Christmas Prelude in Kennebunkport, Maine

Every year in the weeks before Christmas the town of Kennebunkport, Maine conducts its "Christmas Prelude". Events include Christmas tree lightings, craft fairs, art shows, holiday shopping, trolley rides, bonfires, pancake breakfast, and much more. Events take place throughout the month of December. Click on the link below for more information.

www.christmasprelude.com

Thanksgiving in Maine - 2012

Maine is a super place to have a Thanksgiving getaway. There are lots of places to visit, the inns are waiting for you to make a reservation, the tourist crowds are gone, there is little to no highway traffic, our inns have superb staff and cooks, and there are no dishes to do after the big meal! See what your Thanksgiving vacation options are in Maine at the web page link below.

www.travel-maine.info/Thanksgiving_in_Maine.htm

New Blog Added to Blog Listing

I have added a new blog to my blog list. It is called "Boot and Canoe - Adventures in the Maine wilderness".  Nice stories and excellent photography by a Maine Guide who writes about hunting, camp cooking, canoes, and more.  His blog can be found at www.bootandcanoe.com. See a list of other Maine blogs here at Maine Blogs.

Amtrak Downeaster Extends Passenger Train Service to Freeport and Brunswick, Maine

The Amtrak Downeaster is now extending its service from Portland, Maine to Freeport and Brunswick. Read more on this topic in "Downeaster service to run north of Portland, Maine for first time in 50 years", Boston.com, November 2, 2012.

Free Photo Workshops in Acadia National Park (Aug 18-29, 2012)

A free photo workshop is being offered at Acadia National Park from August 18 to August 29, 2012.  This event is sponsored by Canon U.S.A. and the American Park Network under the "Canon's Photography in the Parks" workshop program. The workshops offer free professional photography and videography lessons in a unique, hands-on environment. For more information visit the link below:

http://photographyintheparks.com/

Tri for Preservation Triathlon and Aquabike (Cape Elizabeth, Maine - August 19, 2012)

The Tri for Preservation Triathlon and Aquabike will be held on Sunday, August 19, 2012. The event will benefit the Cape Elizabeth Land Trust. This is the 2nd annual event. It will be held at Crescent Beach State Park in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. The event consists of a 500-yard ocean swim, 14-mile bike course, and 3.1 mile run. Learn more about the event at http://www.capelandtrust.org/triathlon/

Lewiston Auburn Film Festival - April 13-15, 2012

The Lewiston Auburn Film Festival will be held on April 13-15, 2012 in Lewiston-Auburn, Maine.  The second annual Lewiston Auburn Film Festival (LAFF) is going to be a three-day extravaganza complete with opening night festivities, a full day of films in downtown L/A, top-notch awards show, brunch, and filmmaker panels.

Based on the success of last year’s event, where more than 1,000 festival goers attended screenings of 100+ films from all over the world, the staff at LAFF has been working hard to make LAFF 2012 bigger, better and on par with festivals found in larger, more well-known cities.

Learn more at www.lafilmfestival.org.

Maine Maple Syrup Producers Tapping Trees Early

Maine maple syrup producers are tapping trees early this year due to the mild winter.  Maine is the third highest maple syrup producing state - behind Vermont and New York. The maple tree sap can be made into maple syrup, maple butter, maple candy, and maple cream.  Read more in "Maine maple producers able to tap trees with early spring", NECN.com, March 8, 2012.

Maple Sugar Tapping at Blaine House by Governor LePage

AUGUSTA – In an effort to promote Maine maple syrup, Governor Paul LePage today joined Commissioner Walt Whitcomb, Commissioner Bill Beardsley, Legislators and Maine Maple Producers for an annual tradition – the tapping of a maple tree on the Blaine House lawn.

Maine Maple Sunday is fast approaching. The event, held annually on the fourth Sunday of March, takes place March 25 this year. As part of this year’s celebration of maple syrup production, more than 125 sugarhouses will be open around the State. Sugarhouses welcome visitors to participate in syrup and candy sampling, demonstrations of making syrup, sugarbush tours and a variety of other activities. “The potential for job creation in the maple industry is huge,” said Governor LePage. “The Maine maple syrup industry represents a great opportunity for Maine to promote its natural resource-based economy, a major part of our economic engine,” added the Governor.

Currently, Maine has 1.47 million taps and produced 360,000 gallons of maple syrup last season, a 14% increase from 2010. The latest yearly figures show that Maine generated nearly $13 million in revenue from the maple industry.

“We are pleased that Governor LePage will once again be kicking off the maple syrup season with the tapping of the tree on the Blaine House lawn,” said Agriculture Commissioner Walt Whitcomb. “This industry is a great example of Maine’s multiple uses of its natural resources and how a wood lot has an array of benefits – maple syrup, wood production, recreation and open space.

“Maine’s maple sugar industry provides a tremendous opportunity for growth in Maine’s natural resource sector,” said Conservation Commissioner Bill Beardsley. “This is an example of how agriculture and forestry are intertwined. In 2011, Maine was third in the nation producing 13 percent of maple syrup in the U.S.,” Beardsley stated.

Info above from "Governor LePage Promotes Maple Sugar Season at Blaine House", Maine.gov, March 7, 2012.  Learn more about Maine Maple Sugar.

Maple Syrup May Flow Early in Maine

Maple sugar sap may flow early this year.  The warm weather and lack of snow cover has pushed the date up for the start of the maple sugar season by a few weeks.  In fact, the sap may not be running by the time that Maple Sunday arrives on March 25th here in Maine.  For a good maple syrup season there is a need for cold nights and warm days.  Read more in "Early sap? Go with the flow", The Portland Press Herald, February 27, 2012.

Bethel, Maine WinterFest 2012

The Bethel, Maine WinterFest will be held on Friday and Saturday, February 24 and 25, 2012. Events include the sliding hill, bonfire, Nordic skiing and snowshoeing events, alpine skiing events, rail jam, snow groomer rides, and more. There is winter fun for everyone!

www.bethelwinterfest.com

Light Snowfall in Maine

Although we do have some snow on the ground right now this year has been a bit light in the snow department.  That affects the winter sports here in Maine - especially those that like to downhill ski, snowshoe, and snowmobile.  A Bangor snow plow firm reports that business is not what was expected this year with the light snowfall; but we still have the remainder of January and February to look forward to.

"Trouble Is My Business" on Portland Stage (Portland, Maine, Jan 24 - Feb 19, 2012)

The famous Los Angeles detective Philip Marlowe is presented by the Portland Stage in Portland, Maine from January 24 to February 19, 2012 in Trouble is My Business. Set in the 1930s the detective works to solve crimes with a variety of charaters. Find out more at the link below:

http://www.portlandstage.org/Event-65.html