Communities reap the benefits, feel the crunch, of summer festivals
The Maine Lobster Festival, the Moxie Festival, the Maine Blueberry Festival are a sure sign of summer in the state where countless festivals take place almost weekly. But how do you measure the success and impact of these festivals within the communities in which they’re held?
That’s just the question The Forecaster asked Denise Clavette, the director of economic development for Yarmouth as the town gears up for the 51st annual Clam Festival, which runs along Main Street from July 15-17.
“It definitely brings a notoriety to Yarmouth, which has measurable and immeasurable effects for Yarmouth businesses,” Clavette told The Forecaster.
The town’s Chamber of Commerce, which is hosting the festival, estimates that between 100,000 and 140,000 people attend the festival each year, but the chamber doesn’t disclose the amount of money generated from the festival.
Local businesses and the three dozen nonprofits that participate do come out big during the weekend. According to The Forecaster, the Ski Club, a booster group supporting the School Department’s ski teams, raises upwards of 70% of its annual operating budget just from selling fried clams at the festival. Matt Chappell, the owner of the Main Street eatery Gather, told The Forecaster that the festival definitely drives new people into the restaurant. But the sudden influx of people in downtown makes it a challenge to find employee parking, so much so that staff have to take a shuttle to work.
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