Harbor Fest 2015 got off to a bang on Friday afternoon, Sept. 4, as visitors boarded the Rocktide Inn trolley to be ferried about to the open arms of area businesses.

Guests were awarded free samples of local beverages and appetizers as they made the rounds in the fourth annual Harbor Crawl.

"It is a way of showcasing our local businesses," said festival organizer Lori Reynolds. 

Visitors from as far away as Indiana and Germany used the crawl to augment their already busy vacations.

Carl Katz of Verona, New York, said that he and his family have been coming to the Boothbay area for many years staying first in Southport and now on the east side of the harbor.

Michelle Davis of the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce said that there are lodging and restaurants that accommodate almost any family’s vacation budget.

Harbor Fest continues this week with entertainment and competitions at various venues around town. For more on Harbor Fest, visit the Harbor Fest page on www.boothbayregister.com.