The 2015 Harbor Fest officially ended this past Sunday afternoon, following 10 days of successful events that spanned across most of the Boothbay peninsula. Food, music, art, fashion and wellness were the main ingredients that brought hundreds of businesses and thousands of people together, providing a substantial post-summer boost to the local economy.

A festival wrap up meeting is being planned and will be announced in the coming days. All community members are invited and encouraged to attend. Congratulations to our winners:

A Taste of Local Flavor and Live Music Showcase, People’s Choice Winners

Best Taste: Kaler’s Restaurant. 2nd place Rocktide Inn, 3rd place Capers Deli
Best Cocktail: Cods Head Fish House & BBQ. 2nd place Rocktide Inn, 3rd place Mine Oyster
Best Music: Benn Betts (Rocktide Inn). 2nd place Gang of thieves (Mine Oyster), 3rd place Downeast Soul Coalition (Rocktide Inn)
Best of the Fest: Rocktide Inn. 2nd place Boothbay Lobster Wharf, 3rd place Boothbay Harbor Inn

In addition to the People’s Choice awards, all 15 venues were featured as part of a local chef showcase conducted by Author and Cooking Show Host, Jim Bailey (The Yankee Chef) and all 30 bands were part of a local music showcase conducted by WCLZ radio host, Aimsel Ponti.

Half Marathon and 5k: Race results were announced last week and a complete list can be found at www.boothbayharborfest.com. Proceeds benefited the BRYMCA and CLCYMCA collaborative programs and final results are still being tallied. A special thank you to the Boothbay Fire Department, Towns of Boothbay and Boothbay Harbor, Boothbay Craft Brewery, and the BRYMCA and CLCYMCA staff for making this event a great success. More than 80 percent of race registrants were from out of state and about half were first time visitors.

BRES 8th grade class: As submitted by event organizer Judy Dorr: “Our event raised $585 between the breakfast and carnival. We would like to thank Compass Rose Events, Kaler's Restaurant and Sam Kaler, Jackie Marquis and Sea Vu Farm, The Lady in the Red Cloak, Laura Francis, Lisa Orne Hallinan, Darlene French, Mark Tess, Rep. Stephanie Hawke, Splash Into Science students and parents, Harbor Fest and all who attended the breakfast, carnival or donated to the event. The 50/50 raffle raised $1,500 and the winner (a young teen) generously donated back their half to the kids' trip. What a special person!”

A Stroke of Art

The first ever Stroke of Art was an enormous success, bringing dozens of artists and collectors to our region for the first time. The week-long event is unique to Maine and a tremendous new asset to our region. Harbor Fest wishes to extend a very special thank you to event founder Mary Phelps of COCO VIVO Artful Living, who donated countless hours over several months to turn her artistic vision into a reality that will benefit our community for years to come. And a very special thank you to Harborfields Waterfront Cottages, who generously hosted artists and art receptions throughout the week. Thank you to our juror Carleton Plummer of East Boothbay. Congratulations to the SOA winners:

1st: Andre Lucero , Richmond,  Virgnia, 
"Golden Hour"; 
2nd: John Caggiano, Rockport, Massachusetts, 
"Calming Seas"; 
Honorable Mention: Brad Betts, East Boothbay, "Morning Shimmer"; 
People's Choice: 
Mark Horton, Charleston, South Carolina, 
"Maine Coast."

Footbridge Quick Draw: 1st: George Van Hook, Cambridge, New York, 
"On The Bridge"; 
2nd: Jodie  Maurer, St. Louis, Missouri, "Footbridge House"
; 1st Honorable Mention: John Butke, Boothbay, "Rowe Wharf"
; 2nd Honorable Mention: Tony van Hasselt, AWS, East Boothbay, 
"The Footbridge"; 
Best of Show: 
Erin McGee Ferrell, Falmouth, 
"Wireless Bridge."

Farmers Market Quick Draw: 1st: Jodie Maurer, St. Louis, Missouri, 
"Farmers Market"
; 2nd: Tony van Hasselt, East Boothbay, 
"Thursday Market."

Fishin’ for Fashion

Thirteen original designs topped the creativity chart at the 2nd annual Fishin’ for Fashion show on Saturday. Congratulations to our winners: 1st place: Lorna and Summer Andrews of Woolwich; 2nd place: On Drift Island, Boca Grande, Cape Cod; People’s Choice winners: Team Calpyso of Boothbay Harbor. A very special thank you to those who made the show a huge success: Emcee extraordinaire Michael Maxim, Model and Runway Coordinator, Sarah Logan, Lobster Crate Stage Builder, Joe Paolillo, the BRCTV team, Show Judges (Merry St. Pierre of 92 Moose, Chris Austin of Key Bank and Lisa Best), Captains’ Rusty Court and George McEvoy, Sailmaker Nat Wilson, Model Dressing Room location, Boothbay Harbor Inn, Wine Tasting Central Distributors, Beer Tasting Boothbay Craft Brewery, the entire Rocktide Inn staff, models, designers and volunteers. And to Fishin’ For Fashion founder and director Dana Paolillo, who donated her time and creativity over the past two years to create a signature event for our region.

Harbor Fest

Harbor Fest is a collaborative effort of hundreds of local and statewide businesses and individuals, who support the mission to extend our season, help one another prosper and make a positive impact on our economy. In addition, Harbor Fest will make the following donations to support our local youth and community: $750 to the local Student Aid Fund, $250 to the Junior Class and $500 to the track fund.

Thank you to participating businesses: A Silver Lining, Abacus Gallery, Andrews’ Harborside Restaurant, Boothbay Lobster Wharf, Boothbay Resort & Craft Brewery, Boothbay Harbor Country Club, Boothbay Farmers Market, Boothbay Harbor Inn, Boothbay Harbor Framers, Boothbay Harbor Opera House, Boothbay Register, Calypso, Capers Deli, Casual Interiors, COCO VIVO Artful Living, Cod’s Head Fish House & BBQ, Cottage Connection, Eventide Specialties, Fisherman’s Wharf Inn, Flagship Inn & Suites, Gimbel’s Country Store, Gold/Smith Gallery, Greenleaf Inn, Harborfields Waterfront Cottages, Harbour Towne Inn, House of Logan, Janson’s Clothing, Kaler’s Restaurant, McSeagull’s Restaurant, Mine Oyster, Newagen Seaside Inn, Ocean Gate Resort,Red Cloak Haunted History Tours, Rocktide Inn, Sadie Greens, Seagate Motel, Slicks Boutique, Spruce Point Inn, Topside Inn, Two Salty Dogs, Tugboat Inn, Vacasa and Whale’s Tale Restaurant/Carousel Marina.

Thank you to event sponsors: Ambassadors: Maine Magazine, Key Bank, WCLZ Portland Radio Group, WMTW Channel 8, ONE Event Productions, Captains: Rocktide Inn, Boothbay Craft Brewery, Cold River/Maine Distilleries, Harborfields Waterfront Cottages, Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce, COCO VIVO, Spruce Point Inn, Boothbay Register. Master: Boothbay Region Community Television, 92 Moose. Life of the Party: Topside Inn, Calypso, Tony van Hasselt, Lincoln County Magazine, Central Distributors and Coastal Journal.