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2007 Working Waterfront Festival: an authentic
success
New Bedford Economic Development Council
 AThe
2007 Working Waterfront Festival took place in New
Bedford, America’s largest commercial fishing port, this
past Saturday and Sunday. This free, family-friendly
event opened the waterfront to the public and offered a
rare look into commercial fishing, America’s oldest
industry.
More than simply a celebration, the Working Waterfront
Festival was a unique opportunity for the public get a
firsthand look at the culture and traditions of the
commercial fishing industry and for the working
waterfront community to tell its own story. The event
presented all that goes into bringing seafood from the
ocean to the table in a way that is hands-on,
educational and fun.
The 2007 Festival explored the many roles of Women in
the Industry. Women are employed in all aspects of the
fishing industry from skippering vessels to
manufacturing gear; from running settlement houses to
processing fish; from advocating for the industry to
working in fisheries science; from owning boats to
running shore side businesses. The experiences of women
who work in the industry as well as those who are
connected to the industry through familial ties was
explored through a myriad of programs. In addition, the
Festival continued to feature vessel and harbor tours,
demonstrations and contests of industry skills, live
music, fresh seafood, children’s activities, author
readings, panel discussions and cooking demonstrations.
In just four years, the Working Waterfront Festival has
quickly become a flagship event. The Festival was one of
only three events in Massachusetts to be voted one of
the Top 100 Events in North America by the American Bus
Association for 2007. In addition, the Festival also
received the Spirit of Commerce and Industry Award from
the Southeastern Massachusetts Convention and Visitor’s
Bureau.
Congratulations to organizers and volunteers who created
another spectacular opportunity to showcase this jewel
of our city.
September 24, 2007 |
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