We get off to a great start in late August and September with wonderful, fun-filled state fairs! If you’ve never taken your family to a fair in Maine, make this the year!!

Maine State Fairs

WINDSOR FAIR – The Windsor Fair begins August 29th and runs through Labor Day, September 6th.
LOCATION: 82 Ridge Rd., Windsor, Maine.

BLUE HILL FAIR – September 2nd through September 6th. The Blue Hill Fair is located on Route 172, in Blue Hill, Maine.

Thursday, September 3, 4:00pm to 10:30pm
Adults $5.00
Children under 12 are Free.

Saturday, Sunday, September 5 & 6, 8:00am to 11:00pm
Adults $8.00
Children under 12 are Free.

MAINE SALMON FESTIVAL – Sep 03 thru Sep 05, 2010. Sep 03 thru Sep 05, 2010 in Eastport,Maine.
Call 207.853.4644 for information

The Maine Salmon Festival celebrates the fishing industry of years past as well as the Atlantic salmon aquaculture industry of today. Events include Paint Eastport Day, live music, fine arts, crafts and antiques fair, sailboat race, wine tent and a motorcycle rally and show.

It’s an exciting time at the Northern Maine Fair. From July 30th through August 8th the fairgrounds will be bustling with activity. Particularly exciting this year will be Vincenta Pages and her six white bengal tigers. You can see photos of these beautiful animals and get a complete list of all the fair events, dates and times by clicking The Northern Maine Fair

Northern Maine Fairgrounds are located at 84 Mechanic Street in Presque Isle, Maine.

From July 30th through August 8th, York, Maine celebrates “York Days” with a variety of exciting events held every day. It’s a festival of activities for the whole family.

Click here for a complete list of events, locations and times.

Plan now to enjoy some, or all, of the great activities in beautiful York, Maine!

Enjoy the 4th in Maine!

Maine is a great place to celebrate the birth of the nation. Festivities are underway in many towns already. Growing up in Portland, we usually went up on the Eastern Prom to watch the fireworks.  Over the years I have attended firework displays in other communities around the state. We love the 4th of July in Maine! Parades, Music in the Park, Great Food, and Fireworks are just a few of the things happening in Maine communities this weekend.

Bath Heritage Days
Bath Heritage Days activities include a carnival, arts and crafts shows, art in the park, strawberry shortcake sale, shipbuilders triathlon, parade and big fireworks finale on July 5th at 9 p.m. at the Bath waterfront.

Ogunquit Days
Jul 01 thru Jul 05, 2010. Ogunquit Days features activities and events all around town and is sponsored by the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce.The spectacular Ogunquit fireworks display on the Main Beach starts at 9:30 pm.

Annual Bethel Art Fair
Jul 03, 2010. Bethel Art Fair at the Bethel Village Common runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Village Common. Crafts, art, kid’s activities, live entertainment and jazz, puppet show, juggling and a lot of fun.

Cars and Antique Aeroplane Show
Jul 03 thru Jul 04, 2010. The Annual ’50s, ’60s and ’70s Car and Antique Aeroplane Show is held at the Owls Head Transportation Museum. See the Golden Age of Autos, enjoy a classic car rally, engine room demos, Model T rides, children’s activities and more. Also see one of America’s finest flying Museums in action.

Portland – Annual Fourth of July Celebration
Sunday, the annual 4th of July celebration and fireworks show will be held at the Eastern Promenade Park. This year, in addition to the fireworks show, the celebration will include a free Patriotic Pops concert by the Portland Symphony Orchestra which will feature performances of Sousa, Gershwin, and Tchaikovsky making it a true Stars and Stripes Spectacular. The concert is scheduled to begin at 7:40 PM and run throughout the fireworks display, which will begin at 9:20 PM. Spectators not on Munjoy Hill, can enjoy the concert by listening to a live broadcast on Maine Public Radio. A rain date is scheduled for Monday, July 5th.

4th of July Celebration

Bar Harbor – Independence Day Celebration
Jul 03 thru Jul 04, 2010. Independence Day Celebration in Bar Harbor. Two full days of fun-filled events

Augusta — Fourth of July parade
“Hometown Heroes,” 1 p.m. July 4. Bands playing all afternoon; activities at Old Fort Western; fireworks at Mill Park over the Kennebec River

Bangor – Fourth of July Parade
Fourth of July parade, “100 Years of Boy Scouting,” sponsored by Bangor, Bangor Breakfast, Brewer, Hampden and Orono-Old Town Kiwanis clubs, 11 a.m. July 4th. Fireworks sponsored by Bangor Area Fourth of July Corp., dusk, over Penobscot River between Bangor and Brewer.

Bar Harbor- “America the Beautiful,”
Fourth of July parade, 10 a.m. July 3, blueberry pancake breakfast, seafood festival of lobster, mussels, corn, strawberry shortcake. Craft fair and marketplace at YMCA, high-speed lobster race. Bar Harbor Town Band, 7:30 p.m. July 4 on Village Green, free concert, fireworks at 9 p.m. over Frenchman Bay.

Camden
Fireworks at 9 p.m. Saturday, July 3, launched from Curtis Island toward Camden Harbor. Rain date July 5.

Castine
Castine Town Band, Fourth of July musical gala with Castine Brass Quintet and Tarrantine Fife and Drums, 4 p.m. July 4 at the Town Green, Court Street. Free. Bring chairs or a blanket.

Dexter
Fireworks at dusk Saturday, July 3, to celebrate Independence Day. The fireworks can be viewed best from the Dexter Regional High School athletic field or the Dexter Recreational Area on Lake Wassookeag.

Eastport-Five-day Fourth of July Festival
Exciting activities every day -Independence Day parade, 2 p.m.; fireworks, dusk.

Millinockett
Fourth of July adults’ and children’s parades down Central Street to Penobscot Avenue to town bandstand at 10 a.m. Saturday, July 3, followed by Kids Day at Jerry Pond from noon to 3 p.m. Fireworks at 9:45pm

Unity
Fireworks will be displayed at 9 p.m. Saturday, July 3, from the racetrack infield.

Craft Show Display

Jun 04, 2010
Summer Soiree and Vendor Show
Woods Road
Falmouth , Maine 04105
Information – 207.653.8224

Jun 05 thru Jun 06, 2010.
Caribou Spring Arts and Crafts Festival
308 Sweden Street
Caribou, Maine 04736
Information – 800.722.7648

Jun 12, 2010
Greenville, Maine
Moosterpiece Craft Fair
At the Katahdin Steamboat parking area
Information – 207.695.2702
Map and Directions

Jun 26, 2010
1st Annual “Whatever Week” Arts Festival
9 Summer Street
Augusta, Maine 04330
Information – 207.622.2424

Jun 26, 2010
Annual Saco Spirit Spring Arts Festival
Saco, Maine
Information – 207.286.3546

Craft Show Display

Spc. Wade Slack - American Hero

Spc. Wade Slack, from Waterville, Maine was killed in Afghanistan. MaineUSA extends their deepest sympathy to his parents, family and friends. Governor Baldacci has ordered all flags to be lowered to half-staff on the day of Slack’s funeral. Spc. Slack is an American Hero to be remembered for his service and honor to this country.

“We can never take for granted the service of our men and women in uniform,” Gov. John Baldacci said. “They are the best among us and sacrifice for their country and their communities. Our prayers go out to Spc. Slack’s family and friends.”

Sen. Olympia Snowe said in a statement that Wade “tragically gave his life defending our nation with limitless courage” and that “we owe him a debt of immeasurable gratitude that we can never repay, and must never forget.”

U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud said in a statement that Maine “has a long tradition of coming together during a crisis, and I know the entire Waterville community and all Mainers will join me in assisting Wade’s family with whatever they need during this difficult time.”

McLaughlin Garden

May 7th is National Public Garden Day and gardens around the country are having special events. In So. Paris, Maine, (Main St.) McLaughlin Garden will be open from 10am to 5pm, celebrating this event with an open house. Admission is free and refreshments will be served. The gift shop open and the plant shop. Check out their website

Scarborough Salt Marsh

Scarborough Marsh Clean-up Day
April 24th
9am to noon at the Audubon Center
(207)  415-8331 to register

Here is a great opportunity for you and your family, club or group of friends to pitch in and help with the annual clean up day sponsored by Audubon and Toyota. In Maine we are privileged to have some of the most beautiful salt marshes. They have been a favorite since I was a child. I remember the smell of the marsh at low tide and I just loved it so much. It’s changed a lot since then and much has been done to preserve the marshes for generations to come.

Comerants and Gull at Scarborough Salt Marsh

You can help to continue this legacy by spending some time helping with the preparation for the upcoming season. It will be a day you won’t forget. More Information

Kayaking the Scarborough Salt Marsh

Make May Day a Family Day

May 1, 2010

Kennebunk’s 12th annual May Day celebration. A fun-filled day of activities for the whole family!

• May Day Parade – 1:30
• Antique and Classic Cars
• Shriners
• Shoe String Puppet Theatre
• Make a May Basket at the Brick Store Museum
• Book and bake sale at the Kennebunk Free Library
• Art and Crafts show at Lafayette Park
• Try your hand at chalk art
• May Pole Dancing
• Rock Climbing Wall
• Live bands
• Shops, restaurants and food vendors
• Much more than stated here

Plan to spend the day! There is something for everyone, plus great food, shopping and plenty of live music.

Mark your calendar today!!

Kitchen Tour – Kittery and Kittery Point
May 1, 2010

A self-guided tour in historic seacoast towns of Kittery and Kittery Point, Maine. Tour includes kitchens of all kinds. Time: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Cost: $23 in advance; $25 the day of the event. Information and tickets: 603-436-2400 or visit www.themusichall.org

May 15, 2010
3rd Annual Maine Grains and Grapes Festival -  Many Maine Brewing companies will be featured.  For more info phone (207) 783-2009

May 15 thru Jun 12

Moose Mainea is a month-long series of events for children and adults. Events include a Moose River Canoe Race, Kid’s Fun Day, Moosterpiece Craft Fair and Famous Moose Tales. For info phone (207) 695-2702.

Beautiful Maine Garden

From the day the seed catalogs arrive in January, Mainers start planning their gardens. Flowers, annuals and perrenials, are plotted and planned by height, color, fragrance and attractiveness to bees, butterflys and birds. There is a lot to consider, not to mention the outlay of money! If you’d like to learn more about garden design, you can learn from some experts at Coastal Maine Botannical Gardens.  On May 5th from 10:30 am to 12:30 pm they will conduct a program entitled, “Design and Plant a Mixed Bed Garden.”  This is a hands on class where you will learn “techniques to prepare soil, position the plants, and install a well-orchestrated symphony of color and texture.”  You’ll work with Gardens Plant Curator Bill Cullina and the horticulture staff as your instructors. Make your plans now!  $25.00/members and $30.00/non-members.  Purchase tickets here  and visit their website  for more 2010 events.