Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts invites the whole community to its 30th annual Salad Days festival on Saturday, July 12. This beloved tradition offers an opportunity to get to know the arts nonprofit organization that welcomes hundreds of world-class artists to Midcoast Maine every year. Guests may shop the invitational pottery sale, enjoy a delicious picnic lunch, watch artist demonstrations, tour campus and learn about Watershed’s programs that support the growth of artists working in clay.

Watershed’s 2024–25 artist-in-residence, Emily Armstrong, created hundreds of earthenware plates over a seven-month residency for this year’s festival. At Salad Days guests may select their favorite to take home; these ceramic plates typically sell out, so purchasing plate tickets in advance is strongly advised. Go to www.watershedceramics.org.

Activities include: ● Artist demonstrations by ceramists Brianna McQuade, Emily Armstrong, Didem Mert, and Asta Bubliene ● Fresh, local salad buffet prepared by our chefs ● An invitational pottery sale featuring functional, jewelry, and decorative works by more than 30 artists, including Ashley Campbell, Stuart Gair, Yeonsoo Kim, Ted Neal, and Yesha Panchal ● Live screenprinting with Hope Rovelto of Little Chair Printing;

● Tours of Watershed’s beautiful 55-acre campus and state-of-the-art studio ● Watershed’s current ceramic arts exhibition, Continuum of Clay: A MECA&D Ceramic Alumni Invitational ● Stein sale offering a selection of unique ceramic beer steins and complimentary pours courtesy of Belleflower Brewing, Oxbow Brewing, and TinTop Cider and ● Reverse raffle in which every raffle ticket holder will win a handmade ceramic piece.

Funds raised during Salad Days support Watershed’s art programs. A Garden Party fundraiser will be held the evening of Friday, July 11 before Salad Days, during which guests enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, oysters provided by Shuck Station while mingling with artists and friends and raising a glass to Watershed’s founders as we dedicate our new hillside garden in their honor. Plus, see the MECA&D Alumni exhibition in our Edgecomb gallery and participate in our live and silent auctions.

In addition, our neighbors Straw’s Farm will have a farm stand at the event. Meat, eggs, sheepskins, and yarn will be available.

The festival will be held on Saturday, July 12, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, 19 Brick Hill Road, Newcastle. The Garden Party will be held at the same location July 11 from 3 to 7 p.m.  Garden Party tickets include the main festival on Saturday and must be purchased in advance. For directions, tickets, and more details on Salad Days, visit www.watershedceramics.org/events/salad-days-on/. 

Salad Days is generously supported by our community, friends, and businesses, including Colby & Gale, JF Scott Construction, Lucy Lacoste Gallery, and oUTSKIRT Studios. Laguna Clay donated thousands of pounds of clay for the Salad Days ceramic plates.