Fall River Chamber planning smaller Summer Festival

FALL RIVER – Next summer’s waterfront festival will be a smaller, family-oriented event, the Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc. announced today.
“We listened to the people who loved Fall River Celebrates America who wanted to see it made more affordable for families,” Thomas F. Lyons, BankFive’s president and CEO and the Chamber’s 2008 chairman, said in announcing the change.
“We will deliver on that request. The admission price will be substantially reduced from previous years, and we anticipate that will result in stronger attendance which in turn will bring added value to our corporate and business sponsors.
“Without the continuing support of our sponsors, we could not make these changes,” Lyons added.
The three-day event is planned for the weekend of Aug. 8 to 10 at Battleship Cove and Heritage State Park, the Chamber said. It will feature such family-friendly activities as a carnival, food vendors, a petting zoo and the Fall River Catches a Star Talent Contest, as well as local entertainment and the traditional Saturday evening fireworks festival.
“We have received the full support of Mayor-elect Robert Correia, for which we are most grateful,” said Monte Ferris of the Venus de Milo restaurant, the Chamber’s second vice chairman and the head of the Festival Committee.
“With the help of a dedicated core group of volunteers, we are delighted to again bring to the citizens and families of the Fall River area a great festival,” Ferris said.
Fall River Area Chamber of Commerce & Industry Inc. is an advocacy group with more than 800 business members. For more information, visit www.fallriverchamber.com.