Summer Fun in Coastal Maine

Each summer, the small coastal town of Machias, Maine, is the setting for wonderful annual festivals ideal for family vacations. The town rests in a geographic area known as Downeast, which includes this part of Maine and areas of the Canadian Maritime provinces. Located about an hour from Bar Harbor and two hours from Bangor, the historic town is known for its craggy coastal beauty: The name Machias derives from the Passamaquoddy translation for “bad little falls,” a geographic element that features prominently in the river running through the town.

In 1775, the town was the site of the American Revolution’s first naval battle, the Battle of Machias. The event involved an armed vessel, the British schooner HMS Margaretta. At the small museum located within Burnham Tavern overlooking the town’s river, visitors can view artifacts from the battle. Each June, the battle itself is reenacted during the Margaretta Days Festival.

This year’s festival takes place June 15, and includes demonstrations of period crafts such as hoop rolling and cornhusk doll making. An encampment depicts life from the era, with trapper’s cabins, weavers, blacksmiths and spinners. Visitors can watch skirmishes play out between patriots and Red Coats (spoiler alert: the patriots win); and dine on authentic period cuisine such as meat pies, fruit pies, venison stew and cornbread.

Children and adults can listen to storytellers recounting historic events. Musical entertainment is provided by the UMM Ukulele Band and the Freemont Street Band, with performances by accordion player Elna Davis, guitarist John Viselli and fiddler Barbara Lapham.

On Aug.16, 17 and 18, the town hosts the annual Machias Wild Blueberry Festival. The grounds of the Centre Street Church provide a setting for displays of crafts, food that includes fresh lobster rolls and plenty of blueberry-themed treats, and live entertainment. Performers will include Nova Scotia-based Celtic music ensemble The Ancient and local musicians Duane Ingalls and Clifton Moser on strings.

Fun family-centric events include a children’s parade and blueberry cooking contest, blueberry farm tours at Welch Farms, blueberry quilt exhibition and a blueberry pie-eating contest. This year, visitors can enjoy a performance of Blueberries on the Roof, a musical comedy. The plot involves a climatic threat to the coastal blueberry fields of Smithfield Farms from rising sea levels, and the help of blueberry fairies assisted by the Machias Wild Blueberry Tambourine Corp. Entrance to the festival is complimentary, but tickets must be purchased to attend the musical performance of Blueberries on the Roof.