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Blue Crab Festival still in the works for May
By Jessica Vaitis
The Little River Blue Crab Festival will still go on, according to Horry County Councilman Harold Worley. Residents, business owners and the former Blue Crab Festival committee are working to insure that the festival will continue and occur the third weekend in May.
“By this weekend we’re hoping to have the committee appointed and in place, if not by the weekend then by the first of the week,” said Worley of the continuing efforts to save the festival. Former organizers had sent a letter to some of the waterfront businesses and many of the vendors in November cancelling the event, causing an outcry in the small waterfront village.
“We don’t have anyone designated as yet for the committee, but we have a list of people. We have people from the Little River Chamber of Commerce and some of the business owners have expressed interest in participating on the new committee. Right now our main concern is trying to move the festival forward to make sure it happens. Time is of the essence,” said Worley.
Members of the former Blue Crab Festival Committee had approached the Horry County Council in order to help with the festival. The council initially declared that they would appoint an 11 member committee but hesitated to move forward until seeing records from the 501C3 that owns the Blue Crab Festival name.
“We’ve all been working steadily for the past six weeks. Once everything is in place, we are going to approach the council again. We had to get legal documents in order and make sure everything was straightened out with the 501C3. Those things will hopefully be completed by the weekend and then the council can be appointed,” said Worley.
An expressed concern from supporters of the festival was the potential loss of vendors from the letter that was sent by former organizers. The fear was that vendors who traditionally reserved their spots at the festival would have already scheduled their dates at other events and that there would not be enough vendors for the festival.
The vendors were also a source of concern cited by Allen Lee, former festival organizer, who said that some of the business owners complained about the number of food vendors in a festival meant to highlight local cuisine. There was complaint that the number of vendors had changed the Blue Crab Festival from a local event into a carnival-like atmosphere.
“I have personally sent a letter to the vendors to let them know that the festival will go on. There were still a couple hundred vendors waiting, and hopefully we will have the applications in their hands by the weekend,” said Worley. The involvement of the local businesses on the new committee would potentially give them the ability to be selective with vendor applications, allowing a solution to the concerns about food vendors.
“What we are looking for from the Horry County Council is the longevity of the committee. We want to make sure there is a body in place, preferably the council, who will appoint this committee over the years. By assuring longevity we will be able to avoid this happening again,” said Worley.
“Once everything is in place and the committee is to be determined, we will begin to notify businesses on the waterfront. There will be a Blue Crab Festival this year,” said Worley.
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