Eastport to serve up two fun celebrations; Salmon, seafood to be savored

The 33rd annual Eastport Seafood and Salmon Festival is set for the Labor Day weekend, with Saturday, September 4, and Sunday, September 5, chock a block with activities in the island city. Festival committee Chair Carol Gordon advises festival-goers to check the Eastport Area Chamber of Commerce website and social media page for last-minute schedule changes because of weather or Maine Center for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines on pandemic protocols.
On Saturday, rain or shine, the Pirate Invasion of Lubec will start by gathering at 9:30 a.m. at the Eastport breakwater. Eastport Windjammers will have a boat going over that can take up to 25, and Pirate Festival organizer Don Dunbar says individual boats are welcome to join the fun.
Meanwhile at the Sutherland Amphitheater part time Eastport resident and author Joe Clabby will speak about the history of Eastport from 10 to 11 a.m.
From 10 a.m. to noon the breakwater will be the site of the George S. Harris Memorial Fishing Derby for Youth. Two age groups will compete for the biggest fish prizes, and host Dean Pike of Moose Island Marine promises that prizes will be available for everyone who participates. Registration forms and permissions slips will need to be filled out by a parent or guardian and will be available at Moose Island Marine, where fish weigh in will take place from 12 to 12:30 p.m.
From 10 a.m. to noon the GAR Hall will be open for viewing the Civil War murals. Located at 6 Green Street, the building is part of the Tides Institute & Museum of Art (TIMA) campus. TIMA's main building at 43 Water Street will be open for viewing of the exhibit, "Dark Harbor: Early Lithographs of Stow Wengenroth." From 8 to 10 p.m. TIMA will open the North Church Project Space at 82 High Street for viewing of "Crystal Veil I," an installation by Julia Sinelnikova.
On both days from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. craft and vendors will be gathered in the downtown's Water Street selling genuine handmade or Maine produced fare.
Garden lovers will be pleased with the selection of gardens to view on a self guided tour around the island city from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Maps will be available at the fisherman statue, and while free, contributions to the Eastport Garden Club will be gratefully accepted to help fund the garden club's civic minded projects. A number of garden owners will open their front and back yards to the public for the tour, with a range of styles and types, including ideas for deer proofing, a hosta and fern corner, a newly constructed garden with hardscaping ideas and more. The club encourages garden enthusiasts to stroll and drive the island city's streets and enjoy the wide range of gardens on view from the street, including the many city gardens that the club maintains, including by the fisherman statue and city hall and along the downtown walkway near The Quoddy Tides office.
On Saturday, from 11 a.m. until gone, the Christ Episcopal Church and Eastport Senior Center will sell crab rolls for hungry festival goers under the tent at the fisherman statue.
For Saturday and Sunday, starting at 11 a.m. and going until 3 p.m., there will be local craft beers and wine for sale under the tent. Local musicians will play on both days during this time, with the line up including Colie Brice, Rebecca Johnson Curtis and Mike McLean, Oen Kennedy, Vicki Shields, Fiddle Chick and Picky, Luna Muse Trio, Moose Island House Players and The Grateful Shead.
On Saturday from 12 noon until 3 p.m. the Peavey Memorial Library will have free craft activities for all ages at 26 Water Street.
At 7 p.m. on Saturday the Eastport Arts Center will feature Roochie Toochie and the Ragtime Shepherd Kings, with an admission fee. And at dusk at the Sutherland Amphitheater Moonlight Movies will show Cocoon," a free viewing sponsored by area businesses.

Sunday's activities
On Sunday along with craft and local vendors in the downtown, the Eastport Gallery's Paint Eastport Day booth and silent auction will be open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m with the silent auction closing from 2 to 3 p.m. Please see the separate article in this issue about the event.
Sunday's main event will be under the tent at the fisherman statue with the salmon dinner from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Ticket prices are $20 per person. The dinner includes a salmon fillet grilled over charcoal that comes with Raye's Mustard sauce, rosemary roasted potatoes, peas, homemade rolls and blueberry dessert. Gordon says, "We are following the Maine CDC guidelines for outdoor festivals. All our servers will wear masks." The local craft beers on tap and wine will be available under the tent, and local musicians will entertain. Included in the purchase of the salmon dinner is an educational boat ride to the salmon pens in the bay, departing from the breakwater from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Also from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. is the chance auction, located by the fisherman statue, featuring items and gift certificates from local businesses. The drawing will be at 3:30 p.m. under the tent. Also for sale will be the 2021 festival T shirts featuring an eye catching blue background with swimming salmon design.
Gordon says, "We have been excitedly planning the festival for the past few months. This is a great community that comes together with volunteers to help support us. Businesses and volunteers alike have stepped in to help make this year's planning of the festival a success. We couldn't have done it without everyone's willingness to help."