ROCKLAND — For the second year in a row, the Maine Lobster Festival will not be held because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival’s board of directors announced. 

“The Maine Lobster Festival board believes that the safety of our community, our volunteers and our guests is paramount,” read a statement posted to the festival’s Facebook account. “Because we hold a festival that serves food in tents to tens of thousands of guests, there are not safe ways for us to do this and comply with CDC guidelines. 

We have worked with our board, our city and the state guidelines, and despite looking at dozens of other options, we have regretfully concluded that we can not safely hold our event in 2021.” 

The board is hopeful to host its 75th festival next year, Aug. 3-7, 2022.