10/23/2026
As one of the vendors who was scheduled to participate in this yearās National Shrimp Festival, we wanted to share our perspective and express our sincere gratitude to the Coastal Alabama Business Chamber and everyone involved in organizing this event. š©µ
As a small business, we understand that participating in festivals and markets comes with inherent risks. Over the course of doing countless markets and events, weāve always understood that cancellations, especially those caused by circumstances beyond anyoneās control, are simply part of doing business. While disappointing and sometimes financially difficult, we recognize that these risks are part of the commitment we make when signing up to participate.
We went into this event understanding our contractual obligations and never expected to be reimbursed for our vendor fees. That being said, we are incredibly grateful for the fees that were refunded, the 50% credit toward next yearās booth fees, and the waived application fee. These gestures were not something we felt entitled to, which makes them all the more appreciated.
Itās also important to recognize that the financial impact of this cancellation extends far beyond the vendors. The organizers, local businesses, volunteers, and countless others invested an extraordinary amount of time, money, and effort into making this festival possible. No one wanted this outcome, and everyone experienced a loss in one way or another.
We certainly understand the frustration and disappointment surrounding the cancellation. We felt it ourselves after pouring so much time, energy, and resources into preparing. But we also believe that gratitude and understanding go a long way, especially when circumstances are entirely outside anyoneās control.
And speaking of gratitude, we would be remiss not to acknowledge the incredible community that rallied around us in the wake of the cancellation. š©µ
When we found ourselves with an overwhelming amount of freshly baked goods and no festival to bring them to, our community showed up and showed OUT for us. From placing orders and sharing our posts to commenting, engaging, spreading the word, and simply offering words of encouragement, the outpouring of support was something we will never forget.
So many of you went out of your way to support our little bakery, and because of you, we were able to recoup a portion of what we had invested and avoid so much of our hard work going to waste. What could have been an incredibly discouraging weekend instead became a beautiful reminder of why we love doing what we do and why we are so grateful to call this community home.
You werenāt obligated to support us, but you chose to. And that kindness means more to our family than we could ever adequately put into words. We truly hope you know how much of a difference you made. š„¹š©µ
We are thankful to be part of a community that continues to support its small businesses, even when faced with difficult and unexpected circumstances.
Thank you to the Chamber and everyone behind the scenes for your efforts, your generosity, and your commitment to making next yearās festival a success. And to our customers, neighbors, friends, and fellow small businesses who lifted us up when things didnāt go as planned, thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
We may have missed out on Annual National Shrimp Festival this year, but we certainly didnāt miss out on experiencing the very best of our community. š¦š©µ
With love,
Selah Sourdough Co.
