The nation’s #1 fishing port hosts the Working Waterfront Festival — a free, family friendly celebration of the commercial fishing industry — on the working piers of New Bedford. The Festival takes place on Saturday, September 23rd from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. with whaleboat races kicking off the morning at 8:00 a.m.
More than simply a celebration, the Working Waterfront Festival is a unique opportunity for the public to get a first-hand look at the culture of fishing and for the commercial fishing industry to tell its own story. The event presents all that goes into bringing seafood from the ocean to the table in a way that is hands-on, educational, and fun.
This year, the Festival is partnering with the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center. Located in the heart of the City’s historic downtown, the Center’s mission is to tell the story of the commercial fishing industry past, present, and future through exhibits, programs, and archives. This partnership is a natural fit for two organizations dedicated to celebrating the commercial fishing industry.
The Festival will be presented in two locations: at Steamship Pier on New Bedford’s historic waterfront and at the New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center at 38 Bethel Street. These two sites will be linked by a free shuttle bus, allowing visitors to enjoy all the Festival has to offer.
Steamship Pier will host fishermen’s contests, industry demos, vessel tours, on water activities, cooking demonstrations, a food court, scallop shucking, nautical tattoos, safety demos, skills demonstrations, and more.
Whaleboat races and a tug boat muster will take place with viewing from the head of the pier. Exhibiters and vendors will offer information and products; seafood will be worthy of the nation’s #1 fishing port.
The Fishing Heritage Center will host performances of music and fisherpoetry on Main Stage; Mug Up sessions with author readings and signings; kids activities; and their current exhibit Nautical Tattoos and the Stories Behind Them: Portraits by Phil Mello.
The Festival will bring together a unique array of music, storytelling, and fisherpoetry. Many of the performers have close ties to the industry and reflect its ethnic diversity, including traditional sea chanteys and edgier punk rock sea chantey sounds, Portuguese fado, the music of Norway and Ireland, and more.
Linda Greenlaw will return to the Festival for a Q & A session with Mindy Todd of WCAI – Cape & Islands NPR Station. She will talk about fishing, writing and her newest book, Shiver Hitch, which was released in June. A book signing will follow.
Finest Kind: The New Bedford Fishing Industry is the new, original documentary produced by the Center, will be shown throughout the day. The film interweaves interviews, historic and contemporary footage, and photographs to provide a sense of the rich history and culture of the NB/Fairhaven fishing industry.
Parking is free at all meters and at the Elm Street Garage.The free shuttle departs from the Center and Steamship Pier. For more details visit www.WorkingWaterfrontFestival.org.
The Festival is made possible by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts as well as support from many local businesses, the City of New Bedford, and the Harbor Development Commission. The Working Waterfront Festival is a project of the Community Economic Development Center of Southeastern MA, a non-profit organization, and is co-produced by New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center.
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