Updated: Summer Fest features events in park, downtown

FARMINGTON - The annual summer bash brings art, food, contests and live entertainment to the downtown Friday, with the Downtown Business Association, local organizations and vendors providing fun for the whole family.

Organizers have consolidated all activities into  a single day for the second year in a row; events run from 11 a.m., beginning with the traditional Art in the Park and running until 9 p.m. with live entertainment at the stage. In addition to other annual favorites; the road race, the Fireman's chicken barbecue and Pie on The Porch, a number of local businesses will be putting on their own events as vendors move out into closed-off Broadway.

Photographer Johnna Haskell sets up her tent for Art in the Park in 2011.

Art in the Park will be held in Meetinghouse Park, with artists and craftsmen setting up tents from 11 a.m. until 6 p.m. Musicians will be performing from the gazebo as visitors browse the artwork. St. Luke's Church's famous lobster rolls, served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. right next to the park, will complete the festival atmosphere.

Mooseville will be having games and contests for children and adults with a huge sidewalk sale! Stonewall Kitchen Gourmet Foods will be out for sampling as well! We'll also be offering S'mores like we do every Friday night from 6-8 or later. 10-90% off everything storewide. Deeper discounts after 6 p.m. too! Brodey Moose, Mayor of Mooseville, will also be out and about! www.facebook.com/mooseville for more details!

Meanwhile, Mt. Blue TV will be holding an open house with free barbecue on Academy Street, behind Merrill Hall, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m.

The Roost on Main Street will be open from 11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m. serving summer food specials and having fun to celebrate the festival. Drink specials will be on tap as well.

Pie On The Porch runs from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Holman Parish House, located at 227 Main Street. Old South Church will be serving up homemade pies, strawberry shortcake and bread pudding. Come sit and relax and enjoy dessert and homegrown musical entertainment featuring instrumentals and vocals. The $4 serving includes a beverage. In case of rain, Pie On The Porch will be moved to the Old South Church vestry/assembly room next door.

Randall Probert

At Twice-Sold Tales on Main Street, author Randall Probert will be autographing copies of his books from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m. Probert, a Maine north country game warden for 20 years, is perhaps the most popular contemporary author of novels about the Maine woods. This year he has released 'Train to Barnjum,' a novel set in the shadow of Mount Abram in Franklin County. His 12 books to date provide an interesting mix of more traditional tales involving game wardens and those who may be less strict in following rules, and also other books with more fantasy science fiction trends. In addition to Probert’s signing event, Twice-Sold Tales will also be having special sales for the weekend. More information here.

As usual, Farmington firefighters will be barbecuing in the Church Street parking lot, next to the courthouse. Barbecue will be served from 4 p.m. until gone.

Manwe

Devaney, Doak & Garrett Booksellers will be holding a Lord of the Rings Trivia Contest with some highly desirable secret prizes, beginning at 4 p.m. DDGs is located on Broadway. Manwe and Varda, King and Queen of the Valar, discuss the contest here.

Registration for the 32nd annual Summer Fest 5K and 12th annual Kid’s 1-Mile Run begins at 4:30 p.m., in front of the Outskirts store on Broadway. The 1-mile race and 5K race begin at 4:30 p.m. and 6:15 p.m., respectively, beginning and ending in the downtown. All funds raised by the race will benefit the Mt. Blue High School Girl’s and Boy’s Cross Country teams. T-shirts will be given to the first 100 finishers of the 5K, distributed at the end of the finish chute. T-shirts will also be awarded to the top three finishers in each age category of the 1-mile race. Race participant raffle following the awards ceremony and results published in the local newspapers. More information here.

The Farmington Gem Award will be presented at 6 p.m. The Gem Award is presented to a deserving, "gem" of a person who has given selflessly to this community. Ron Gelinas of Mainestone Jewelry came up with the idea last year, to honor a special person as part of the summer festival.

Live entertainment will be running from 11 a.m. until 9 p.m. Performing artist include David Carr and Kyle Sareyani's contemporary jazz, Route 41 ReVisited, The Absentees with Lena & Abby, Foothills Jazz, Country Choir and Shepherd's Pie, as well as a variety of other local performers. Specific play times can be seen at left.

[Editor's Note: Got a contest, sale or special event going on in the downtown on July 27? Email us at editor@dailybulldog.com so we can add it to our list!]