Milton chamber postpones Horseshoe Crab festival

Milton Chamber of Commerce announced it will pause the 2025 edition of the annual Horseshoe Crab and Shorebird Festival.

Executive Director Jessica Velazquez-Schlegel said in a statement, “We understand the disappointment many will feel, as we too hold this event close to our hearts and appreciate its unique way of celebrating our beloved Milton and its natural heritage. As with any safe, high-quality, large-scale outdoor event, the festival depends on a wide range of factors to be successful and sustainable.” 

She continued, “Several key challenges – including, but not limited to, resource constraints limiting space and capacity, and rising costs causing funding gaps that take time to solve – made planning this year's event to the standards you have come to expect more difficult than we had anticipated or are able to overcome.”

Velazquez-Schlegel said vendors who have already submitted payment for their booths will be reimbursed in full. She said the chamber is hoping to bring the festival back in the future, perhaps as soon as 2026.

“We are already looking forward to bringing the Horseshoe Crab and Shorebird Festival back in a future year, and are committed to making it an even greater success. We are reevaluating our structure, seeking new partner co-hosts, and hope to return with fresh energy and an expanded focus on conservation, education and community celebration,” Velasquez-Schlegel said. 

The Horseshoe Crab and Shorebird Festival has been a Milton tradition for 21 years, usually held on Memorial Day weekend. The event was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic but reemerged in 2021. 

For many years, the festival was held at the empty lot next to the Lydia Cannon Museum at the corner of Union and Magnolia streets, but last year the event was moved to Milton Memorial Park. The festival is a family-friendly event featuring local vendors, arts and crafts, food trucks and education exhibits, usually with a live horseshoe crab present.