Over forty years ago, the idea for Seafair was the brainchild of a Rockport man, Bill Christian. He believed the area needed a celebration in the fall to fill the lull between the summer visitors and the arrival of winter tourists.
Though the event has grown since its creation, it remains very much the same as Christian envisioned it: a parade, arts and crafts, bands, water entertainment and a gumbo cook-off were part of the very first Seafair. Today they all remain major attractions.
Christian formed a Board of Directors, established a 501 c 4 non-profit organization. EAch Board Member was a integral part of those beginning years. A lot of blood, sweat and tears was experienced in those beginning years. In April of 2000, Pam Farley, President of Seafair at the time came to a Rockport-Fulton Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors meeting and requested that the Chamber of Commerce take it over. After much discussion, the Chamber Board voted to take on the event. That year, during Seafair the community experienced the coldest of cold fronts for that time period and four solid days of rain.
It was shortly after that rain out event that Bill Christian came into the office of the Chamber with a lot of encouraging words and a box full of Seafair history. The Chamber is committed to the continuing the Seafair legacy and the wonderful ideas of Bill Christian.