August 9 and 10 from 10 to 4 PM at Raitt Homestead Farm Museum, 2077 State Road, Route 103, Eliot, Maine

Celebrate all that is good about Maine: the taste of blueberries, potatoes, lobster and bean hole baked beans!  …the sounds of local bands and Maine’s own famous Don Campbell Band!  …live demonstrations and many children’s activities!   …shopping that area artisans have to offer!

Food at The Celebrate Maine:
Highlights include the “Summer Grill” which will feature authentic Bean Hole Baked Beans, Cabot Cheddar Cheeseburgers, Sheilds Hot Dogs and renowned marinated steak tips & chicken breasts from The Meat House. Maine lobster rolls, Maine steamed lobsters and corn on the cob. Brown’s Old Fashioned ice cream, Congdon’s Donuts and the world-renowned, homemade strawberry & Wyman’s Wild Maine blueberry shortcake made with Bakewell Cream can be enjoyed at the “Maine Eats & Treats” segment.  The ever-popular “Shipyard Brew Pub Beer Garden” makes a welcome return, offering a selection of their award-winning beers & ales as well as a variety of Capt’n Eli’s Soda. Much more…

Schedule of Events:
Saturday, August 9 - Gate open from 10 to 4
Admission: $4.00 per person, Children 12 and under are free.
10:00am to 4:00pm
All Day Activities: Craft Show  - Gateway Farmer’s Market -Cow Patty Bingo - Displays & Info from The Maine Department of Agriculture, York Land Trust and others  -  A rock climbing wall -Train Rides in the Raitt Farm barrel train ($4 per ride) -Crafts, Games and demonstrations for children  -Face painting -  Pony rides from Lyman Hill Farm ($4 per person) -Horse drawn wagon rides (free)
10:00 to 12:00: Live Entertainment:  Simons & Goodwin - contemporary and traditional folk and country with a smattering of soft rock and silliness
11:00: “Raising of The Beans” - Bill’s Famous Beans will come up from the bean pit.  Check out the display by the Maine Folklife Center.
12:00 to 3:00: Live Entertainment:  The Don Campbell Band

Sunday, August 10 -Gate open from 10 to 4
10:00 to 2:00:  Antique Car Show by TSC Car Club   9:00 to 12:30: Registration, 2:00: Cruise
10:00: Chef Jeff of FOX23, My Fox Maine, will sample his lime tarts with Wyman’s Wild Maine Blueberry compote.
10:00am to 4:00pm
All Day Activities: Craft Show  - Gateway Farmer’s Market -Cow Patty Bingo - Displays & Info from The Maine Department of Agriculture, York Land Trust and others  -  A rock climbing wall -Train Rides in the Raitt Farm barrel train ($4 per ride) -Crafts, Games and demonstrations for children  -Face painting -  Pony rides from Lyman Hill Farm ($4 per person) -Horse drawn wagon rides (free)
10:00 to 12:00: Live Entertainment -Paul Joyce - Award winning musician who plays, sings, and picks traditional country music
12:00 to 3:00: Live Entertainment - Four Father’s of Rock - They are all fathers who’ve come together and are celebrating their love of Rock & Roll
3:00 to 4:00: Live Entertainment - The Nerve - playing original Rock & Roll inspired by everyone from Elvis to the Beatles and The Who! Closing out the festival with a bang!!Please bring your lawn chair or blanket to enjoy the music on! Sorry, NO COOLERS.
Presented by: The Greater York Region Chamber of Commerce and The Raitt Homestead Farm Museum  — Tickets are $4 pp per day, children 12 & under FREE.
Call 207-363-4422

 A blend of information to start the day:

The Front Street Market at the Salmon Falls Mills in Rollinsford kicks off today from 9 am until mid afternoon.  Artists, craftspeople, and growers will be offering their wares, there will be music all day. Rollinsford Fire Department is providing a fire engine for children to explore from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. Front Street and Lower Mill restaurants will be serving breakfast. Story-telling will be held in the new Rollinsford Public Library, located in the Lower Mill. Childrens crafts will be in the Upper Mill. FigTree Café (located daily in the Lower Mill) will provide a brisquet in the grill area from noon – 3 p.m.

Hamilton House offers the third concert in its Sundays in the Garden series:  July 20: Omalley’s Alley.  Including bassist Tom Martin and drummer Gene Guth of the popular seacoast R& B band Rhythm Method and guitarist Justin Walton of Dreadnaught,  this ensemble will reach into each other’s repertoire to give material by artists such as Booker T & the MG’s and George Harrison their unique stamp.  The concert begins at 4:00 p.m.  Admission is $8 for adults, $7 for seniors, $4 for Historic New England members and children, free for Historic New England Garden and Landscape Members.  Concert goers are welcome to bring their own chair or blanket and picnicking is encouraged.  In case of rain, concerts are held in the garden cottage.

A portion of Route 91 will be closed to traffic starting July 23  through Aug. 30 for culvert work. Local traffic will have access to their homes but the road will be closed to through traffic from Pudding Lane at the York Corner end to Scotland Bridge Road. Traffic will be diverted down Route 1 to Beech Ridge Road and then to Scotland Bridge Road. The Town of York website has more details.

Nature’s Way Market is offering locally grown produce this summer.  Last night I had local baby squash and crispy cucumbers from local farms that I got at the Market. I can’t wait to see what’s coming next.

Feel like getting away from Maine this summer?  Head to the Jamaican Jerk Center, 1400 Route One in York (Cape Neddick) to be transported to the Caribbean.  This jerk stand serves up chicken, pork, and rib jerk (spiced and marinated meats) served with rice and plaintains as well as goat curry and Ackee and Saltfish, Jamaica’s national dish, if you are feeling adventurous.  Food is packed to go for take away or for eating at the picnic tables and hammocks set up around the stand.  The Boston Reggae band, Counscious plays every Saturday night until Labor Day.  It will make you dance, mon.

There’s a new restaurant in the Kittery Foreside area.  Tulsi serves up Indian specialties based on fresh and local foods in a sophisticated atmosphere decorated with the rich colors of Indian spices and bold abstract art.  It’s at 2 Government Ave. in Kittery.  I was delighted by their mussels served in a rich and spicy curry sauce accompanied by a warm crispy naan bread.  I also had a vegetable korma that had fresh corn in it.  Chef Rajesh Mandekar says they try to use as much local fish and produce as possible to create traditional Indian flavors with a Maine flair.

Each Saturday and, new this year, Tuesday afternoon, the York Farmers’ Market provides a way to buy from local food and craft producers.  The market is held every Saturday through October 11 from 9 AM to 1 PM and on Tuesdays from July 1 through September 9 from 2 PM to 6 PM  in the lot behind the York Chamber Visitor’s Center at its location on Route One in York across from the entrance to I-95.

You’ll find an assortment of food, baked goods, handmade products, organically grown produce and much more.  Go on Tuesdays and you’ll see two South Berwick residents.

Buddha’s Burning Buns, owned by South Berwick resident Jane Adams offers cookies, muffins, breads, granola & other assorted baked goods.  You can also find Jane’s products at Nature’s Way Market.

South Berwick resident Hope Murphy’s booth, fuZing!, showcases her unique fused glass jewelry.  These one of a kind pieces shimmer with color and pattern.

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