Watch this video of some Opening Day Highlights at the Union Fair 2023. Included are Opening Day Ceremonies with Union Fair President Matt Elwell, a tour of the livestock barns and interviews with some of the livestock handlers, the Youth Showmanship Class with Belties, and the judging of the Berry Pie Cooking Contest. Lots more was going on at the Union Fair so these are just some of the highlights. Come see the Fair for yourself next time!
Watch this Preview of what’s going on at Union fair this year, 2023. Charlie interviews Brittany Anthony, Blueberry Queen Coordinator, Rick Elwell, President of the Union Fair Committee, and Rick Butler, Head of Public Relations. Remember, the dates for the Union Fair changed last year. The Fair is held a month earlier than in past years; now at the end of July instead of the end of August.
Experience the fun of the First Annual Rockport Donut Festival held at Harbor Park on Beautiful Rockport Harbor in Maine on June 2 & 3, 2023.
The Festival included donut decorating, a variety of food trucks, a concert on the harbor Friday night, a 5 K run Saturday morning, a Donut Festival Parade, a Homemade Donut Contest, history of the origin of the donut, a catered Saturday evening dinner, and lots and lots of donuts! Be sure to attend next year!
Watch this Midcoast Maine Favorite Event – the Thomaston Fourth of July Parade and Celebration. The parade was led by the American Legion Color Guard and the 2023 Grand Marshall Bob Watts. The theme of the parade this year, “Freedom & Fireworks”, was carried out by the many floats, bands, automotive entries, kids on bikes, and community participants. Be sure to watch the end of this program for an interview with a representative of the Boothbay V.E.T.S. , Inc, an organization that is providing temporary, transitional housing for homeless vets in Maine.
In this 2023 episode of Going Places with Charlie & Penny, we visit a top tourist destination in St. Maarten – Topper’s Rhum Distillery Tour. Learn all about rum distilling and bottling and all the various specialty rhums ( French spelling) that Topper makes. In upcoming episodes, we will have more from the friendly island, St. Maarten.
Watch this video of the Maine Lobster Festival Parade, celebrating the 75th year of the Festival. The Grand Marshalls of the parade this year were the 2022 State Championship Teams from three local high schools – Oceanside’s Girls Basketball Team, Camden Hills’ Girls Swim team, and Medomak Valley’s Cheering Team. Also recognized was the 2020 Parade Grand Marshal – Rockland’s “Maine Lobster Lady” – 102 Year Old Virginia Oliver, escorted by a vehicle from the Owls Head Transportation Museum. The 2020 Parade was cancelled due to COVID, so Virginia Oliver finally had her chance this year to ride in the parade. The retiring King Neptune, portrayed for many years by Brian Messing, had his last ride on the Sea Goddess float, which he had personally redesigned and redecorated for this year’s parade. For many years Brian has portrayed the pirate Blackbeard and more recently King Neptune, walking the Festival Grounds and delighting the festival attendees. We thank him and the many other volunteers who make the Lobster Festival a success every year.
Watch this program on the Maine Wild Blueberry Pie Baking Contest. Matt Elwell, President of the Union Fair, chats with Charlie Crockett about the new events incorporated into Union Fair, and the pie judges are interviewed, discussing their backgrounds in baking and what they look for in a good blueberry pie.
Watch this program of the Maine Seafood Cooking Contest held at the Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland, Maine in August 2022. The five chefs this year were selected from over 100 applicants who submitted seafood recipes to the committee and were chosen to prepare and present their creations to 3 judges. We flow each contestant’s process as he or she creates the dish and presents it to the judges. The contestants came from as far away as Florida and as close Matinicus Island off the coast of Maine. The recipes are available online on the Lobster Festival website.
Watch this program of the Maine Wild Blueberry Muffin Cooking Contest, held at the Union Fair in Union, Maine, in late July 2022. This was one of many cooking contest at the Union Fair, including Blueberry Pies, Whoopie Pies, Strawberry Pies, Favorite Cookie, and Jerky recipies.
Watch this video of the Union Fair’s Demolition Derby, held on July 31, 2022. The usual Demolition Derby was preceded by a little kids’ Demolition Derby in their battery powered vehicles. Great entertainment for all!