1,300 help make it all work

Thu, 08/01/2019 - 10:15am

Chris Wolf

Lobster cookers Nicholas Bean, Pedro Geleon, Robert Piros, Dave Herrold, and Dakota Yandell. (Photo by Chris Wolf)

The food pavillions as seen from atop 215 Main. (Photo by Chris Wolf)

Mike, Rowen, Suzanne, Harrison and Christain Gilbert are a family from North Carolina who travel up to volunteer at the Lobster Festival. (Photo by Chris Wolf)

Preparing lobster meat for rolls at the Maine Lobster Festival Food Cafe are Karen Martin and David Johnson. (Photo by Chris Wolf)

Maine Lobster Festival Food Café: Deanna Michalski, Tim Shaw, Chris Johnson, and Pat Shaw. (Photo by Chris Wolf)

Everybody needs a monkey head to drink out of. (Photo by Chris Wolf)

Getting things ready inside the main food tent. David Sanders, Sarah Geroux, Jessie Mushrow, Janet and Elvyn Jewett. (Photo by Chris Wolf)

Beverages inside the main food tent. Mike Starr, Sarah Garrison, Jeff Smith, Sylvia Hise, and Nancy Watts. (Photo by Chris Wolf)

The food tent looks cavernous when empty, but that will soon change.

Scott Godsey, Michael Forrest, and Mark Cerone. (Photo by Chris Wolf)

Helping with shirts and posters are Barbara Rich, Tony Williams, and Junia Norris. Williams is from Kentucky and has come to Maine for the last five-years to volunteer at the festival. (Photo by Chris Wolf)

(Photo by Chris Wolf)

Mimi’s Mexican Food: Destiny Bouchard and Robin Bocley. (Photo by Chris Wolf)

Lobster cookers Nicholas Bean, Pedro Geleon, Robert Piros, Dave Herrold, and Dakota Yandell. (Photo by Chris Wolf)

The food pavillions as seen from atop 215 Main. (Photo by Chris Wolf)

Mike, Rowen, Suzanne, Harrison and Christain Gilbert are a family from North Carolina who travel up to volunteer at the Lobster Festival. (Photo by Chris Wolf)

Preparing lobster meat for rolls at the Maine Lobster Festival Food Cafe are Karen Martin and David Johnson. (Photo by Chris Wolf)

Maine Lobster Festival Food Café: Deanna Michalski, Tim Shaw, Chris Johnson, and Pat Shaw. (Photo by Chris Wolf)

Everybody needs a monkey head to drink out of. (Photo by Chris Wolf)

Getting things ready inside the main food tent. David Sanders, Sarah Geroux, Jessie Mushrow, Janet and Elvyn Jewett. (Photo by Chris Wolf)

Beverages inside the main food tent. Mike Starr, Sarah Garrison, Jeff Smith, Sylvia Hise, and Nancy Watts. (Photo by Chris Wolf)

The food tent looks cavernous when empty, but that will soon change.

Scott Godsey, Michael Forrest, and Mark Cerone. (Photo by Chris Wolf)

(Photo by Chris Wolf)

Mimi’s Mexican Food: Destiny Bouchard and Robin Bocley. (Photo by Chris Wolf)

ROCKLAND – It’s that time of year as the 72nd Maine Lobster Festival opened its gates to the general public at 12:15 p.m. Wednesday, July 31. It is pageantry, entertainment, food, and fun for the next four days, and this year some 1,300 volunteers from local to afar donated their time to make the festival a success.

From the board of directors who begin planning the next festival as soon as this one ends, to the people who cook lobsters and serve food to taking tickets at the gate, everyone has a job. And yes, there is a lot of cleaning up to do, too.

Volunteers have been hard at work for three weeks prior to the festival’s opening. And as we approached opening time today the final touches were put on everything.

We captured just a few of the many volunteers who helped make this year's festival successful.

Local individuals and even whole families travel to be part of this Midcoast tradition.

Perhaps you’ve thought you might like to volunteer. Follow the link: mainelobsterfestival.com/volunteer/