THE NOT-SO-FREE FESTIVAL

“Free costs $1 million” is the new mantra from organizers of the American Folk Festival. Their message is that although admission to the three-day fete of music, arts and food is free, it costs $1 million each year to stage the event. Without enough corporate, foundation, government and individual support to cover that cost, organizers will have to look at ways to either raise more revenue or reduce costs. To avoid this, area residents, businesses and others who enjoy and benefit from the festival should dig deeper into their pockets to support the event financially or with donated time and labor.

Through its three years as host of the National Folk Festival and its successor, the American Folk Festival, which is in its third year, Bangor has answered skeptics who doubted the small city could pull off such an event. The top-notch entertainment, enthusiastic crowds and positive reviews made the city look at itself in a more positive way. Keeping this cultural and morale booster going means adopting a permanent view of Bangor as a destination for the kinds of acts and offerings the festival presented.

Each year, the festival comes close to its fundraising goal, securing 92 percent to 97 percent of the needed funding. Cumulatively, however, the small shortfalls add up, worrying the festival’s financiers, says executive director Heather McCarthy.

To date, just over $800,000 has been raised for this year’s festival, about the same as prior years at this time. Over half has come from corporations, $141,000 from government sources, such as the city of Bangor and the National Endowment for the Arts, and $104,000 from foundations. Individual donations have already surpassed the festival’s goals and stand at just over $48,000. However, this is well short of the $78,000 raised in 2002, the first year of the festival.

While not ready to panic, Ms. McCarthy said festival organizers are engaged in a long-term discussion of how to run the festival without ending up losing money. An admission fee, fewer stages and fewer acts are all up for discussion. The results from this year’s festival, which runs Aug. 24-26, will shape that discussion.

You can donate online at www.americanfolkfestival.com or during the festival by putting money into the buckets toted by volunteers.

The festival is also still in need of volunteers for a variety of tasks such as setting up and taking down the facilities, manning booths and carrying the donation buckets. Go to the Web site or call 992-2630 to sign up, preferably before Monday so you can participate in an orientation session.

It’s no accident that increased cultural activity and a livelier downtown have coincided with the city’s folk festival success. With a combination of major outside funding sources and local support, Bangor can continue to build on that success.