by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

The Machias Wild Blueberry Festival will not happen for the second year in a row due to the COVID-19 pandemic, festival organizers announced today, April 9.

“It was a hard decision. We really just did not see how we could safely put on a festival,” said festival committee chair Ellen Farnsworth, pointing to festival events that take place in close quarters, like the blueberry musical. “That couldn’t have happened. Even the vendors, how could we guarantee that we were keeping our vendors safe? There were just too many things.”

by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Co-organizers Ellen Farnsworth and Nancy Lewis yesterday announced the formal cancellation of what would have been the 45th Machias Wild Blueberry Festival.

"It is with a heavy heart that we are letting you know that we have decided, along with Governor Mills "Stay Safer at Home Order" that we have to cancel...," wrote Farnsworth and Lewis. "COVID-19 has turned our world upside down, and believe me, while we are saddened that this is the outcome, we also believe it is the responsible thing to do."