Mayor Expresses Disappointment with Chamber Decision

Salisbury - Mayor James Ireton, Jr. today voiced his disappointment at the news that the Salisbury Area Chamber of Commerce has chosen to cancel the popular Salisbury Festival after 32 years.

In a post on their website earlier today, WMDT reported that the Chamber of Commerce had not given any reason for the cancellation.

“It’s a major surprise, but not something we can't get over,” said Mayor Ireton. “The Salisbury Festival has been a staple of our lives for over three decades. I think most of our citizens are going to be scratching their heads, wondering why this tradition has to come to such an unceremonious end. The release from the Chamber was vague, yet we are holding out hope that they have recently brought another event onto the radar for late October 2015. Additionally, we were immediately contacted by the Jaycees about a possible event during the original date of the 2015 Festival.”

While the spring will now be without its usual centerpiece event, the Mayor pointed to the increasingly popular 3rd Friday events held monthly, as well as other key Downtown successes, such as the newly launched 1st Saturdays, the NYE Ball Drop and the opening of Headquarters Live and The Brick Room which are making the City’s core an ever more attractive destination.

“There is a limited pool of volunteers and talent,” said the Mayor. “With so much going on that pool must be stretched. I'm not worried—I see more energy downtown now than at any time in the past 30 years.

“We now have an event on almost the same scale as the Salisbury Festival every single month. With all of the momentum Downtown, we see nothing but cause for celebration. I’m sure the Chamber feels the same way.”

Publishers Notes: I had spoken to Council President Jake Day referencing this event several weeks ago. I had expressed to him how I had heard they were cancelling the event and Jake assured me the Chamber was in fact going to continue the event but they were changing the date towards the fall. This is an unfortunate announcement. Nevertheless, a lot of what the Mayor says is true and promising for Downtown Salisbury. For ADULTS, that is. It kind of reminds me of when Mike Dunn cancelled the Festival of Lights AND the Salisbury Fireworks. Let's see, Ireton has no children. Dunn has no children. Day has no children. Let's have a beer.