Through the dedication of countless community members for 79 years now, the Maine Lobster Festival has endured and, many would say, has only gotten better each year.
The Beginning
It all began at a gathering of citizens and summer folk in March 1947, where a discussion arose as to what could be done about reviving the summer activities that Camden had prior to the war years. It was decided that having a marine festival of some sort would be appropriate. Having it become an annual affair was intentional from the beginning. On that basis, the Camden-Rockport Lobster Festival was conceived as being the logical type of festival for this area.
The offer of “All the lobster you can eat for $1” caused the first festival to lose money, and for that and other reasons, the original Camden group did not pursue the event a second year. At the same time, the Rockland Junior Chamber of Commerce decided to bring the Lobster Festival to Rockland as a club project. It was in 1948 that the festival extended from one day to two and was held in July. Since then, the Maine Lobster Festival has been held starting the Wednesday before the first Saturday in August.
The Festival Grows
The Lobster Festival of 1948 became the Maine Lobster and Seafoods Festival. This name change was precipitated by the generous donation of hundreds of pounds of ocean perch by the Birdseye Division of General Foods to be cooked and served with the lobster.
In 1949, the festival expanded to three days and continued to be run by the Junior Chamber of Commerce as a club project. This was a successful year for the festival and promoted the event to Maine’s premier summer event. It had grown from a one-day parade and lobster feast in Camden to three days of events, with a Sea Goddess, visiting ships, Neptune and his Court of the Sea, and exhibitions.
In the fall of 1949, the local Junior Chamber of Commerce decided that the festival was too big to be operated by that organization alone and voted to form a corporation. Other local organizations, such as the Elks, Rotary, Kiwanis, Lions, and American Legion, as well as the Rockland Chamber of Commerce, joined in the commitment to make the festival a community-wide event, helping to promote its tourism and seafood orientation.
Community Rallies for Festival
In the early 1990s, it was announced that the festival would not be held due to financial reasons, and promises were made that it would return after a one-year hiatus. Community reaction was swift and strong. Canceling the Maine Lobster Festival, even for a year, was not acceptable for many community leaders.
The greater Rockland area rallied to its support with an infusion of new leadership and business sponsorships. A wave of community support, including financial, brought about a dramatically improved Maine Lobster Festival. Directors reorganized the event from top to bottom, even arranging for the construction of a new “World’s Largest Lobster Cooker.”
With renewed enthusiasm, new directors, along with a few of the remaining long-time directors and other hard-working volunteers, rebuilt the festival into what is now recognized as one of New England’s great summer events. The festival has consistently maintained a focus on the state’s most famous crustacean.
The organization and success of each year’s Maine Lobster Festival depends on the dedicated service of a Board of Directors — all volunteers from the local community — who work throughout the year to handle thousands of details. The Festival Corporation is a non-profit organization. Individuals can join as members, and new members are always welcome!
There are generations of both local and out-of-state families who have committed their energies to the festival. You are indeed true volunteers!
Contributing to the Community
An often-asked question by visitors to each year’s Maine Lobster Festival is, “Just what does the festival do for the community with the money it earns each year?” It is a legitimate question, and visitors may be interested in the answer.
In addition to bringing such national and international attention and goodwill to the Rockland area, the festival helps bring in nearly $1 million of “outside” money into the regional economy.
The Festival Board of Directors ensures that seed money for the following year’s event is allocated. The surplus is contributed to the greater Rockland community for beneficial projects, scholarships, activities, and donations to local organizations and causes.
In the last decade, the festival has donated over $975,000 to groups such as local schools, the Rockland Police Department, local fire departments, the Children’s Museum, local food pantries, and many other deserving local nonprofits.
The Festival also donates to Rockland city projects, such as $12,000 for new fencing at Mildred Merrill Park, $10,000 to the Bob Gagnon Cancer Center at Penobscot Bay Medical Center, a new ambulance for the City of Rockland, provided funds to pave the entire Rockland Public Landing, and $10,000 for repairs to the decking at the middle pier, adjacent to the giant lobster cooker.
The Festival donated a parcel of land, now known as Mildred Merrill Park, adjacent to the Festival grounds, to the City of Rockland. The land will be kept as green space and will retain an unencumbered view of the city’s harbor from South Main Street.
Each year, the Festival contributes considerable volunteer hours and funds to grooming and improving the appearance of Harbor Park.
A portion of its earnings is placed in the Festival Recreation Trust Fund, from which money is distributed for worthy recreation projects throughout Knox County.