For 25 years, the end of summer and beginning of fall in Eastport, Maine, has been marked with a festival, a gathering, a celebration of our local resources, especially the salmon raised in the waters of Passamaquoddy Bay.
Of course, no community festival is complete without a meal.
The main event of the Eastport Salmon Festival has always been the Salmon Sunday meal. Through the years, the details of the weekend’s events and the meal — the side dishes and desserts, the servers and cooks, the downtown location — have varied. The one constant that brings us all back is that delicious piece of grilled salmon. We eat under the big tent at a table surrounded by friends, neighbors and visitors. We look up from our meal and gaze contentedly at the unsurpassable view of the bay those of us who live here try not to take for granted and that we love to share with those travelers who are wise enough to step off the beaten tourist path to seek us out.
The 2011 Eastport Salmon Festival takes place on Labor Day Weekend, September 2 – 4. The long holiday weekend gives folks from away more time to enjoy and explore the natural beauty and community warmth that Eastport has to offer.
We’ll have some popular features of past festivals, including:
Community pie supper on Friday night
Chowder and Chili lunch on Saturday
Grilled salmon lunch on Sunday
Wine and beer tastings
Music under the food tent by local musicians
Paint Eastport Day
Salmon Festival 5K run
Children’s Art Activity at the Library
Boat tours of the salmon pens
Guided historic architecture walking tour
Guided cemetery tour
Plus some new events:
First Annual George Harris Sr. Memorial Fishing Derby
Chamber of Commerce auction
As you wander through the downtown vendor’s displays, take note that they were chosen with two criteria in mind: that they all are Washington County-based and that the person selling the product had a hand in its creation. We want you to experience the talent that exists here in this special place, so you will know why the people who live here hold it so dear.
More events seem to be added every time the Salmon Festival Committee meets, so stay tuned and make your plans now to spend Labor Day weekend way Downeast in Eastport for the best little homegrown celebration of local flavors you’ll ever love.