ROCKLAND — Preliminary statistics following the 68th annual Lobster Festival point to an overall one percent increase in revenue for the event. One particular driver was the sale of souvenirs, which increased 39 percent. On the flip side, food sales decreased less than one percent, and gate ticket sales decreased three percent.

Volunteers “cooked about 16,000 pounds of lobster, and served another 1,300 pounds of meat in lobster rolls,” according to Festival organizer Chuck Kruger in an email. Though this summer’s market price for lobster was significantly higher than last year, the Festival chose to‘hold the line on price hikes to customers, according to Kruger.

Those lobsters were cooked within the fairgrounds under a permanent brick structure between Buoy Park and Harbor Park. Each of the eight steaming tanks within can hold up to 240 pounds of the ocean delicacy at one time.

In an official statement, Festival President Brian Plourde said: ”It was a very successful Festival by any measure. Great weather, lots of fun, super volunteers. Some things were new and different, some things were tried and true.” 

The Lobster Festival, begun in 1947 as a way to unite the community and support the lobster fishing industry, has developed into far more than the meal of bibs, claws, and butter.

Many groups of people were seen at this year’s event, rooted in indecision by the options before them. Not only did they have choices among whole, roll, or chowder, but also Smokey’s Greater Shows carnival foods and street vendor sides.

Thai noodles, fries in compostable cardboard bowls, pizza, shaved ice, popcorn, and free pudding drew their own lines.

And that was just the food.

Each day had its own entertainment features: Sea Goddess pageant Wednesday, Schooner Fare and Don Campbell Thursday, seafood cooking contest Friday, parade Saturday, races and children’s parade Sunday. Those features all competed with the ongoing children’s touch tank, merchant and art tents, stage performances, and people watching.

Visitors from all over the world pushed pins into the display map near the official entrance to the grounds.  Europe, Asia, California, Rockland — all just wanting to be around fun, lighthearted people. And to eat lobster. 

“The directors will start immediately to plan next year's Festival, set for August 3-7, 2016. We welcome community comments and input aimed at making next year even better," Plourde said in his statement.