The lucky winner will enjoy three nights in a suite at the world famous AAA 4 diamond Camden Harbour Inn – dine each night at a different award winning restaurant: The Hartstone Inn, Camden; Primo, Rockland; and Natalie’s, Camden.

The winner will also be able to choose from one of the following private, concierge experiences for  each day of their trip : spa services at Beauty Mark Spa, Camden; a biplane tour over Penobscot Bay, courtesy of the Owls Head Transportation Museum; Golf at the Samoset Resort, Rockport; a sail and picnic aboard the Schooner Olad, Camden; a ‘back stage tour’ of the Farnsworth Art Museum, Rockland; a private winemaker’s tour with lunch of Cellardoor Winery, Lincolnville; personal cooking class with Chef Kerry Altiero of Café Miranda, Rockland; a personal hike in the Camden Hills with Registered Maine Guide and editor of Down East magazine Paul Doiron and birder/trails expert Kristin Lindquist of Coastal Mountains Land Trust.

The prize also includes round-trip airfare for two to Boston, MA and then on to Rockland, Maine courtesy of Cape Air, a complimentary rental car, $500 in spending money courtesy of Machias Savings Bank, and a beautiful tote (courtesy of Sea Bags) filled with local Maine goodies.

The price is just $50 a ticket and only 500 tickets will be sold. Raffle sales are being conducted by Youthlinks via the website www.mainedreamvacation.com.

Visit www.mainedreamvacation.com to buy your ticket & for more information (including the rules)

Proceeds of the Maine Dream Vacation Raffle benefit the community service programs of Youthlinks (www.youthlinksonline.org). Through participation in Youthlinks, mid-coast youth learn skills, build self-esteem, cultivate social responsibility, develop leadership abilities and connect to peers, adult mentors, and their communities. All Youthlinks programs are free for participating youth.

The Maine Dream Vacation Raffle is proudly sponsored by the Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce and Down East, the Magazine of Maine.

The Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit membership association that seeks to promote the interests of business and encourage economic development. For more information visit the Chamber at www.camdenme.org or email us at chamber@camdenme.org.

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In addition to these fireworks, the Festival will offer outdoor activities, museum events and other family attractions. Its centerpiece will be the live music being performed on the pier and at concert halls around the area, with everything from country and doo-wop to classical and marches being played.

“The July 4 weekend is one of those times in the year when people can slow down and do things with the family, just for fun,” said Daniel Bookham, executive director of the Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce. “This year, we’re giving people a place to go where they can hear all kinds of music, enjoy a hiking trail with views of the ocean, watch a parade and find something great to eat.”

What: Festival of Independence

Where: Camden Hills, Maine

When: July 1-4, 2010

Highlights: Musical performances, theater, outdoor activities, parade, museum events, fireworks. (List of activities, locations and times is below.)

A community-funded fireworks display will take place above – and in – Camden Harbor, with shells being launched both skyward and onto the surface of the water.

“The fireworks that land on the water are very new,” said Steven Marson, owner of Central Maine Pyrotechnics, which is putting on the display. He approached a manufacturer in China several years ago with the idea of in-the-water fireworks, and they developed the explosives at his suggestion.

“When they go off, people will think, ‘Oh, those are dud shells,’ “ Marson said. “Then, the water comes to life. They’ll see plumes of water that are gold, silver and green.”

In-the-sky fireworks also will be spectacular this year in Camden because they are being fired from the water, he said. “Whenever you are on a barge, you are able to use the largest shells, and when you use large shells, you can do a lot of different patterns.”

Festival of Independence Events

• Thursday, July 1: Bay Chamber Concerts Summer Music Festival Opening Night, Rockport Opera House, 8pm
• Thursday July 1- Saturday July 3: Camden Civic Theatre presents A Streetcar Named Desire, Camden Opera House
• Friday, July 2: Family Fun Day at the Camden Snow Bowl: open hiking trails, tennis courts, mountain bike trails, softball diamonds and more! All Day
• Saturday, July 3: Thomaston 4th of July Parade, 11am.
• Saturday, July 3: Music by the Sea, presented by Camden Rotary, Harbor Park, Camden (three exciting bands from noon until 5pm).
• Saturday July 3: Bay Chamber Concerts present a Doo-Wop Bash, starts at 8:30pm. Classic music from the 50s and 60s, offered free to the public as a thank you for 50 years of Bay Chamber Concerts. Includes display of classic cars on Atlantic Avenue. Harbor Park, Camden.
• Saturday July 3: Eve of Independence Fireworks, 9:15pm (weather date Mon July 5). Display by Central Maine Pyrotechnics
• Saturday, July 3: Reprise of the Doo-Wop bash, starting at 9:45pm (post fireworks).
• Saturday July 3 & Sunday July 4: The Fabulous 50s and Sensational 60s Car Meet and Antique Aeroplane Show, Owls Head Transportation Museum.9:30-5pm
• Sunday, July 4: Mojo Mondaynite Jazz Orchestra 1:00 pm, in the Camden Amphitheatre, Atlantic Avenue, Camden.

The Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce is a non-profit membership association that serves businesses and organizations from 54 towns and seven states who actively seek to support business and community in the Camden Hills region of Maine.

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