Two festivals pull in a rollicking crowd

Eastport Salmon Festival organizers are happy with the decision to move the location of the salmon dinner from the breakwater back to the downtown area where attendees could visit the stores, restaurants and vendors.

"The day was perfect," says Jett Peterson of the Eastport Area Chamber of Commerce's Salmon Festival Committee. "Attendance was superb, and we'll be keeping the venue in downtown Eastport from now on. That's where it began."

"I think that, for our salmon dinner, there was a wonderful presentation, a variety of music, and weather that cooperated," says another one of the event organizers, Jeanne Peacock. "Approximately 500 people ate salmon on Sunday."

Peterson says, because both the Salmon Festival and the Pirate Festival were great successes and both events boosted the local economy, "It would be beneficial to now have two separate festivals."

Although there was no official tally of how many people were in town over the weekend, downtown Eastport was a busy spot. East Coast Ferries, which runs the seasonal Deer Island/Eastport ferry, reports that there was an increase in foot passengers this year during festival weekend. Approximately 65 walkers rode on the ferry on Saturday and Sunday, which was up from 15 last year.

Local chefs and volunteers Bernie Cecire, Greg Biss and Basil Pottle grilled the salmon kabobs and salmon cakes donated by Cooke Aquaculture. Jett Peterson put together a mouth-watering menu presented with fresh herbs on potter Don Sutherland's gigantic platters and bowls.

Ann Cornelison, who was in charge of booking the entertainment, says she was "pleased...with the quality and variety of fantastic musical talent we have in the greater Eastport area. The music was a big hit. Our visitors were blown away that we do not have to go much farther afield than Machias to enjoy great music, and all the local folks were just beaming with pride because they already know what a treasure we have here at home."

"Our local musicians are talented and they are enthusiastic," she adds. "And, above all, they are extremely generous people. We cannot thank them enough."

Performing during the salmon dinner were Penny Guisinger and Kara McCrimmon, Robert Sanchez and John Squibb, the University of Maine at Machias Ukulele Band, Fiddle Chick and a Picker, Keltic Schmeltic, the Steve Erwin Band, Slim Chance & the Can't Hardly Playboys and R.E. Bell.

Sixty people paid an extra $2 for their dinner, so they could go out on a boat tour to see the salmon pens.

Although there were enough people signed up for the nature/birding cruise with Chris Bartlett, it was cancelled due to the early morning fog. That event will probably be moved up in the schedule next year to allow time for any possible fog to burn off.

Lora Whelan reports that a crowd of 23 people joined her for an architectural walking tour from Boynton to Shackford streets. "We talked about history, the War of 1812, smuggling and the sea captain's homes," she says. "It was a nice afternoon."

The 30 vendors "did very well," reports Peacock.

"This was my first year of involvement with the Salmon Festival, and I encourage more people to get involved with the planning and work on the day of the festival," says Peacock. "'Many hands make light work' is true if you have enough helpers to pull it off."

Winners

Eastport Salmon Festival 5K run/walk results are as follows: 1. Austin Townsend Jr., 18:23; 2. Anthony Dust, 20:03; 3. Austin Townsend III, 21:52; 4. Tony Santiago, 22:59; 5. David Markow, 24:33;6. Addison Coty, 24:42; 7. Rick Rousell, 24:44; 8. Abbie Rohde, 25:14; 9. Phil Airoldi, 25:44; 10. Jon Wescott, 26:18; 11. Elaine Trainor, 28:47; 12. Danae Kesel, 29:08; 13. Samantha Williams, 29:15.

Kid's one mile run results are as follows: 1. Frank Schuth, 7:06; 2. Addison Coty, 7:08; 3. Seamus Some, 7:22; 4. Nichole Mitchell, 7:31; 5. Drew Greenlaw, 7:55; 6. Cole Turner, 8:05; 7. Jade Consalvi, 8:32; 8. Ian Gordon, 9:10; 9. Jakob Klentzman, 9:11; 10. Riley Fraser, 9:50; 11. Hannah Lank, 9:52; 12. Mary Bartlett, 9:58; 13. Giles Gordon, 9:59; 14. Blake Owen, 10:07; 15. Sarah Bartlett, 10:14; 16. Willi Hopkins, 10:17; 17. Jasmine Consalvi, 10:23; 18. Jacob Cook, 10:26; 19. Madison Greenlaw, 10:44; 20. Brooke Clark, 10:59; 21. Christian Turner, 11:06; 22. Chase Turner, 11:09; 23. Isiah Mitchell, 13:17; 24. Jaquelyn Cook, 13:18; 25. Wren Fraser, 14:49; 26. Jesse Cook, 14:52; 27. Keaton Wescott, 16:27.