by Sarah Craighead Dedmon

Following the cancelation of the Machias Wild Blueberry Festival for the second year in a row, many have feared the iconic harvest festival might never return. But never fear, says festival director Ellen Farnsworth. The Machias Wild Blueberry Festival will be back in 2022, and better than before.

“I’m getting contacted three and four times per week from new vendors that want to be a part of the 2022 festival,” said Farnsworth. “So that’s exciting, we’ll probably see lots of new faces next year.”

Founded by Centre Street Congregational Church in 1976, this year would have been the 45th Machias Wild Blueberry Festival, which traditionally takes place on the third weekend in August. Last year’s festival was prohibited by state COVID-19 guidelines, and the church canceled this year’s festival in April, citing uncertainty over the lifting of state restrictions, and concern over then-rising case counts.

Some things will be different in 2022, says Farnsworth. Taking into account an aging volunteer base, the church will no longer hold its Friday night fish fry, or blueberry pancake breakfasts.

“The food events are the most labor intensive events for us and require the most volunteers,” said Farnsworth. Instead, the church will host food trucks.
The change creates opportunity for other parts of the community.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for a nonprofit to handle some sort of event like that, in the same way the Washington County Children’s Program provides the children’s parade and the children’s entertainment,” said Farnsworth.

The Washington County Children’s Chorus still plans to do its two-day lobster roll sale in the church parking lot.

“That’s another collaborative effort we have with another nonprofit group,” said Farnsworth.

There are also lots of opportunities for individuals to get involved. The church needs “vendor tenders” to help the craft vendors over festival weekend, drivers for the shuttle service, and golf carts, and of course, the entertainment centerpiece of the festival, too.

“The Blueberry Musical, there's always opportunities for people to be a part of that,” said Farnsworth. “Next year’s musical is already a work in progress, it already has a title.”

New events could be coming, too. Pat’s Pizza owner Bill Burke has donated an outdoor stage to the church, which opens up the possibility of performances on the church green.

Anyone interested in volunteering with the festival should contact Centre Street Congregational Church at 255-6665.

“We ought to be in really great shape by next August,” said Farnsworth. “We’re looking forward to the festival being bigger and better than ever.”