The Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival committee has announced the 2016 event — scheduled for this coming weekend in J.F. Gregory Park — has now officially been called off.
 
“We made this decision with a heavy heart, but in light of the destruction caused by Hurricane Matthew, it’s the responsible thing to do,” said 2016 committee co-chair Tim Proffitt. The committee met with Richmond Hill officials Monday morning before making the decision.
 
“We’re more concerned with people getting their lives back to normal,” Proffitt said. “We’re fortunate everyone survived but now they need to concentrate on moving forward.”
 
Proffitt said there are “too many moving parts” to the event to try and reschedule for this year. “We spend a year planning this,” he said. “But now we’re already looking ahead to next year for the biggest and best ever festival.” In fact, next year’s dates for the Great Ogeechee Seafood Festival are already set: Oct. 20-22, 2017.
 
This is the first time in the history of the GOSF that it has been called off.
 
“We will all take a deep breath, give thanks our families and friends are safe and our homes and businesses were spared. We will join together, as we are called to do, to help each other dig out, clean-up and move forward,” added Jim Gardner 2016 RHBC Chamber Chairman.