Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Visitor Services Events topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Visitor services reports surge in May, readies Juneteenth, July 4 and expanded children’s beach programming
Summary
The Culture and Tourism Department reported 223,700 visits and 70,000 visitors in May, outlined Juneteenth and Fourth of July plans, and described expanded children’s beach activities and an active events-permitting season.
Chantal (last name not provided), director of the Town of Nantucket’s Culture and Tourism Department, told the Visitor Services Committee that May visitor activity surged and the department is preparing a full slate of summer events, expanded children’s programming and continued passport assistance.
"We had 223,700 visits to the island, with 70,000 visitors," Chantal said, noting Memorial Day weekend alone brought about 27,400 visitors. She said the busiest days are Friday through Monday and that Terminal C (Logan Airport) is heavily used by travelers bound for Nantucket.
Chantal and staff described several upcoming events and operational details. Juneteenth will be held June 19 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 29 York Street with performances, a vendor marketplace and partnerships with the Nantucket Historical Association and the Museum of African American History. Fourth of July plans include the traditional water contest (moved to 10:30 a.m. to reduce Main Street disruptions), food trucks on Federal Street and a fireworks show scheduled for 9 p.m.
Dina, who handles events and permitting, said event applications are active: of about 170 applications received so far this season, 89 had permits issued and 117 events were complete (some events do not require permits). "We've been seeing a trend of people applying later," Dina said, and the department is conducting direct outreach when staff identify unpermitted events.
On children’s beach programming, Chantal and Dina said activities will run five days a week beginning the Monday after July 4 through mid-September. "Activities will start the Monday after July 4, and then it will go until mid September," Dina said. Programming will include magic shows, family-friendly trivia, tie-dye, crafts, Capoeira and Sunday concerts.
The department continues to assist with passports and renewals on a walk-in basis and reported passport application volume has fallen from about 100 new applications a month earlier in the year to roughly 40 in May; staff noted they also assist with renewals and other document assistance.
Staff asked the committee and local operators to help publicize event schedules and permitting guidance; they recommended that businesses and concierges direct visitors to the Cultural District calendar and municipal communications for weekly updates. No committee votes or formal actions were taken on the report.
