New London - For years, Chic Hendel, one of the original organizers of Sailfest, walked around downtown during the summer weekend festival shouting out orders and greetings through a megaphone.

To this day, he said, he is only known as "Mr. Bullhorn."

"No one knows my name,'' said Hendel, who was involved in the waterfront festival for 17 years before hanging up his bullhorn in 1993.

Seventeen years later, Sailfest, which will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday on the city's waterfront, is still going strong.

"I go every year,'' Hendel said. "I see people I haven't seen all year.''

This year's festival, which is put on by the Downtown New London Association and Neff Productions, will feature the usual array of vendors and crafts, a road race and a sailing regatta. The Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation will again sponsor the Saturday night fireworks show.

Barbara J. Neff, executive director of the festival, which is in its 33rd year, has rounded up a group of volunteers who have been working since January to create a show that will express the multicultural makeup of the community.

Sailfest kicks off at noon Friday at Waterfront Park where two stages will offer musical entertainment. At the Custom House Pier Stage, The Tartan Terrors will perform Irish music, comedy and dance at 9 p.m. In addition to the Custom House Pier stage, the New London Rocks stage on City Pier will feature local bands starting at 5 p.m.

On Saturday, vendors will line Bank and State streets. New this year is the Hygienic Outdoor Fine Craft Festival on Bank Street. The Connecticut Tigers will be on hand to hit some balls at the Parade Plaza.

Bike New London is also providing secure space for those who bicycle to the event. A bike valet will be available for $1 a wheel, from noon to 9 p.m. on Saturday at the corner of Eugene O'Neill Drive and State Street.

At 8 p.m. Saturday, the city's favorite hometown band, The Reducers, will perform for the 15th year in a row at Custom House Pier.

The Mashantucket Pequot Fireworks Extravaganza, which features Grucci pyrotechnics, starts at 9:20 p.m. Saturday and is choreographed to music on KOOL 101FM.

On Sunday, landlubbers can run a 5K road race through the streets of the city. Registration is 7:30 to 9 a.m. and the race starts at 9:15 a.m.

The sails come back to Sailfest, also on Sunday, with the third annual New London Maritime Regatta. Spectators can watch the single-mast sloops and catboats from Waterfront Park and from Fort Trumbull. The race starts at 11 a.m.

k.edgecomb@theday.com

IF YOU GO

What: Sailfest

When: noon-11 a.m. Fri., 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sat., and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sun.

Where: Downtown New London

How much: free

Information: www.sailfest.org