Camden, Maine (June 20, 2011) –The Camden Hills region will be celebrating the Fourth of July this year with an array of family-friendly activities running from July 1^st through July 4^th. The highlight of this year’s Festival of Independence will be the underwater and above-water fireworks display in Camden Harbor on July 3^rd. The Camden Rotary Club will also be presenting a free concert to the public called “Music by the Sea,” which includes three different ensembles performing a wide range of American music.

In addition to the fireworks and music, the festival will offer outdoor activities, performances and other family attractions. Its centerpiece will be the live music being performed throughout the weekend and the post fireworks “Dancing in the Street” celebration.

“The July 4^th weekend is a time for families to get together and relax during the beautiful Maine summer,” said Daniel Bookham, executive director of the Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce. “This year, Camden offers townspeople and visitors alike a place to enjoy an array of music, take a scenic hike with views of the ocean, and watch a one-of-a-kind fireworks show.”

What: Festival of Independence 2011
Where: Camden Hills, Maine
When: July 1-4, 2011
Highlights: Musical performances, Firework displays, Outdoor activities, Parade, Antique car/aeroplane show, “Dancing in the Street”. (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 will be even better than last year,” said Steven Marson, owner of Central Maine Pyrotechnics, who are putting on the display. “There will be twice as many ‘shape’ fireworks than last year, the kind that create images like stars and flowers, and this year’s fireworks will also burn longer in the sky, about 8 or 9 seconds compared to the regular burn time of 3-5 seconds,” he added. “When they explode, they send plumes of water into the air, creating an array of colors- It’s absolutely beautiful, people won’t want to miss it.

Festival of Independence Events (Revised Schedule)

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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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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CAMDEN, Maine (November 15, 2010) – The Christmas season arrives in Maine’s Midcoast during the first weekend in December, when Santa chugs into the harbor by boat, a parade makes its way down the street and unique local traditions hit their stride.

• Trish Moroz – known locally as the “gingerbread lady” — will transport nearly 130 elaborate gingerbread houses that she has been crafting in her Rockport kitchen since last February from her basement to the holiday fair.
• Retired firefighter Bob Oxton will make his trek up Mount Battie to light the holiday star that can be seen for miles, as he has for four decades.
• Carolers and horse-drawn wagons will wind through historic downtown Camden, where the mountains meet the sea and local shops will offer special items that you won’t find at the mall.

Christmas by the Sea takes place between Dec. 3-5, offering family friendly activities — tree lighting festivities in Camden and Rockport, bon fire, a chance to pet the “Oreo cookie” calves at Aldemere Farm, free horse-drawn wagon rides and a day of free admission to the Owls Head Transportation Museum and its holiday activities. (More information: http://www.camdenme.org/content/christmas-sea )

What: Christmas by the Sea
When: Dec. 3 through December 5, 2010
Where: Camden, Rockport and Lincolnville, Maine
Highlights: Santa’s arrival by sea and by fire truck; musical and ballet performances; children’s activities; special dining and holiday events throughout the area.

“People come to visit us every year for Christmas by the Sea – and the holiday season generally – because there are few places that offer the range of authentic, fun Maine experience that happen here,” said Dan Bookham, executive director of the Camden-Rockland-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce.

Trish Moroz, who is retired, sees some of the same people from Connecticut, Boston and New York each year when they come to buy the gingerbread pieces she has been working to craft from dawn to dusk. They will be for sale at the Rockport Garden Club Holly Berry Fair on December 4 at the Rockport Opera House. In addition, there will be a separate gingerbread display downtown in the windows of the Camden Opera House.

“I make barns, Cape Cods, New England-style farm houses, all kinds of gingerbread structures,” she said.  “This year, the display at the Opera House will feature a Santa’s Workshop with elves, a gingerbread factory, and a sleigh barn with a variety of sleighs. The figures in the display will be made entirely from sugar and candies. People love to see the gingerbread houses because it reminds them of simpler times.” The display will be illuminated for evening viewing.

Event Highlights

Friday, Dec. 3
6:00 p.m. — Christmas by the Sea Parade begins on Union St
6:45 p.m.—Santa presides at the Community Tree-Lighting Ceremony in Harbor Park

Saturday, Dec. 4
8:00 a.m. – 2nd Annual Thomas F. Chester Frozen 5K Road Race
9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. – Beltie Holiday at Aldermere Farm
9:30 a.m.—Santa arrives by boat at Rockport Harbor
Noon—Santa arrives by Tug boat in Camden Harbor
4:00 p.m.—Tree lighting, bonfire and sing along at Lincolnville Beach. Santa arrives by fire engine around 4:30 p.m.

Sunday, Dec. 5
10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. – Owls Head Transportation Museum; free admission, holiday activities
11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.—Free horse and wagon rides

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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Contact: Dan Bookham, 207-236-4404

The Camden area, named in Yankee Magazine’s top 5 best fall foliage travel spots, offers its visitors a rich schedule of events for all tastes.

”When people visit us in the autumn, they can combine fun, family activities with one of the most scenic spots along the East Coast,” said Dan Bookham, executive director of the Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce. “Just seeing the foliage, at a place where mountains literally meet the sea, is something that visitors cherish about our area at this time of year.”

Details of the Events Include:

• Harvest Hootenanny Saturday, Oct. 9, 11am to 6pm (Camden Snow Bowl)

This “community shindig,” will be filled with live music, food and activities for the entire family.  Maine humorist Rosey Gerry will emcee this event. In addition to the great music lineup, there will be food vendors, pumpkin carving, pie baking competitions and the first annual “CTC Olympics,” featuring local firefighters, police officers and town administrators. This event is a joint fundraiser for the Five Towns Communities That Care and the West Bay Rotary Club. Tickets are $9, and children under 12 get in free.  Call 236-9800 or visit www.fivetownctc.org for more information.

• Ragged Mountain Festival Sunday, Oct. 10, 8am to 3pm (Camden Snow Bowl)

The day will be filled with activities for people of all ages including, Pancake Breakfast, Chairlift Rides, Pumpkin Hunt, Take a Kid Mountain Biking Day, Treasure Hunt, Fairy House Building, Off-road Duathlon, Live entertainment – The Cause, Barbeque, K9 Costume Contest, K9 & Kiddo Obstacle Race, Jack O’ Apple Head Carving, Hope Orchard apples, Downhill Mountain Bike Race, Summersault Race and Pump Track Rally. For more information, visit:  www.camdensnowbowl.com.

• Savage Oakes Vineyard and Winery Harvest Festival Oct. 9, 11am to 5pm (Union)

This year’s festival will mark the long-awaited release of Nor’easter — Maine’s first estate grown, grape, port-style wine. This ruby port will be available for sampling, along with all the winery’s other products. The afternoon fun will culminate with a performance by Maine singer/songwriter Don Campbell from 2 to 4 p.m. Harvest Festival 2010 will include hay rides to the vineyard, where guests can enjoy spectacular views of the area foliage while walking among the grapes that remain on the vines. Kids will enjoy a bounce house and visiting the cows, pigs, chickens and other animals that call this working farm home. The festival takes place rain or shine. Admission is free and open to all. Savage Oakes Vineyard and Winery is located on Barrett Hill Rd., 1/3 mile off Rt.17 in Union. For more information call 785-2828 or visit www.SavageOakes.com.

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, while functioning in a manner that is compatible with the environment, protects natural and cultural resources, and sustains the heritage of the communities it serves. Founded in 1939, the Chamber currently 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.

Designing Women was established in 1991. Its current membership of women designers and artists now exceeds 120, with most of the artists hailing from Maine and New Hampshire. In addition to providing unique, handmade creations to the public, Designing Women collaborates with non-profits to raise funds for programs that directly benefit women and girls. At the September 4 show, 100% of the suggested $2.00 door donation will go to New Hope for Women. Each donor will also be entered into a drawing to win select prizes provided by Maine businesses.

New Hope for Women, which will mark its thirtieth anniversary next year, offers assistance to all persons affected by domestic and dating violence in Lincoln, Knox and Waldo counties. It provides a 24-hour crisis hotline, support groups, legal services, safe homes and transitional housing, school programs, community outreach and workplace training. New Hope also operates Time for Change, a certified batterer intervention program.

Staff and volunteers from New Hope will be serving lunch beginning at 11:00 a.m. Menu items include homemade chili and chicken salad, bagels, desserts, coffee and water. Information about New Hope’s programs and services will also be available.

Here is some additional information about the featured craftspeople mentioned above.

Joelle Leavitt Webber binds one-of-a-kind books and editions for clients, rebinds old books, and has created a line of blank books, gift boxes and albums. Her designs are based on historical models, built with traditional tools and techniques and use only archival materials.

K. Dale Turdo creates original, hand-built sculptures that are realistic in style. Turdo has received many awards and exhibits in Maine and across the country. She finds great pleasure and peace creating these beautiful works of clay and feels that sculpting is good for the soul.

Wendilee Heath O’Brien is versed in conventional painting techniques from eastern and western cultures. She transcends and manipulates these techniques to create a visual dialogue with her viewers, using watercolor, pastels and Asian ink.

Mary Ann Small is the owner of Maine Island Rag Rugs, whose rugs grace homes all over the world and provide warmth and beauty underfoot. Her rugs have been displayed at the Blaine House in Augusta, the Archipelago and the Jonathan Frost Gallery in Rockland, the Art Gallery at the University of New England’s Westbrook campus, the National Folk Festival in Bangor and most recently at the Camden Garden Club’s Showcase House rooms sponsored by Phi Home Designs.

For more information about Designing Women, check www.designingwomen.org. For more information about New Hope for Women, check www.newhopeforwomen.org.

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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CAMDEN, Maine (May 3, 2010) – The arrival of fiddleheads near the forest and glass eels at the shore this spring marks the beginning of the dining season in Maine’s Midcoast, where the cuisine retains its unique flavor, even as it grows in sophistication and national recognition.

For decades, visitors and residents alike have enjoyed the traditional fare found in the Camden Hills, where lobster and other seafood arrive fresh from the ocean each day. More recently, though, the public has begun to understand just how much innovative cooking is being done by Midcoast chefs, with local ingredients such as the prehistoric-looking fiddlehead ostrich fern and tiny glass eels – 300 to 400 per pound – that are migrating from ocean to river.

“You have some really innovative chefs here,” said Lani Temple, who owns the Megunticook Market in Camden and runs cooking classes at the Cellardoor Winery in Lincolnville. “They are using local, fresh ingredients and taking them to a whole new level.”

The Midcoast also has a large and growing number of farms supplying food to area restaurants, stores and farmers’ markets. Some farms, like Aldermere Farm in Rockport, invite visitors to see how they raise livestock such as the famous Belted Galloways that are known as “Oreo Cookie cows” because they are black on either end, with a thick white stripe in the middle.

“People who love food love the Camden Hills because there is so much for them to eat and do while they are here,” said Daniel Bookham, executive director of the Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce. “There are cooking classes to visit, specialty foods to explore and even locally produced wine, gin and other beverages to enjoy.”

One in six leisure travelers nationwide – about 27 million people – participate in wine tours, cooking classes and other culinary activities as part of their vacations, according to a study by the Travel Industry Association of America. Maine’s Midcoast is a natural spot for them to explore.

“Maine has really created its own food-based economy,” Lawrence Klang, executive chef at Natalie’s restaurant at Camden Harbour Inn. “There are so many people farming and being conscious of where their food comes from. Everybody is working together.”

In Maine’s Midcoast, local artisans produce a variety of cheeses, while other individuals employ local fruits and herbs to make specialty foods. These can be found in the many shops that extend into inland farming communities and sit nestled beside harbors that are said by a variety of publications to be some of the most-beautiful in the United States.

The Camden Hills is known for its scenic beauty, and offers unusual natural features such as mountains that meet the sea. These features also create unusual opportunity for Foodies looking for rare cuisine.

“Island lamb” that is fed on seaweed and sea grass has a flavor distinct from ordinary meat because its food is seasoned by the mists of the ocean. The meat is similar in flavor to a certain kind of lamb found in the Paulliac region of Bordeaux, France, where the feed is nearly identical, said Klang, who received his formal culinary training at Le Cordon Bleu L’Art Culinaire, London.

Also, the Matsutuke mushroom is available in September and October in the Midcoast because this legume grows only where forests meet the ocean. In the United States, the mushroom is found in the Midcoast and Pacific Northwest.

Ingredients such as these are used to make both locally specific recipes and unique “fusion” dishes with other foods from around the world. “They are actually inventing dishes,” Temple said.

Food is part of the culture locally and a passion residents like to share with others, she added. “People usually know where food is coming from, how it is raised, how animals are fed and how they are being treated. You see residents mingling with visitors, sharing information about food. It’s a great experience.”

Founded in 1939, the Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber currently 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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CAMDEN, Maine (March 30, 2010) – At a time when the Canadian “loonie” has risen to nearly par with the U.S. dollar, the Camden Hills area is working to educate Canadians about why Maine’s Midcoast is a particularly attractive vacation destination.

Midcoast officials are reaching north of the border in a concerted way for the first time, both because of the strong Canadian dollar and the creation of new transportation links to Maine. In the last two months, transportation officials have announced the introduction of direct passenger flights between Portland and both Toronto and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. These developments present an opportunity to tell the story of Maine’s Midcoast to a largely new audience.

“Maine attracts a lot of Canadian visitors every summer, but too few of those travelers recognize that the Camden Hills area is unique. It is the only spot in the Eastern United States where mountains literally meet the sea,” said Dan Bookham, executive director of the Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber of Commerce.

The coastal communities of Camden Hills have been described by publications such as Forbes Traveler and Boston magazines as some of the prettiest towns in New England, if not the United States. They area is both uniquely Maine and simultaneously evocative of Canadian locations such as Lunenburg, Thunder Bay and St. Andrews.

“All our students from Quebec rave about the beauty and friendliness of the Camden area,” said Brian Boyd, director of the Acadia Center for English Immersion in Camden. “Students often mention that it’s much closer to Quebec than they realized, just four or five hours by car.”

These visitors comment on how much they enjoy the architecture, which is very different from what they have at home, and say that the area is perfect for a learning vacation, Boyd said.

The region offers many of the activities and family friendly experiences that Canadians tell researchers they want from their Maine vacations. These include:

• Outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, sailing and kayaking.
• Dining that ranges from local fare, such as lobster and “whoopie pies” to nationally acclaimed cuisine at fine restaurants.
• Activities for families, whether that is a trip to a transportation museum, art gallery or working farm; two Canadian French television stations (channels 2 and 16) are available.
• Shops that are located in authentic Maine village centers nestled beside harbors dotted with schooners and lobster boats.

Research completed for the Maine Office of Tourism found late last year that shopping is one of the major reasons Canadians visit the state and that these visitors particularly enjoy exploring downtown shops. Camden and other nearby communities offer one-of-a-kind stores, where shoppers can find unique merchandise and prices that were affordable even before the run-up in the loonie’s value

“Canadians who are visiting Bangor or the Maine Mall in South Portland can add a whole new set of experiences to their trip by visiting the Camden Hills,” Bookham said. “Maine’s Midcoast is just an hour and a half drive, along lovely and scenic roads, from Bangor or Portland.

“Better yet, the Camden Hills can be their vacation home, whether they are looking to pitch a tent or stay at a world-class luxury inn,” Bookham said. “The Camden Hills is at the center of the state’s world-famous coast, and the perfect location for experiencing all things Maine.”

Founded in 1939, the Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville Chamber currently 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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Camden, MAINE (February 19, 2010) – Imagine walking down your wedding aisle on a mountaintop that overlooks the Atlantic Ocean or exchanging vows on a sailing ship as you float along a rocky coastline dotted with historic lighthouses.  In Midcoast Maine, stunning weddings come naturally.

“When you’re standing on Mt. Battie in Camden Hills, you look out and there is the ocean, stretching as far as you can see. You can see the town of Camden nestled in the harbor, and it really feels like you’re standing in the middle of a fairy tale,” says Kristin Wadsworth, who lives in the Camden area and helps couples find the wedding resources they need through the Chamber of Commerce.

Spring and summer are the most popular seasons for getting ready for weddings, and brides are planning right now for their 2010 and 2011 ceremonies. Few locations have as much to offer these couples as the alluringly beautiful Midcoast of Maine.

The best way to understand what the area has to offer is to visit for yourself. Wedding-specific resources will be showcased at the annual Midcoast Wedding Expo on April 18, 2010 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Point Lookout Resort in Northport, Maine just north of Camden. The event is being produced jointly by the Camden-Rockport-Lincolnville and Penobscot Bay Area Chambers of Commerce.

From historic mansions and world-class resorts to charming inns, ornamental gardens and intimate islands, the towns of Midcoast Maine offer every kind of setting for a dream-like wedding and an abundance of highly skilled wedding professionals to ensure that every couple experiences their perfect day.

Location choices and planning resources are essential in any wedding endeavor. The Midcoast area is a home to dozens of beautiful venues and a large variety of experienced professionals in catering, photography, videography, wedding planning, flowers, accommodations and more.

To learn more about the Midcoast area for planning and experience a truly classic and beautiful wedding, visit www.visitcamden.com/weddings. Additional information about the Midcoast Wedding Expo is available at www.maineweddingexpo.com.

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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