The Belfast Rotary Club still has opportunities for local businesses, individuals and agencies to sponsor activities at the August 2022 Belfast Harbor Fest.

Accompanied by print, online, social media and signage publicity, they include sponsorship and presentation of the National Boatbuilding Challenge cash prizes, Harbor Fest’s live entertainment for adults and children, the Harbor Fest Classic Boat Show and a special charity auction. “Last year’s event was a huge success,” says Harbor Fest chairperson Duke Marston. “It attracted thousands of local residents and summer visitors, and provided its nearly 50 sponsors with the publicity and recognition that they richly deserved.” 

While some of this year’s activities are already spoken for by sponsors such as Front Street Shipyard, Nordic Aquafarms, First National Bank, Waldo County General Hospital and Bangor Savings Bank, others are still available for sponsorship. Of special note are sponsorships of the National Boatbuilding Challenge’s cash prizes on Saturday, complete with the opportunity to make the presentation. “The top cash prize of $1,000 is twice the amount of any other offered by the nationwide challenge, and Harbor Fest’s winner gets the chance to compete in the World Championship later this year,” Marston says. The second and third prizes are $500 and $250.

Other sponsorship opportunities include Friday’s “Evening By the Bay” charitable auction to benefit students at Waldo County Technical Center, Saturday’s live music at the Steamboat Landing gazebo, the Frogtown Mountain Puppeteers’ performance of “Everybody Loves Pirates,” the popular Touch-A-Truck area and the Marine Swap. The weekend-long Classic Boat Show along the Belfast waterfront is also available. 

For more sponsorship information, contact Harbor Fest Sponsor Co-Coordinator Mickey Sirota at 207 322-5671 or mickeysirota@gmail.com. Information about the 2022 Harbor Fest can be found at belfastharborfest.com.

“Rotary’s motto is ‘service above self,’” said Club president John Golden, in a news release. “The Belfast Rotary Club’s nearly 70 members raise funds all year long so we can support the needs of the community.” This year’s service projects include Rotary’s support of seven food pantries and kitchens, and a Polio Eradication Pledge Walk in cooperation with Rotary International. The Club’s “100 Fund” provides winter clothing, boots and special Santa toys for nearly 200 Waldo County children and Belfast Rotary awards $80,000 in scholarships each year to graduating students from Belfast Area High School, Searsport High School, Mt. View High School and the Waldo County Technical Center. 

Major fund raising events planned to support these and other Belfast Rotary Club community service projects include a June 4 Charitable Golf Tournament, road races, pancake breakfasts and auctions as well as the 15th annual Belfast Harbor Fest on August 19, 20 and 21 along the city’s waterfront from the Boathouse to Front Street Shipyard.

Belfast Rotary Club, founded in 1925, is one of Maine’s largest and most active clubs. Its members meet in person or by Zoom Wednesdays at noon. The Club raises funds year-round to provide nearly $140,000 in yearly community gifts in support of food pantries, scholarships for local college-bound high school students and the 100 Fund clothing and toys project. For more information on membership or to make a tax-deductible donation in support of the Club’s year-round service programs, go to belfastrotary.org.