The fifth annual Harbor Fest came to a close with plenty of art, awards and acoustic music Sept. 11 at the Chowder House on Granary Way. The brainchild of Boothbay Harbor’s Lori Reynolds, the 10-day, sprawling event is designed to celebrate the region with music, art and entertainment.  This year featured a fashion show, film festival, food tastings, music, a 5k half marathon, and wellness events. 

“It was incredible,” said Reynolds. “I’ve heard amazing reviews from all of our businesses and feel this might have been the best yet.”

The event is structured to bring people to all parts of Boothbay Harbor rather than a traditional festival held in a fixed location, said Reynolds. Harbor Fest is run entirely by Reynolds’ company  and is not affiliated with the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce, a common misconception, she said. Another goal is to boost business during the traditional post-Labor Day lull after summer tourists retreat home and before leaf peepers arrive in droves. New this year was Wellness Week, featuring yoga, holistic medicine purveyors, the Boothbay Region YMCA, and many others. 

“We wanted to have this element and provide an opportunity for people to connect with wellness options,” said Reynolds. 

Roughly 50 people took part in Harbor Fest’s closing ceremonies which also featured an art exhibition, A Stroke of Art. Over the course of Harbor Fest, 30 artists fanned out across the region and painted a variety of local landmarks on the peninsula. The art is displayed and sold at the exhibition and awards are given out in a variety of categories. This year’s overall winner was Ken Dewaard of Hope, with his watercolor, “Cosy Harbor.”

“This is my first year participating,” said Dewaard. “It’s a great event.”

The paintings covered a great swath of the area including the Boothbay Railway Village, where antique cars were a popular muse for many artists, Ocean Point, the farmers market on the Boothbay Common and the inner harbor.

“People get a chance to buy paintings that are still wet on the canvas,” said Mary Phelps, the organizer of A Stroke of Art.

The outdoor style of art is called plein air painting, in which artists capture a scene or a place as they see and experience it. 

In addition to the awards for artists, Reynolds handed out 30 more to local merchants who participated. The overall winner in the taste category was Stacey McLellan’s Capers (deli and catering) in Boothbay Harbor. The Best of the Fest award went to Rocktide Motor Inn and Restaurant.

“The Rocktide kicked things off with the opening party and kept things rolling from there,” said Reynolds as she presented a gift basket to Rocktide General Manager John Sullivan.

Others winners included Harborside Tavern for best cocktail and live music. Most, if not all, participants were recognized including Mine Oyster, Fisherman’s Wharf, the Boothbay Harbor Inn, and Kaler’s restaurant. 

With the 2016 edition in the books, Reynolds will only take a few days to relax and reflect on what has become a late summer tradition.

“I’ll start planning next year’s festival in a few days,” she said. “It’s become a year round thing.”