Boothbay Railway Village

Family Harvest Days: Animals and activities abound

Tue, 10/03/2017 - 11:30am

Boothbay Railway Village put on its fourth annual Family Harvest Days on Saturday, Sept. 30 and Sunday, Oct. 1. Families were treated to music played by duo Castlebay and sheepdog demonstrations by Harpswell's Two Coves Farm while enjoying sausage and hot dogs from White's Farm of Winterport.

We were pleased this year to welcome new farms to Family Harvest Days – Burke's Island Farm of Boothbay, Two Coves Farm, and Lyric Meadow Farms of Boothbay ... ” said Kathy Goldner, director of education and curator. “It was wonderful to have Castlebay with us. The music was a great addition.”

Author Julia O'Brien-Merrill read aloud her children's book “Charlie on the MTA: Did He Ever Return?” Lyric Meadow Farm brought along a number of farm animals including ducks, a chicken, goats, a miniature pony and a pig. One of the goats jumped clear over a fence and wandered the Village green enjoying attention from the children.

“The highlight this year for us, for Family Harvest Days, grew quite a bit because of partnerships which is something we like to do,” said Margaret Hoffman, executive director. The festival also had the Knox-Lincoln Beekeepers and the Lincoln County Historical Association. FARMS of  Damariscotta had people there talking with children about farm-to-table food, she added.

Among the other activities were butter-churning, hayrides, and pumpkin-decorating as well as sheepdog, blacksmith, spinning, weaving and lace-making demonstrations. Guests were even encouraged to bring their own apples from home to press into cider with resident blacksmith Jim Kearney's personal press.

Hoffman said Family Harvest Days is on Maine's Pumpkin Trail, a 50-mile trail on Maine's coast with events all along the way celebrating gourdes small and large as well as art and history.

“Really, this year was all about partnerships because we had lots of different people here, helping us make it a really great event,” said Hoffman. “All the people who brought the animals — I think that, for the kids, is always one of the biggest things.”