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SEASONS .
New England is blessed to have four seasons that each
brings its own distinct pleasures. The clear, crisp days of
autumn give way to winter’s frosty elegance while spring’s
thaw is accompanied by new growth and brilliant floral
hues. Summer is chock-a-block full of activities and also
a time to unwind by the lake or on the beach, cooled by a
salty sea breeze.
Welcome to Maine.
Your delegates will want to take advantage of the seasonal
flavors on tap when they’re here. Curling up by a winter’s
fire, rafting during a spring high-water release, picking
apples, sailing on the bay—there’s always something special
to do to make the most of the time you’ve chosen to meet
in Maine.
Throughout the summer, the skies fill with the sounds
of outdoor concerts. A host of annual festivals celebrate
everything from Maine performers and artisans, to the bounty
of autumn’s harvest, to the delights of winter. If the family is
along, there’s plenty to keep children actively entertained:
baseball, hockey and basketball games, a children’s museum
and planetarium, ice-skating and rollerblading, parks and
wildlife. Maine is a safe and comfortable destination where
delegates often combine a family vacation with business
travel. If you are looking to mix pleasure with business, hold
your next meeting in Maine. You may run out of time, but
never things to do.
Maine was chosen by a group of 55 agricultural
farmers and ranchers in Texas for its innovative
approach to agriculture. We were impressed with
their spirit of community and found the residents
to be friendly, out-going, and eager to share their
heritage. And everywhere we stayed and ate was
amazing—the restaurants treated the group like
royalty. From attendee evaluations of the week,
Maine hit a home run with this group!”
— Patti Locke, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service
Photos on right:
clockwise from top left: Corey Templeton (3); Chris Lawrence
“
FESTIVALS &
ANNUAL EVENTS
(Continued from page 12)
AUGUST
13–14 / Italian Street Bazaar
in Portland.
Ethnic celebration
featuring band music, children’s
games & Italian food.
19–21 / MS Regatta
Harborfest
on Casco Bay.
Sailboat race, tug boat display, music
& food on Portland’s waterfront.
20 / WCSH-6 Sidewalk
Arts Festival in Portland.
350 booths featuring artists from
all over the country.
26–28 / American Folk Festival
in Bangor.
Music, song & dance
from across the country & the world,
held on the Bangor waterfront.
SEPTEMBER
18–24 / Cumberland Fair
Large agricultural fair with crafts.
OCTOBER
1–2 / Freeport Fall Festival.
Over100 artists will exhibit at
this annual event.
19–23 / Harvest on the Harbor
in Portland.
Food & Wine Festival
celebrating Maine’s culinary arts.
NOVEMBER
NOV 25–DEC 23 /
Polar Express in Portland.
Ride the
Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad to the
North Pole.
NOV 25–DEC 20 / Light Up
Your Holidays in Portland.
Downtown is alive & merry with joy-filled
celebration on its streets.
DECEMBER
2–4 / Sparkle Weekend
in
Freeport.
Parade, carol singing &
horse-drawn carriage rides.
2–11 / Christmas Prelude in
Kennebunkport
.
Annual celebration
with tree lighting, candlelight ceremony,
caroling & crafts fairs.