Hampton Beach Seafood Festival Cancelled for 2020
HAMPTON - June 17, 2020 - Over the past few months, the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce has had to take a serious look on the ability of having our 31st Hampton Beach Seafood Festival. During this time, we spoke to many of our major stakeholders from volunteers & vendors to state and local officials on their thoughts about holding such a large event. We also considered public health and public safety protocols that would have to be put in place to put on an event that had over 100,000 visitors during the three day festival.
Based on these discussions along with advice and input from the Chamber's Board of Directors, unfortunately, the festival in the traditional sense that we have all come to know and love will not be happening in 2020. As much as we would love to continue our tradition, we just don't feel the environment would be right and we just do not know if the state of affairs will return to normal by festival time. In the best interest of the Public Safety and Public Health, the Seafood Festival as an event is cancelled for 2020.
Even though a physical Seafood Festival Event is not occurring, we do have plans for a Summer-Long Hampton Beach Seafood Celebration. After all, our event is put on by the Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce whose mission is to promote businesses and the community.
This year, the Hampton Area Chamber will produce a Summer-Long Hampton Beach Seafood Guidebook. This guidebook will direct Seafood Festival fans to the businesses where they can enjoy great food, shopping, and fun. Many of these businesses will be advertising in the guidebook and will be offering a variety of discounts. Starting on July 6th, the Summer Long Hampton Beach Seafood Celebration Guidebook will be widely distributed along the seacoast area including all of the area business locations up and down the coast. These free guidebooks will also be available at the chamber's beach office on Ocean Blvd.
The chamber also plans to have some seafood festival activities during the scheduled dates (9-11 to 9-13) that would include a 9/11 tribute, fireworks and a 5K road race. More information will be provided during the summer.
The Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce thanks all for your continued support and hope that we can all work together this year while looking forward to returning back to our regular festival model in 2021.
Courtesy of Hampton Area Chamber of Commerce