September 25, 2014 — America's No. 1 fishing port rolls out the red carpet this weekend to welcome visitors of all ages to the 11th annual Working Waterfront Festival. It's a free, fun and educational event that celebrates the area's commercial fishing industry and honors the men and women who dedicate their lives to bring fresh seafood to the table.
This year's theme, "Ship to Shore: Celebrating Families in the Industry," spotlights the traditional and contemporary roles of fishing families, many of whom have gone to sea for generations or worked on shore in a variety of occupations to support this backbone of the local economy.
Through a variety of hands-on, educational and fun experiences, spectators will have an opportunity to get a firsthand look at the culture of commercial fishing and use all of their senses to appreciate all that the fishing industry contributes.
The festival kicks off with a concert, "A Festival Sampler," at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the historic Seamen's Bethel at 15 Johnny Cake Hill. Guests will enjoy performances of traditional music, fisherpoetry and storytelling performed by such notable artists as the Beans, Bob Quinn, Bridget Fitzgerald, Dano Quinn, Dave Densmore, Jon Campbell, Matthew Byrne and Rob Seitz.
"The concert whets the appetite for the weekend and gives people a chance to listen to these outstanding performers," begins Laura Orleans, festival director, who notes that many will be entertaining throughout the weekend.
"It's a great lineup," Orleans continues, adding that some of the performers will offer free presentations at local schools before the festival. Concert tickets, $10, are available at the door.
Read the full story from the New Bedford Standard-Times