The crab soup?s back on in Annapolis.
Organizers are putting together the first Ultimate Crab Soup Cook-off in September after the popular 40-year-old Maryland Seafood Festival was canceled this year because of poor economic conditions.
“For $10, you get to try a bunch of soup. I don?t see a big problem in that,” said Sean O?Neil, one of the event?s organizers.
“Besides, the latest vacation craze is to stay local, so I think we?ll have no problem.”
The cook-off, set for Sept. 6, originally was part of the Maryland Seafood Festival, held every year at Sandy Point State Park.
“The cook-off has always been a highlight of the seafood festival, and people make a tradition of going and enjoy the great soups,” said Susan Steckman, director of communications for the Anne Arundel Conference and Visitors Bureau.
But the leaders of the Maryland Seafood Festival aren?t as ecstatic, as the crab soup cook-off is the signature piece of the festival.
Bob Burdon, president of the Annapolis and Anne Arundel Chamber of Commerce, which hosts the festival, said he was not told of the new event until he saw a flier for it.
He stands by his decision to cancel the festival in hopes of keeping the event healthy in future years, saying that some key sponsors had pulled out of this year?s event.
“We had concerns, and those concerns were borne out,” Burdon said.
Nationwide, major regional festivals also are being canceled because of the economy. High gas costs and dwindling sponsorship have led major events in Florida and Wisconsin to delay festivities until 2009, according to an Associated Press report. Burdon also said construction of the overpass leading into Sandy Point State Park would have limited parking for the seafood festival.
He added the festival would mark its 43rd year in 2009 with a new version of the crab soup cook-off.
“We?ve already booked the dates,” Burdon said.
O?Neil said this year?s cook-off is expected to generate a $10,000 profit goal that will be donated to the Weems Creek Conservancy and the Lighthouse Shelter.
The cook-off will feature competitions over the best vegetable, chowder and non-traditional styles of crab soup, and will be held at the U.S. Navy-Marine Corps Memorial Stadium in Annapolis.
“Without the festival there is a void, and we?re hoping to fill that void,” O?Neil said.
