Have Fun at the New Gloucester Fair

The New Gloucester Fair is upon us, Saturday, Aug. 24. Besides music, food and lots of crafters, some other festivities will consist of a pancake breakfast from 8-10 a.m. and Summit Adventure Rides from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. The hours of 10 a.m.-2 p.m. will feature a huge car show, antique tractors on display, and a snowmobile expo.

Big Red Fire Truck, Backwoods Farm animals and pony rides will be taking place from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Face painting will be offered from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., a bake-off at 12 p.m., and a balloon twister making inflatable creations from 12-3 p.m. Dynamic Hapkido demonstrations will happen at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m., Zumba demonstrations at 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. An antler toss competition will go from 3-4 p.m. Crusher from the Maine Red Claws will be on hand from 10:30 a.m.-noon, while Slugger from the Portland Sea Dogs will be hobnobbing with fairgoers from 2-4 p.m.

Admission and parking are free, but donations will be gratefully accepted. No smoking and no dogs, please. Held rain or shine. The New Gloucester Fairgrounds is located at 106 Bald Hill Road, one-half mile from the blinking light on Route 100. For more information, visit www.newgloucesterfair.com, the fair’s Facebook page, or email info@newgloucesterfair.com.

Maine Native American Summer Market, with Performances

Come to the fifth annual festival of Maine’s finest, award-winning Native American artists at Shaker Village. Members of the Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Micmac and Maliseet tribes will demonstrate traditional Wabanaki art forms, including basket-making, stone carving, bark etching, beadwork and jewelry. Additionally, there will be featured performances of drumming, dancing and storytelling.

This is the southernmost gathering of more than 40 Wabanaki artists in the state of Maine. Don’t miss this rare opportunity to learn about, and experience first-hand, Maine’s Native American culture on Saturday, Aug. 24, from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.

The event will be held rain or shine, and is sponsored by the Maine Arts Commission and the Davis Family Foundation. Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village is located at 707 Shaker Road, just off Route 26, New Gloucester. For more information, see www.shaker.lib.me.us, or call 926-4597.

Special Guests at New Gloucester Farmers’ Market

In addition to all the great products available for sale at the New Gloucester Farmers’ Market at Connemara Farm, 37 Peacock Hill Road, the Tuesday, Aug. 27, market will host two special guests from 3-7 p.m.

Holistic health counselor Karen Burke Lane will be on hand to discuss self-care practices that are proven to reduce stress and increase resiliency. Beth Akers, of Akers Acres Angoras in New Gloucester, will perform a spinning demonstration and bring along some of her Angora rabbits to visit with market patrons. For more information, call 926-3672.

Picnic at Pineland Farms

Join in on a Kids Harvest Lunch family program at Pineland Farms from 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, Aug. 28. Come with an appetite to eat and learn. Participants will harvest their own lunches, and enjoy a picnic on the farm.

Tickets cost $5 per person and can be purchased at The Market and Welcome Center, 15 Farm View Drive, New Gloucester.

Workshop and Demonstration at Shaker Village

Saturday, Sept. 7, events at Sabbathday Lake Shaker Village, 707 Shaker Road, New Gloucester, will include a Quilting: Paper Pieced Cardinal Pillow Workshop, from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Create a beautiful accent pillow for your home, or maybe for a gift. A cardinal pillow is based on a favored old design. Bring your own sewing machine scissors, rotary cutter, ruler and fabric. The fee is $25, and pre-registration is required.

On the same day, a Blacksmithing Crafts Demonstration will begin at 10 a.m. Tim Greene, who will be performing the demonstration, is a master blacksmith. Whether the work be utilitarian or decorative, see his work close-up. Admission is free.

For more information, or to register for the workshop, call 926-4597, email usshakers@aol.com, or refer to shaker.lib.me.us.

Last Blast Before School Starts

The New Gloucester Parks and Recreation Department is offering Funtown/Splashtown USA combination passes for $27, regularly priced at $36. Tickets can be purchased at the New Gloucester town office, 385 Intervale Road.

Crusher, from the Maine Red Claws, feeds an alpaca at the 2012 New Gloucester Community Fair. The mascot will be making his rounds from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. at this year’s fair, set for Saturday, Aug. 24, at the New Gloucester Fairgrounds on Bald Hill Road.