What a Weekend!
Published on Monday, September 29, 2008
39th Bourne Scallop Fest sends off summer
with 3 days of sensational sunshine and scallops
-For Immediate Release-
BOURNE – What a weekend it was for the 39th Annual Bourne Scallop Festival sponsored by the Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber of Commerce. Again, thousands of people feasted on 4 tons of scallops served along with a wide variety of other foods, including a new raw bar and fresh garden salads. Over 55,000 people arrived by bus, boat, train and car. Visitors from all over the county were welcomed including over 100 tour groups. The Bourne Scallop Festival has earned the distinction of being awarded the American Bus Association Top 100 Events for group tours in North America.
“The Bourne Scallop Fest has proved to be one of the premier festivals in New England, said Marie Oliva, President & CEO of the Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber of Commerce. “We had non-stop people coming from the time we opened the gate on Friday until the last scallop was served on Sunday. We enjoyed absolutely perfect weather all three days of the Fest.”
Over 500 volunteers helped manage the Fest. “It’s quite extraordinary that we were able to recruit that many volunteers,” said John LaFlamme, Scallop Fest Committee Chair and General Manager of Coca Cola Bottling Co of Cape Cod. A few years ago, we needed about 200 volunteers. That has now more than doubled in order to provide a quality event. We couldn’t do this without them.”
The Sheriff’s K9 unit was showcased on Sunday comprised of six K9’s and their officers that have been servicing the communities of Cape Cod since 1989. Four of the K9’s are trained to assist local police departments with patrol calls including searching for missing children and the elderly. The final two K9’s specialize in narcotics.
Deputy Sheriffs were also available to conduct Iris Scans on children, a new technology that replaces the old “fingerprinting packets” that were once distributed to parents to help identify their children in case of emergency.
Special thanks go to the extraordinary efforts of the Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office for set-up and breakdown of the Fest at Buzzards Bay Park. “The Sheriff’s Community Work Crew is essential to the operation of the Fest”, said Oliva. “The inmates, under the terrific supervision of Sgt. Joseph Brait, co-chair of the Scallop Fest Committee, spend several days working to build the site from scratch. It is invaluable to us.”
ENTRAIN from Martha’s Vineyard played to a jam packed crowd on Saturday night. A new great roster of non-stop entertainment continued all weekend including local favorites, The Moonlighters and Toe Jam Puppet Band for the kids.
Senate President Therese Murray and Patrolman Stephen O’Brien from the Barnstable Police Department opened the ceremonies on Friday afternoon that was attended by many state and local dignitaries and Scallop Fest sponsors.
Proceeds from the Bourne Scallop Festival go to the Chamber’s Scholarship Fund and operation of four (4) visitor centers in Buzzards Bay, Sagamore, Sandwich, and Wareham.
The Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber thanks over 35 Corporate Sponsors, many of which provided volunteers to help man the event:
Title Sponsors:
Comcast; Cape Cod Harley-Davidson
Premier Sponsors:
Falmouth Hospital; TD Banknorth
Presenting Sponsors:
Harpoon Brewery; Coastal Wine Trail of Southeastern New England
Major Sponsors:
Barnstable County Sheriff’s Office; Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Cape Cod
Supporting Sponsors:
A.D. Makepeace Co.; CVS; Eastern Bank; Tobey Hospital - Southcoast Hospitals Group; Sovereign Bank; Wareham Crossing
Business Sponsors:
Cape Cod Central Railroad; Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank; Hy-line Cruises; The Nimrod Restaurant & Jazz Lounge
Contributing Sponsors:
Amerigas; AT&T; Bay Community Alliance Church; Convention Data Services; County Club Enterprises, LLC; Falmouth Toyota Scion; Johnson Electric Supply, Rogers & Gray Insurance
Media Sponsors:COOL 102, 96.3 The Rose, WCOD106, 95WXTK
Southcoast Media Group;The Women’s Journal Enterprises, LLC.,
Lunch & Breakfast Sponsors (for set-up): Dunkin’ Donuts (Couto Management); IHOP, Mezza Luna Restaurant; Longhorn Restaurant; Tihonet Village Market; Daily Brew, Starbucks
What’s next? The Cape Cod Canal Region Chamber of Commerce will soon begin planning the 40th Bourne Scallop Fest, September 25, 26, 27.
