Maine has plenty of festivals, but my favorite is the Grand Lake Stream Folk Arts Festival, an all-around good-time event. I attend almost every year, and in 2022, I spoke with Bill Shamel about what visitors can expect. While the vendors and musicians may change slightly from year to year, the overall festival remains one of Maine’s best. It always takes place on the last full weekend of July.
10 reasons to attend Maine’s Grand Lake Stream Folk Arts Festival
- It’s held on the ballfield in “downtown” Grand Lake Stream, which comprises a store, a school, and, well, that’s about it.
- It’s inexpensive ($10 per day or $15 for the weekend)
- It’s a manageable size, with plenty of room for kids to run and dogs to roll.
A ampling of the vendors. ©Hilary Nangle - The artisans, usually more than 50, most of whom hail from Maine, are extremely talented and eager to share their knowledge. And since all exhibitors are under tents, it’s weatherproof, too.
Canoe-building demonstration. ©Tom Nangle - There’s always a display of antique and contemporary quilts and another of canoes and canoebuilding.
It’s a short walk from the festival to the lake for a paddle or a swim. Above: a Grand Laker canoe. ©Tom Nangle - The festival is within walking distance of the stream, a favorite with fly fishermen, as well as the dam and the lake. That makes it easy to take a break and cool off with a swim on a hot day.
Sebastian’s Wood Fired Oven is just one of the vendors in the Grand Lake Stream Folk Arts Festival food tent. ©Hilary nangle - Food on the festival grounds is usually excellent (lobster rolls, wood-oven pizza, fancy burgers and hot dogs, and of course, strawberry shortcake).
If you don’t come to the festival for the art, come for the nonstop music. ©Hilary Nangle - The music. Live and all-day long, including bluegrass, acoustic, and even brass. Trust me; you haven’t lived until you’ve heard a string band accompanied by a horn.
- A children’s arts & crafts program lets kids ages 4-12 create their own souvenirs.
- The Grand Lake Stream Folk Arts Festival is just a good time, relaxed in that way only Washington County, in way, way Down East Maine, is.
Lodging usually books quickly. Also consider Princeton, Calais, and even Eastport, about an hour distant or across the border in St. Andrews or St. Stephen, N.B.
Consider making a long weekend of it and looping into Aroostook County or over to the Maine Highlands. Here are a few ideas about that route.
