In 2004 OECBD and Arcata Main Street sponsored a study to gauge the income injected into the Arcata economy by visitors to the Oyster Festival. HSU Professor of Economics, Dr. Steven Hackett, designed the survey. OECBD Director, Maggie Gainer, assisted Dr. Hackett in recruiting and training a team of 10 students led by Student Assistant Jessica Digiambattista, in conducting the survey at the festival. Dr. Beth Wilson, Associate Professor of Economics, also participated in conducting these interviews of festival goers.

The survey measured Oyster Festival related spending in Arcata by visitors from outside Arcata. Survey design included nearly 400 interviews of visitors to the Festival throughout different times of the day and in all the different locations of the festival grounds.

Data from these interviews was compiled and analyzed to determine how much the Festival brought into Arcata. The full text of the study can be found in PDF format below.

Arcata Oyster Festival Income Study.

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