MADAWASKA, Maine — The Madawaska Select Board voted to go on with an upcoming concert despite concerns about whether it can meet its funding target for the $90,000 show.
Summerfest, slated for Aug. 22, will feature rising country artist Cody Lohden.
It’s the town’s first such concert and marks the first time in several years that a nationally recognized artist has agreed to perform in northern Aroostook.
The town had pledged to fund the event with private donations and not taxpayer dollars. But if it can’t meet its goal, it may have to ask residents’ permission to use town money. And if it cancels the show, it will lose about $30,000.
As of Tuesday, the town has $48,201 in confirmed revenue through sponsorships, tickets and other sources. The event’s total price tag is $89,025.
Town officials last week cut a proposed $58,000 production contract for the show nearly in half, down to $30,000. A new contract agreement under $30,000 is close to being approved, Economic and Community Development Director Kristen Henry said.
Henry and Madawaska Town Manager David Daigle are confident the town will surpass its goal through donations and ticket sales.
During a Tuesday Select Board meeting, Daigle said that the town predicts $150,000 in gross revenue from the event.
Board members worried about funding. Select Board Chair Renee Deschaine said she had looked at the numbers, and the town could lose money.
Deschaine and Select Board members Jenney Dionne and Paul Chasse strongly opposed going to a town meeting to ask for taxpayer money.
“I will not support going to ask taxpayers to do a special town meeting to vote to use the undesignated fund for this purpose,” Deschaine said. “I can’t do it. I’m sorry.”
Some residents said the funding goal could have likely been reached before the event if there was more time to plan and reach out to sponsors.
Madawaska Finance Director Caryl Albert expressed her department’s concerns in a Monday letter to the board.
“We would need an estimated amount of $40,000 in ticket sales just to break even, and this is where the finance department is struggling to support this,” Albert wrote. “We are very hesitant that we will meet this goal in just 11 days.”
St. John Valley Chamber Director Christina Ouellette supported the event, adding that the community’s forward momentum with events like Summerfest is influencing people and businesses to move to the area. A woman from Florida is considering purchasing a property in town for a business, she said.
“One of the things that has brought her here is the hullabaloo that we’re doing in town — the Summerfest, the new parking lots, the maker’s building — all of these things that she has heard about are why she wants to come to Madawaska,” Ouellette said.
Cancellation would cost $28,270, because contractual agreements have already been made with the performing artists, Henry said. These agreements are separate from the production agreement.
One resident said that, because the town is already locked into contracts with the artists, he supported going ahead with the festival.
“I don’t think you guys have a choice,” he said. “You’ve got to go with it and let it fall where it falls.”
Daigle attributed lagging ticket sales to negative discussions about the event on social media that may have impacted public perception.
The board voted to move ahead with the show, and set a special town meeting to increase the $100,000 cap for donations that can be made within a fiscal year up to $250,000. The meeting is set at 6 p.m. on Aug. 25 at Madawaska Middle/High School.
Though the meeting is after the festival, the town could choose to hold off on voting to accept donations that go beyond the cap until after the special meeting, Daigle said.
In addition to Summerfest donations, about $53,500 has been given to Madawaska for its Bicentennial Park project, leaving only a little room left for additional donations.
Beyond the production contract, the rest of the festival’s budget includes costs for event signage and merchandise, public safety, in-kind advertising, and fireworks. A portion also will go toward volunteers who helped put the event together.
Roughly 50 volunteers, including high school students, will work behind the scenes to ensure the event goes smoothly.
Lohden is a former firefighter and paramedic from Garfield, Kentucky. He released music independently until a viral TikTok video led to a record deal, according to Lohden’s website.
The show lineup also includes Maine-based Anthony Todd, an artist who blends country and hip-hop, as well as rapper The Real Young Swagg and Ryan Remalia with UnderWay.
The festival is set to take place at Birch Point along the shore of Long Lake. In addition to the concert, it will include children’s activities, a beer garden, food trucks and a fireworks show.
