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Hudson Seafest Scuttled

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By CARL ORTH corth@suncoastnews.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 11, 2008

HUDSON - An economic storm has sunk the Hudson Seafest for 2008.

Because of the downturn in the economy, organizers have canceled the 24th edition of the fundraising community festival held each November, according to Al Meyer, Seafest co-founder and board member.

However, Meyer pledges Seafest will return in November 2009 with its trademark grouper dinners and festivities.

Those viewing the Seafest Web site are greeted with the note: "We regret to inform you that due to the state of our economy, the Hudson Seafest 2008 has been canceled. The festival will take place in 2009 on Nov. 13, 14, & 15. See you then!"

"Everybody's business is so bad, we decided not to have it this year," Meyer said about the decision by the Seafest board several weeks ago.

Meyer has been there since the beginning with his wife, Kathy. The other co-founders included King and Beverly Helie, and Ron and Judy Vincent. Hudson's reputation as a fishing village inspired the idea for Seafest.

Ordinarily, about a dozen main sponsors help underwrite the Seafest, but organizers weren't able to line up enough sponsors in time this go-round. Sponsorships start at $100, according to the Seafest Web site, and go up to $10,000 for title sponsors.

Proceeds from the event go toward scholarships and community improvements such as sidewalks.

As a substitute event this year, a golf tournament is in the works for the weekend of Nov. 8, Seafest President Tami Paxton said.

Seafest has been scrubbed a few previous times since its inception in 1984, and has had several homes over the years - most notably along Hudson Avenue near U.S. 19 for a time.

In the past, the problem was securing a site large enough for the festival, which typically attracts some 30,000 visitors.

Seafest was canceled the last time in the late 1990s because organizers couldn't line up a site.

In 2000, the Seafest set up its tents along U.S. 19 across the street from the Kmart store north of State Road 52.

That site was a bit cramped for parking, though, so Seafest shifted to the site of the former Bayonet Point Mall, on U.S. 19 north of S.R. 52.

After Seafest lost access to the former mall site in 2003, when Wal-Mart bought the land, the community festival moved to USA Fleamarket, just south of U.S. 19 and S.R. 52.

The Seafest has made an impact with donations to many local nonprofit agencies over the years.

In addition to providing college scholarships for high school seniors, Seafest money has gone toward the Boys and Girls Clubs of Pasco County; the Toymakers, who build toys for sick children; Paint Your Heart Out; CARES Enrichment Center for Seniors; Sertoma Speech and Hearing Foundation; the Richey Community Orchestra; the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation; Hudson Community Club; and the American Cancer Society Relay for Life.

Community projects have included laying down sidewalks, planting trees and erecting streetlights in the Hudson area.

Carl Orth can be reached at (727) 815-1068.

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