August 27, 2025 Vol. 35

Business After Hours:

September 19 with the Wiscasset Yacht Club & the Wiscasset Rec

October 9 with Lincoln County Dental

Art, Music, Circus Arts at Wiscasset Art Walk, Aug. 28

Woodfield Farm’s Wagon Offers Jaunts Around the Village

WISCASSET, MAINE – The final Wiscasset Art Walk of the 2025 season presents exquisite art, sublime music, the challenge of juggling, the tenderness of remembrance, and tasty places to eat on Thursday, August 28, 4-7pm. 

Sylvan Gallery hosts award-winning plein air artists Crista Pisano and Neil Hughes during the WAW evening. The two award-winning artists are kindred spirits in their enjoyment of painting plein air, but their final results could hardly be more different. While Pisano paints small, delicate land and sea scapes, Hughes’ paintings are broad and big. Meet the artists and see their paintings during the evening.

Long Branch returns to the Village as the Art Walk’s featured musical performer. The trio of Nanci Stein, Bill Donovan, and John Favreau play bluegrass and country with some folk from the 60s and 70s, enhanced with their vocal harmonies. Other fine musicians on harp and jazz guitar play in the galleries. Aekeir Tap Room hosts local musicians and a song circle during the evening.

Maine Youth Circus performers will be juggling and performing other amazing feats throughout the Village. Look for the big tent on the sidewalk for demos. and an opportunity for visitors to try juggling, stilt-walking, and other circus skills.

The sidewalk is also the venue for community tables and creative vendors. For the third year, Wiscasset Art Walk hosts art and resource tables related to substance use, overdose, recovery, and remembrance in partnership with Healthy Lincoln County and Studio B. Near the end of the WAW evening, a procession through the Village starts at Railroad Ave. and leads to the Sunken Garden for a vigil to honor lost loved ones, share stories and remembrance, and express gratitude for those we love. The public is invited to participate. 

During WAW, Woodfield Farm’s horse drawn wagon offers free rides around town; get on board in front of Sylvan Gallery on Water St. Village restaurants, open during and after WAW, serve fresh seafood including oysters, fancy grilled cheese, burgers, fine dining, and local brews. Look for the streamers in participating doorways and pick up your visitors’ map to the evening’s activities and locations. 

In 2025, the businesses that support Wiscasset Art Walk are Lead Sponsor, Ames True Value; Major Sponsors are Big Barn Coffee, Carriage House Gardens, Cheney Insurance, Cope & Co., Sherri Dunbar/Dunham Realty, First National Bank, J. Edward Knight Insurance, Newcastle Realty, Peter Eaton Antiques, Red’s Eats, Rock Paper Scissors, Water St. Kitchen & Bar; with additional support from Aekeir Tap Room, Bradbury Art & Antiques, and IndustrialME.

For more information about Wiscasset Art Walk, visit www.wiscassetartwalk.org or email to wiscassetartwalk@gmail.com . Wiscasset Art Walk is a program of Wiscasset Creative Alliance.

PICS

Long Branch on sidewalk: Long Branch plays the sidewalk during Wiscasset Art Walk on Thurs., Aug. 28, 4-7pm, featuring country, bluegrass, and a bit of early folk. (Bob Bond photo.)

HLC display: During Wiscasset Art Walk on Thursday, Aug. 28, Healthy Lincoln County and Studio B commemorate International Overdose Awareness Day with info. tables and healing arts displays. (Wiscasset Art Walk photo.)

Sylvan Gallery during WAW: Sylvan Gallery, 49 Water St., hosts award-winning plein air painters Neal Hughes and Crista Pisano during Wiscasset Art Walk on Thurs., Aug. 28, 4-7pm. (Lucia Droby photo.)

Tuesday, August 26th will be our last Tuesday of this season.

Open 11:30 - 5:00

We WILL be open on Labor Day, Monday, September 1st.

11:30 - 5:00

Fall Hours = Wednesday - Sunday 11:30 - 7:00

Hope to see you!

“Made in Maine” opens at the Maine Art Gallery

The Maine Art Gallery in Wiscasset opens its last exhibit of the season on Thursday, August 28 includes work by member artists from throughout the state. “Made in Maine,”  which runs through October 18, is the annual members’ show of works in painting, drawing, textiles, sculpture, photography and assemblage.

An opening reception from 4:30 - 6:30 coincides with Wiscasset’s Art Walk. Refreshments will be served, with music by singer/songwriter Jud Caswell. Regular gallery hours are 11-4, Thursday-Sunday.

This annual exhibit provides member artists an opportunity to exhibit their work in a particularly fine exhibit space, Wiscasset’s former Old Academy building on Warren Street. Member participation helps to make the Maine Art Gallery sustainable and plays an important part in its mission of building community through the arts. 

The gallery thanks season sponsor Sherri Dunbar of Tim Dunham Realty and capital sponsor Islebrook Villages at Wiscasset.

In September and October, Jude Valentine will lead workshops for beginner to intermediate adult artists. “Working Angles: Landscape Perspective” on Sept. 8 offers remedies for problems such as  buildings and structures that don’t look quite right. “Capturing the Light: Layering Color” on Oct. 6 is a mixed water media workshop. Visit maineartgallerywiscasset.org for sign up deadlines and details.

A nonprofit organization, the Maine Art Gallery is dedicated to the advancement and preservation of the visual, fine and applied arts through exhibitions, lectures, demonstrations and educational programs for children and adults since 1958. More information can be found at www.maineartgallerywiscasset.org and on Facebook at Maine Art Gallery Wiscasset. 

The gallery is located at 15 Warren Street, Wiscasset, with free on-street parking. From the north on Route 1, turn right onto Federal Street (Rt. 218) then left onto Warren Street. From the south on Route 1, turn left onto Federal Street, then left onto Warren Street. From Main Street shops, we’re an easy 8-minute walk.

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“Unmoored,” a mixed media creation by Debra Arter can be seen in the Maine Art Gallery show, “Made in Maine” through October 18.

Bands for Books, September 1, 2025

Mark your calendars for the highly anticipated Midcoast event of the year! Bands for Books will be held on Labor Day, September 1st at Lakehurst Lodge, Damariscotta, 5:00-7:00 pm. The “Salty Dogs” will once again provide music. The group has proven to be the perfect pairing for this party. Their enthusiastic music has never failed to fill the dance floor.

Tickets are now available at the Wiscasset Library (21 High Street, Wiscasset) or by calling the Treasurer of the Friends of the Wiscasset Library, Lynn Maloney (207-798-2831) or via email at lynnmaloney5@yahoo.com]. We have kept ticket prices at the original cost of $20 each prior to the event and $25 at the door. We hope you will join us for a fun-filled evening.

The Garden Club of Wiscasset 

        Invites you to join us for

“Using and Preserving Your Garden Harvest “

Presented by Christine Burns Rudalevige ,

Chef, author, sustainable fish specialist, certified cheese judge, and cooking instructor.

1:00 PM the afternoon of

Thursday, September 4, 2025

        Meeting in Fellowship Hall

      First Congregational Church 

        28 High Street , Wiscasset

Public invited free of charge 

Food, Fun, and Auction at

 Lincoln County Historical Association's “Preservation Party” 

Each year, Lincoln County Historical Association’s party planning team creates an experience that brings joy to guests while providing vital support for the organization’s mission. This year’s theme, “Pizza and Pizazz,” promises a festive gathering with gourmet wood-fired pizza served on the scenic grounds of the Pownalborough Court House in Dresden.

The event takes place on Sunday, September 7, rain or shine. Tickets are available now at www.lincolncountyhistory.org; click on “Preservation Party” in the top banner. Guests are advised to purchase tickets by August 29.

A highlight of the celebration is the spirited auction of experiences, led by Kaja Veilleux of Thomaston Place Galleries. Items include fabulous desserts and unique offerings such as a half-day guided fishing trip for two on the upper Kennebec River paired with a scenic float plane flight over the Moosehead area. Other packages feature theater tickets to five repertory theaters, vacation stays in Spain and Ireland, a catered dinner for eight in the historic tavern of the 1761 Pownalborough Court House, a Murder Mystery Dinner for eight in a Wiscasset home, and a fishing or sightseeing excursion for four on Casco Bay.

In addition to the auction and delicious fare, the event will include music, a cash bar, and the chance to explore the colonial-era Court House overlooking the Kennebec River. Guests are encouraged to bring their appetites, curiosity, and generosity. Whether you're a long-time supporter or attending for the first time, the Preservation Party is a joyful way to celebrate local history and support its preservation.

Thank you to the Sea Basket restaurant and Sprague's Lobster for their support of this event!

The 3rd Battle of the Boards

(a fundraiser for the Wiscasset Area Chamber)

Saturday, September 20 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m.

We are just a month out from our charcuterie challenge and we are anxiously looking for contestants to sign up! Do not hesitate! This is a fun and yummy event and something anyone can participate in. So get those thinking caps on, throw around some ideas and put your board together! Be creative, think of various themes as the basis of your board such as seasonal themes (e.g., fall harvest, summer picnic) or cultural themes (e.g., Italian, Mediterranean). The options are endless!

Battle of the Boards will be held on Saturday, September 20 from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Maine Tasting Center, 508 Old Bath Road, Wiscasset. Tickets are $20 per person and include samples of the boards, a cash bar and a variety of vendors/demonstrators. 

Cost to compete for chamber members is $30, non-membersis $45. Boards will be judged on Taste, Originality/creativity, and Appearance/presentation. Please see contest info at: https://wiscassetchamber.com/botb-contest-rules/ 

The Maine Tasting Center is offering a class in Perfectly Paired: A Sip & Style Experience with Maple & Honey Boards, 9/7/25, 5:30 PM for those who might like to learn a little more about assembling a lovely charcuterie board!

Cheryl “Shep” Rust, owner for 40 years, of the Le Garage Restaurant in Wiscasset is one of three judges this year.

Mike Urban, our second judge is a New England-based food and travel writer, book publisher and the author of several books on New England cuisine.

Patricia Cloutier, Executive Chamber Manager, will be the 3rd judge with years of amateur dalliances with catering, teaching cooking classes, and traveling which gave her the opportunity to enjoy the cuisines of other cultures.

Prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd place as well as a People’s Choice award.

 Deadline for contestants is September 16, so please register today. Contact the chamber at 207-882-9600 or go to https://wiscassetchamber.com/battle-of-the-boards/ .

If you would like to be a sponsor for this wonderful event, please contact the chamber office or the website at: https://wiscassetchamber.com/2025-battle-of-the-boards-sponsorship-form/

We are hoping to host a successful and enjoyable charcuterie board contest that celebrates culinary artistry and brings people together over a shared love of food. 

So be sure to get your tickets soon online at: https://wiscassetchamber.com/botb-entry-ticket-form/ or call the chamber office at 207-882-9600.

Maine Needham Festival Returns for 3rd Year of Potato Candy, Community, and Celebration

Maine’s sweetest festival is back for its third year! The 3rd Annual Maine Needham Festival will take place on Saturday, September 27th, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Maine Tasting Center in Wiscasset. This free, family-friendly event celebrates the rich history and modern revival of the Maine Needham, a unique chocolate-covered coconut and potato candy, with a full day of treats, games, music, local vendors, and plenty of surprises.

The event is co-founded and organized by Maine Needham Company and Maine Tasting Center, with the continued support of planning committee members Robin’s Confections and Wilbur’s of Maine Chocolate Confections, two iconic Maine candy makers who have long upheld the Needham tradition.

The festival is made possible by the generous support of sponsors including Norm’s Used Cars (parking sponsor), Maine Made, Robin’s Confections, Maine Needham Company, Wilbur’s of Maine, Bath Savings, Reny’s, Franklin Printing, and the Maine Food & Beverage Education Center, which hosts the event on its Wiscasset Maine Tasting Center campus.

New Hope Midcoast Speaker Series with Margaret Groban

The Evolution of the Federal Response to Domestic Violence and Firearms

Monday, September 29, 4-5:30 p.m.

Mid-Coast School of Technology, Rockland

Tuesday, September 30, 4-5:30 p.m.

Boothbay Region YMCA, Boothbay Harbor

Free (registration required)

Margaret Groban will provide an historical review of the federal response to domestic violence, an explanation of the kinds of federal laws that extend to guide state responses to domestic abuse and firearm restrictions, and the impact that these laws have had. This presentation includes discussion of red flag laws, an issue on the upcoming November Maine ballot.

Margaret Groban is a retired federal prosecutor for the District of Maine, the National Domestic Violence Coordinator for the U.S. Department of Justice, former member of Maine’s Domestic Violence Homicide Review Panel, and is currently teaching at the University of Maine School of Law.

Free, with event registration.

For more information and to register visit https://newhopemidcoast.org/news-events/speaker-series-reg-page/.

For questions, contact Joan at (207) 691.5969 or developmentdirector@newhopemidcoast.org.

Sign Up for the Chamber Member to Member Discount Program today!

Go HERE to find out more about the program and how to sign up.

Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce | www.wiscassetchamber.com

(207)882-9600

info@wiscassetchamber.com