48 2022 OFFICIAL MAINE LOBSTER FESTIVAL PROGRAM
Our History
1961 MAINE LOBSTER FESTIVAL
OUR HISTORY Through the dedication of countless community members for 75 years now, the Maine Lobster Festival has endured and, many would say, has only gotten better each year.
THE BEGINNING It all began at a gathering of citizens and summer folk in March 1947, where a discussion arose as to what could be done about reviving the summer activities that Camden had prior to the war years. It was decided that having a marine festival of some sort would be appropriate. Having it become an annual affair was intentional from the beginning. It was known that a lobster festival held in Nova Scotia was a big success, and it was then suggested that this activity might be the answer for the community. In addition, it was suggested that it was time for the Maine lobster and the Maine lobster fishermen to come into their own. On that basis, the Camden-Rockport Lobster Festival was conceived as being the logical type of festival for this area.
After this decision, a non-profit organization known as the Camden-Rockport Lobster Festival Inc. was formed. Its president was Earl Fuller of the Maine Coast Sea Food Corporation; vice president, Clinton Lunt of Camden Shipbuilding and Marine Railway Co.; secretary, E. Hamilton Hall, editor of The Camden Herald; and treasurer and executive director, Henry S. Bickford. An executive committee was formed to work with and advise the group from the very first festival and continues today. The first officers were Wayne Buxton of the Maine Development Commission; Owen Smith, editor of the Maine Coast Fisherman; Rudolph O. Marcoux, national sales director of the Maine Broadcasting System; and Percy Keller, Camden's town manager. In addition, the Maine Sea and Shore Fisheries Commission, in the person of Richard Reed, assisted the executive director. Talbot O. Freeman, vice president of Pepsi Cola Company, was the master of ceremonies of the Camden-Rockport Lobster Festival. The soft drink company has generously arranged,
