The weekend of family fun and feasting is expected to draw 20,000 visitors from the all across the mid-Atlantic region. The Maryland Seafood Festival is a rich tradition in the State and has been held annually for 40+ years, with the most recent 30 years being held the weekend after Labor Day at Sandy Point State Park. That tradition has been built around a safe, family friendly environment showcasing the great seafood that Maryland has to offer while bringing people from all over the East Coast, building revenues for the State through tourism and park fees in the offseason. Live music performances, local charities selling delicious treats, creative craft booths, not to mention everyone’s seafood favorites, guarantee fun is had by all.

“We were thrilled that ABC Events has purchased the Maryland Seafood Festival and will continue this community tradition of celebrating our maritime heritage and devotion to seafood,” said Bob Burdon, President & CEO of the Annapolis Chamber of Commerce.  “The company’s management of New Year’s Annapolis and the Maryland Heritage Festival  have been very successful and I am sure  this endeavor will be the same.”

“Last year’s event was cancelled due to the uncertain effects of a downturned economy, but ‘schools’ of disappointed festival goers made it clear the Seafood Festival must return in 2009,” said Ayrianne Parks, spokesperson for ABC Events. “This is a fantastic event that brings our community together  and this year we will make it bigger and better than ever -- with fun, food, and entertainment for the entire family.”

Early sponsors of the 42nd Annual Maryland Seafood Festival include: Buck Distributing, Verizon Wireless, The Brick Companies, The Maryland Lottery, Phillip’s Seafood, Healthcraft, Innovative Spas, Larsen Boats and Carefree Boat Club.  Anyone interested in more information on the Crab Soup Cook-off or on sponsorship opportunities  please contact Ayrianne Parks at 202.263.2574.

ABC Events, Inc. is an expert event planning company with over  ten  years of experience. From small corporate golf events, charity fund-raisers and sporting events, to large multiple day festivals including: Op-Sail 2000, The Volvo Ocean Race Stopover in Annapolis, The Maryland Maritime Heritage Festival, New Year’s Annapolis and now the Maryland Seafood Festival. The company creates events with focus on: safety, planning, attention to detail, and community partnerships to produce the best of events. The ABC Events team is comprised of festival specialists with experience and expertise in logistics, marketing, entertainment, and food and beverage management.