This weekend marks the 42nd year the Boothbay region has hosted a Fishermen’s Festival, which was originally established to pay tribute to Lincoln County’s commercial fishing industry and the key role it has played in our history. The intent then, as it still is today, was to give fishermen a chance to have a little fun and celebrate the end of winter.

The contests and events have changed over the years. We no longer have competition to determine the fastest clam or scallop shucker, fish filleter, shrimp picker or net mender.

Why? Because most of the processing plants no longer exist — nor do the old-time experts who worked in them.

Also greatly diminished are the fisheries themselves. Shrimping was suspended last year due to low stocks, draggers are limited as to how many days they can land groundfish, we have very few scallop fishermen locally, and net menders are as scarce as hen’s teeth.

Over the years, we’ve changed festival events to better reflect today’s fishery, which mainly centers on lobstering these days. We understand that the lobster picking and eating contest was scrapped this year due to the high price of lobsters — the entry fee might not even cover the cost of the lobsters!

We don’t know what kind of fish our high school teams will be carrying in the codfish relay race, but there were some years when cod were so scarce and expensive, it was impractical to use them in the contest.

Lobstermen still enjoy demonstrating their skills and the speed and maneuverability of their boats in the trap hauling event, and the newer bait shoveling contest added a few years ago is appropriate for today’s lobster industry.

Of course, watching brave folks accept the challenge of crate running has continued to be popular year after year, as are the tugs of war, and enjoying a good fish sandwich for lunch never goes out of style.

For those of you who have never attended the service Sunday afternoon at the Fishermen’s Memorial, take our word for it when we say it’s a moving ceremony when you hear the bells toll and the reading of names of the scores of fishermen who have been lost at sea over the generations.

The Fishermen’s Festival committee continues to encourage those from nearby communities to participate in an effort to make this an all-county affair, but generally speaking, few outside of the region join in.

We know there must be some lobstermen who would do well in the trap hauling competition, bait shoveling, and could issue a challenge by forming a tug of war team, and we keep hoping every year to see some new faces in the various events.

Commercial fishing boats from neighboring ports are always welcome to join in the Blessing of the Fleet parade on Sunday, too, in remembrance of those who have been lost at sea. All they need to do is show up and rendezvous outside the harbor until it’s time to line up for the parade.

We always cross our fingers when it comes to weekend weather, but keep in mind that the festival was originally held even earlier (in March) when snow was not uncommon, because the festival was designed to be a strictly local event. Organizers weren’t expecting it to be a tourist attraction.

Understandably, it quickly became popular with others, at first with many of our summer residents who own property here, and later with visitors from not only Maine, but from out of state as well. Some of our inns and restaurants decided it would be good business to be open for festival weekend, and were rewarded for their efforts to open their doors a bit early in the season.

Fishermen’s Festival is all about fun, paying tribute to the fishing industry and reminding us all that it’s a challenging career that isn’t for everyone.

Take in as many of the events as you can; thanks to many generous sponsors, the proceeds helped build, and now support the maintenance of, the Fishermen’s Memorial on the harbor’s east side, and continue to provide scholarships to deserving college students pursuing marine-related studies.