State seafood festival canceled

The state seafood festival that has served as a major fundraiser in Anne Arundel County for more than four decades has been canceled for this year amid concerns of a weaker economy.

Also, planned construction on the Route 50 overpass at exit 32 that leads to parking for the festival at Sandy Point State Park, coupled with higher gas costs, would hurt foot traffic, causing profits to dwindle for an already low-margin event, said Bob Burdon, the chamber's president and chief executive officer.

Facing these concerns, the chamber board felt it was too risky to approve the budget last month for the 42nd annual festival, he said. The goal is to analyze the festival's operational model this year and bring the event back to Sandy Point in 2009.

"We're dealing with the unknown," said Mr. Burdon, also president of the festival board. "What is acceptable risk and unacceptable risk? You've got to make a tough decision."

Originally dubbed the Maryland Clam Festival, the three-day event typically has drawn more than 15,000 visitors from across the mid-Atlantic region each fall. It features live entertainment and serves as a fundraising event for nonprofit groups and churches that sell seafood to help raise money.

The festival's main highlight on Saturday afternoon has been the Crab Soup Cook-Off, sponsored by Capital-Gazette Communications. It has raised more than $90,000 for Chesapeake Bay Foundation fisheries programs, but the newspaper company also has canceled that event. Mr. Burdon said the chamber's decision to cancel the festival preceded that decision.

The $400,000 Maryland Seafood Festival supports itself financially through three revenue sources: corporate sponsorships, ticket revenue and food sales, Mr. Burdon said. Those funds are used to underwrite the costs of the festival, and any money left over from food sales is set aside to pay for the event during a potential bad weather year, he said. Last year, there were no reserves left over and the chamber had to dig up $2,000 of its own money to cover costs, Mr. Burdon said.

Although chamber officials already have reserved festival dates at Sandy Point in 2009, some participants were disappointed about the move to hold off this year.

"It was fun. I liked it," said Scott Cook, a cook for Buddy's Crabs and Ribs in Annapolis, which annually participated in the cook-off. "We won most of the time. It was fun to get out and see the public ... I just can't believe they would cut a good fundraiser out."

John Surrick, spokesman for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, said his group raised $8,000 through the cook-off last year, adding that the festival helped educate the public about seafood in Maryland.

"It's unfortunate that it has to be canceled this year due to financial concerns," he said.

Brendan Curley, the festival's executive director, said the event's volunteers and food vendors will be disappointed, but the hope is to bring the festival back better than before.

"I think that's the optimistic side, let's take two steps back to take two steps forward," he said.

Larry Ulvila, CEO of Insurance Solutions Inc. who was elected as the chamber's board chairman in January, said some have questioned the chamber's decision, but moving forward with the festival wouldn't be the right thing to do fiscally.

"There are too many stars that are lining up incorrectly," he said.

The poor economy has affected families and their ability to attend events and it could take attendees two hours to get to the festival thanks to planned construction, Mr. Ulvila said. Factor in bad weather and "it could be a disaster," he said.

The volunteer-run festival originally was part of a state initiative to heighten awareness of clams, a "state delicacy," according to the event's Web site. In 1966, the state turned the event over to the chamber, which designed it as a community fundraising festival and moved it to the Annapolis City Dock.

The event became an official subsidiary of the chamber, then known as the Greater Annapolis Chamber, in 1971. After the festival outgrew its City Dock location, the chamber moved the event to Sandy Point State Park in 1976.

Mr. Burdon said the goal is to update the event with healthier foods and entertainment that appeals to today's families. He said the chamber is contacting sponsors and nonprofit groups now so they can make other arrangements for fundraising.

Other chamber-run subsidiary organizations will move forward this year, including the Maryland Maritime Heritage Festival, which will take place May 2-4 at City Dock. Mr. Burdon said the event does not come with the large infrastructure costs of the seafood festival. Attendees also have a number of amenities to enjoy downtown.

Jay Kenty, assistant manager at Sandy Point, said he didn't expect negative consequences this year from the festival's cancellation. The park will be open for business as it would be any other weekend of the busy season. He said Sandy Point is the "last best deal in town" to picnic and recreate with family.

"We're not concerned about attendance," he said. "We will be busy regardless."