Ogunquit Fireworks

Fireworks are coming on July 4! DJ Jaz will be spinning tunes at the Main Beach parking lot beginning at 7pm, and the fireworks display starts at 9:15.

When Pigs Fly opens new Business!

A new pizzeria and company store will open on Route 1 Thursday, June 23, the design of which, along with its many offerings, is unique. When Pigs Fly Artisan Bread and Wood-Fired Pizzeria will offer not only pizza made with the sourdough the bakery by the same name is noted for, but also appetizer plates, salads, draft beers and draft wines.
The 160 seat pizzeria includes seating within the building, and on a screened-in farmer’s porch and a back deck. There is parking for 80 cars on site as well. In addition to the restaurant, the bakery store, now located in a company store just south of the new building, will be included in the new quarters, selling the items already on sale at the present store. At the current company store one olive oil is sold and that will be increased to three at the new facility.
The wine and beer bar will offer 20 beers including many craft brews and several from Maine. There will be eight draft wines, four reds and four whites. The pizza will be Neapolitan style from wood-burning ovens, made with all natural ingredients including fresh mozzarella daily. A garden is planned on site to grow the needed herbs. They’re also going to have a lot of really nice appetizers and three or four salads. Other items on the menu will include red Portuguese style chowder, grilled octopus, meatballs, steamed mussels and more. They will also have their own line of gelato.
The new facility on Route One in Kittery will be open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week.

South Berwick Strawberry Festival

Always the last Saturday in June, this year the festival will be on Saturday, June 25th. The South Berwick Strawberry Festival officially kicks off summer for the quaint, southern Maine town of South Berwick. All over town, one can see the bright red, white and green strawberry flags that not only line the main streets, but can also be seen flying from many houses. The day is filled with food, entertainment, games and crafts.
For thirty-six consecutive years, hundreds of volunteers from South Berwick have come together for this South Berwick tradition. As always, official Festival activities will take place only on the grounds of Central School on Main Street in the center of town. A stop at the Strawberry Festival Information Booth is a must to find out more about the day’s schedule for entertainers as well as all the various activities are located.
Strawberry shortcakes have always been a favorite of the Festival. They will begin serving at 9 a.m. until it is all gone!. Last year over 250 cases of fresh strawberries, 80 gallons of whipped cream and over 330 dozen biscuits were used.
In addition to shortcakes and cheesecakes there is also a huge Food Court. Pancake breakfast, hamburgers, hot dogs, fries, cold drinks, frozen lemonade, fried dough chicken BBQ, Sandwich wraps, teriyaki nachos, fruit cups and cotton candy.
Throughout the day, a variety of entertainers from around the area will be performing on two stages set up around the grounds. Over 100 juried artisans will be on hand to display and sell their hand-made wares, including clothing, jewelry, pottery, photographs, paintings furniture and more.
Visit http://www.southberwick-strawberryfestival.com for a complete schedule of events.

Summer of Love at Playhouse with Michelle Lee

The Ogunquit Playhouse is thrilled to announce that star of film, television and stage, the renowned Michelle Lee will headline in the East Coast Premiere of the new Roger Bean musical “Summer of Love” on stage June 22 through July 16. Michelle Lee has starred on Broadway, in feature and television films and recorded and performed with legends of the entertainment industry. Ms. Lee is known world-wide form her Emmy nominated role as Karen Mackenzie in the landmark CBS series “Knots Landing”.
Michelle will star in the role of Mama, the earth mother of the Golden Gate Park band of hippies, in the Ogunquit Playhouse production of “Summer of Love “. This new musical by Roger Bean showcases the powerful music of the late 1960s by some of the most influential artists of the love generation including the Mamas and the Papas, Donovan, Janis Joplin, Jefferson Airplane, with songs that include “Dream a Little Dream of Me”, “Get Together”, “Piece of My Heart”, “White Rabbit”, “Spinning Wheel”, “Happy Together” and many more. Be prepared for a head on collision between cultures when a conservative bride runs away from the altar and runs into a VW bus full of hippies from Haight-Ashbury. With a little help from the hippies and the dropouts of San Francisco, she comes to realize she has to make her own kind of music. Take a trip down memory lane, remember your glory days and most of all enjoy the music! You’ll love the flower power, feel-good musical experience!

Kennebunk/Kennebunkport area

Native Americans inhabited the area and traded with early European settlers. The local Historical Society has a collection of buildings and displays that trace the evolution of The Kennebunks when it was a booming ship building and marine trade port making it one of the wealthiest towns in New England. The Brick Store Museum offers permanent collections, special exhibits and impressive architectural walking tours through the Kennebunk’s National Register Historic District depicting architectural styles of Colonial, Federal, Queen Anne, Greek Revival and Italianate. The Seashore Trolley Museum houses the world’s largest collection of operating mass transit vehicles and offers rides on an open air electric trolley across a three mile rail.

Thousands of years ago, Native Americans made seasonal trips over land to the Kennebunk Plains to hunt, and the name “Kennebunk” is believed to be an Indian word meaning “long cut bank” a likely reference to Great Hill at the mouth of the
Mousam River (at Parson’s Beach).

In the early 1600s, Europeans explored the Kennebunk River, and by the 1620s, permanent settlements were in place. Early settlers harvested the abundant timber and built sawmills along the rivers. Twenty years later, coastal and inland land grants were being parceled out. These were difficult times punctuated by Indian unrest, until a truce in 1760. The hardiest settlers continued to live near the Mousam and Kennebunk Rivers in what was referred to as the “Kennebunk Grants.”

As the lumber industry grew, vessels came to load sawn timber for houses and ships. The local shipbuilding industry began first on the Mousam River in the 17th century and then on the more navigable Kennebunk River. Shipbuilding continued into the early 20th century, making wealthy men of the area’s shipbuilders, merchants and sea captains. Their prosperity is evident in the beautiful mansions along Summer Street. America’s trade grew, necessitating larger ships, and the Kennebunk River was simply too shallow to accommodate larger vessels. The last sailing ship to be launched on the Kennebunk River was in 1918.

As shipbuilding was waning, new industries were taking its place.By the early 1800s, power generated industries were already flourishing along the Mousam River, giving rise to Kennebunk factories that made cotton, thread, twine, shoes and even trunks. By 1872, the Boston & Maine Railroad was carrying a new cargo on the three-hour trip to and from Boston: tourists. Just as today, tourists came to this “watering place” to swim in the ocean, canoe on the rivers and enjoy the simple elegance of the towns. That same year, a group of men from Boston and Kennebunk formed the Kennebunkport Seashore Company and bought more than 700 acres along five miles of coastline from local farmers. The idea was to create the ideal vacation spot. They built hotels and created the necessary infrastructure for a delightful getaway.

The group of “cottages” that started going up at Cape Arundel in 1874 represents one of the finest examples of a turn-of-the-century colony in Maine. By then, Goose Rocks Beach and Cape Porpoise were established resort destinations as well. The number of large hotels dwindled with the increasing popularity of the automobile and the opening of the Maine Turnpike.

Vacationers could come and go on their own schedules, and soon, extended stays became weekend visits or daytrips.With that change came the charming inns, B&Bs and tourist cabins for which the Kennebunks are famous.

In the 1970s and 80s, easy access to the Kennebunks’ attractions made them appealing year-round destinations.The Main Street village area has been carefully revitalized with keen attention to its history and architectural integrity. Kennebunkport too has maintained its “old Maine” charm with a vibrant commercial district and scores of historical buildings on lovely elm-lined streets. Few destinations offer today’s visitors the opportunity to experience hundreds of years of America’s past.The Kennebunks are alive with history, coupled with the luxury and convenience of the modern age.

Portland’s Old Port Festival

Old Port Festival 2011

 

Sunday, June 12, 11 am – 5 pm

Celebrate the beginning of summer in beautiful downtown Portland!

Come kick off the festival at the parade down Exchange Street at 11am with drummers, huge puppets from the Shoestring Theater, local mascots, dancers and more!

Listen to live music from 6 stages throughout the festival, enjoy festival food from vendors or local food from your favorite Portland restaurant.

Browse the creative and unique wares of over 90 local artists and craftspeople in the Maine Artists and Craftspeople section on Market Street.

Bring the kids and head to the Kid’s Activities and Entertainment area at Post Office Park!

Come take a leap on the trapeze swing, climb the 25 foot rock climbing wall or jump over two stories in a single bound and do amazing acrobatics on the Bungee Trampoline.

 

Information for this festival taken from the festival’s official website.