ROCKLAND, Maine - Cloudy skies didn’ t keep thousands of spectators from lining the streets of Rockland for the 61st Maine Lobster Festival parade on Saturday morning.
“The turnout was great,” said Alice Knight, a member of the executive committee for the festival.
The parade lasted two hours with fire trucks, music and bands making their way down Maine Street.
The festival began on Thursday and features live music, rides, games and more than 20,000 pounds of lobster.
“I love the food,” said Sherry Schumacher, 11, as she cracked open a lobster claw.
Schumacher traveled with her family from Mozaga, Calif. for the festival.
“It’ s our twelfth year, we have a house nearby that we stay at,” said Danielle Schumacher.
Rockland Park was packed with vendors selling french fries, cheeseburgers and other treats.
Shawnie Thomas has been selling fried dough at the festival for the past 20 years.
“I love it,” she said while she cut dough for a customer. “I sell fried dough to people. Who isn’ t happy when they are getting fried dough?”
Thomas said business was slower than past years because of the cloudy and rainy weather.
“It will pick up this weekend though,” she said.
Nearly 1,000 volunteers help serve lobsters, sell tickets and clean up the grounds during the festival.
“I usually leave town this weekend,” said Jenny Jones of Rockland, a second-year volunteer. “But it’ s fun, there are a lot of people and even more lobster.”
The festival continues Sunday with events going from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information visit the festival’ s website at www.mainelobsterfestival.com.