Agency Details:

Working Waterfront Festival

The Working Waterfront Festival remains committed to a threefold mission: to celebrate the culture of the working waterfront, document it for future generations, and educate the public about its history and culture. In addition to producing the festival, project staff develops curriculum materials, presents programs in area schools, provides professional development for teachers and conducts oral history interviews with members of the working waterfront community.

Description:
The Working Waterfront Festival was created to celebrate the occupational culture and artistic customs of New England’s commercial fishing community and educate the public about the lives, skills and traditions of the working waterfront. This annual festival is presented free of charge in New Bedford, Massachusetts, America’s #1 fishing port, annually in September. Activities take place on several working piers and waterfront parks linked by a pedestrian way. More than simply a celebration, this is a unique opportunity for the public to get a first hand look at the culture of fishing and for the commercial fishing community to tell its own story. The event presents all that goes into bringing seafood from the ocean to the table in a way that is hands-on, educational and fun. Visitors are encouraged to listen and watch, but also to taste, touch and converse. Demonstrations & Contests of Fishing Skills including net mending, scallop shucking, fish filleting and survival suit races feature industry skills honed over generations. Vessel Tours allow visitors to learn about different types of fishing vessels, talk with crews, see how the gear operates and get a sense of what shipboard life is like. Guided Harbor Tours present a view of the port from the water. Performances of live seafaring and ethnic music as well as storytelling, theater and poetry take place on several stages throughout the Festival. Platters of fresh, local scallops and fish, lobster rolls and other fine seafood are available for purchase. The U.S. Coast Guard presents on-board tours of Coast Guard vessels and helicopter search and rescue demonstrations. A tugboat muster and whaleboat races take place on Saturday while the traditional Blessing of the Fleet takes place on Sunday afternoon. Members of the working waterfront community take part in Panel Discussions on topics such as Storms At Sea, Close Calls and Women in the Fishing Industry. Nationally recognized Authors read from and sign their books. Cooking Demonstrations by galley cooks demonstrate the challenges of preparing meals on board ship while other demonstrations introduce visitors to basic seafood culinary skills. There is plenty for families to enjoy including a Children’s Tent with maritime craft activities, Corporate Exhibits present the latest in gear and technology innovation while Informational Exhibits by some 20 non-profit groups highlight joint efforts within the fishing industry and the scientific community to make fishing a more sustainable activity as well as the work of various industry advocacy and support groups. Fine maritime artists exhibit and sell their work in our Maritime Artisans Marketplace while books and performer CDs are sold in the Festival Bookstore. Voted a Top 100 Event in North America by the American Bus Association.

History:
2009 is the 6th Annual Festival

Contact people:

Laura Orleans, Program Director, (phone), (email) Kirsten Bendiksen, Assistant Director, (phone), (email) Jessica Bailey, Project Manager, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (508) 990-0199

Address:

P.O. Box 6553 New Bedford, MA 02742

Web Site: http://www.workingwaterfrontfestival.org

Last updated on July 31, 2009