Daily
9am-5pm

Sylvester Manor is hitting the road (well, the parade route) this Saturday, and we want YOU to be a part of the fun! Stephen will be driving our tractor and hay wagon right through the center of town, decked out in red, white, and blue as part of the 250th anniversary. Show up at 9:30am to ride in the haywagon or cheer us on along the parade route, which starts at 10am. Wear your best red, white and blue!

Saturday, July 4
Parade participants arrive at 9:30am
Intersection of Midway Road and Bateman Road (Fiske Field)

Parade spectators arrive at 10am
Shelter Island Town Center

Join expert mixologist, Gillian Georges from Leon 1909, as she guides the group through a process of crafting three unique drinks using fresh ingredients you collect from the Farm.

During this hands-on lesson, participants can expect to learn how to muddle ingredients, infuse flavors and other techniques to impress their guests at home all summer long!

Participants must be 21 and over. Light fare will be provided.

Wednesday, July 8
4:00-6:00pm
The Farmstand
$100 per person

Love the Bard? Don’t miss two special celebrations: The Shipwreck at Island Boatyard on July 23 — an evening of music, performances, and themed drinks — and a Shakespeare Fair at the Windmill on July 26, with performances, farm treats, and fun for all ages.

Get Shipwreck’ed With The Cast
Thursday, July 23
6:30pm
The Shipwreck at the Island Boatyard

Twelfth Night Performances
Saturday, July 25 & Sunday, July 26
6:00pm
Manor Grounds
$40/per person; children under 10 are free

Shakespeare Fair
Sunday, July 26
11:00am
The Windmill
$20 per family

We’re thrilled to welcome The James Hunter Six to Sylvester Manor for a special Creekside Concert this summer. Led by UK singer-songwriter James Hunter — known for touring with Van Morrison — the band brings an irresistible blend of soul, R&B, and vintage groove, fresh off their acclaimed new album Off The Fence.

NYC’s high-energy blues duo New Moon Acoustic Blues opens the show.

The James Hunter Six
Saturday, August 8
4:30-7:30pm
Creekside at Sylvester Manor
$55/person; children 9 and under are free

The Shelter Island Town Board has closed our Site Plan Review public hearing, and is working on conditions for approval, with a vote expected later this summer. Once the regulatory process is complete and we obtain a Building Permit for the 1737 Manor House we will develop an RFP and put the project out to bid to contractors.

Under plans developed by Architectural Preservation Studio, DPC, the entire exterior of the Manor House will be rehabilitated in accordance with national preservation standards. The front rooms will be used for museum activities, including tours, exhibitions and other programs highlighting Sylvester Manor’s unique role in our region’s history.  The back of the Manor House will be converted into our Center for History & Heritage, with artist and scholar residences.

We’ve raised over $8.5M toward the project’s $13M Capital Campaign goal, including numerous grants and support from generous donors. To learn more about this and other capital projects, visit our Capital Projects FAQ. 

Trails Open

The trails and grounds are open for your enjoyment, seven days a week from sunrise to sunset. Pick up a map highlighting our four walking trails (Creekside, Woodlands, Old Growth Forest and Farm). Paper maps are available at the kiosk at the front entrance to the Manor and also at the Welcome kiosk located by the parking area near the bathrooms. You can always download a digital version by clicking the button below.

Due to storm damage, the Land Bridge is temporarily closed. Please adhere to the posted trail closures.

Leashed dogs are welcome, but please pick up after your dog and dispose of the waste properly. No bicycles or motorized vehicles are allowed on the trails. The public restrooms are open to the public.

Download the “Sylvester Manor Walking Tour” from the App Store for a self-guided tour of the grounds. Use the app and learn more about our historic property at your own pace.