Maryland Folk Festival set to enhance local economy

Entertainment, Entrepreneurship, and Economics

Salisbury, Md. – Friday, September 20th kicked off the 2nd annual Maryland Folk Festival, held in Downtown Salisbury. Many residents and visitors are flooding the streets, and the festival is known for bringing a nice boost to the local economy. The question is, in today’s economy, how are businesses fairing at the festival?

Economy

While many come to the Maryland Folk Fest for entertainment, many entrepreneurs and local business owners say they appreciate the economic gain. Organizer for the Maryland Folk Festival Caroline O’Hare says in years past, they’ve made over 50 thousand dollars in beer sales alone. “Not only does it bring together the community, and it creates this civic pride, and it also plants seeds for future artistic endeavors, but it also brings a lot of money into the region… We’ve seen on our really big years, tens of millions of dollars, coming into not just Salisbury, but the region. When someone travels, to an event, they’re buying gas, they’re buying some food, maybe they’re staying at a place, maybe they’re not, but maybe they’re doing a little shopping.”

Entrepreneurship 

This also gives start-up businesses or local organizations like the Elks Lodge in Crisfield, a chance to raise some extra money. Gary Brown of Pride Lodge #194 says this is their second year at the festival, and this is a great fundraising opportunity. “When you are low in cash on that end of Somerset County, every possibility of having something to help the Lodge and help the community is great.”

Not only does this help local entrepreneurs, but it also benefits small business owners located in Downtown Salisbury, like Mitch and Leigh Anne Mariner of Delmarva Home Grown. Mitch tells us this is their first year at the festival, and they’re excited for the foot traffic. “Downtown Business owners got to eat, and we eat by people frequenting our shops, and when there’s a surplus of people, there’s a surplus of opportunities… I’m hoping to see a lot of folks, and I’m hoping to see them all carrying plants.”

Entertainment

Allen Swiger is Director of the Arts and Culture Business Department for the Maryland Folk Festival. He says even the entertainers appreciate the financial support, and they deserve it. “We’re really excited to have the local state which is highlighting talent in and around our area and They deserve just as much exposure as anybody else coming in from around the world, so having those funds dedicated to them so they can get that limelight as well is amazing.”

As you heard, many people will have financial gain at the festival and as for families, organizers ensured the event would be free and feasible. The festival is set to continue through Sunday, September 22nd, and organizers are encouraged to come and have fun.