Calendar

Come to our 8th annual Punkinfiddle festival. Our National Estuaries Day Celebration features traditional crafts, hands-on learning, lively music, old-fashioned games, fun food, farm animals, and lots of smiles in a historic seaside setting.

Quick Links

• Download a flier for posting!
• For performers, artisans, vendors
• Getting Here
• Read blog posts tagged 'Punkinfiddle'

Planning to Attend Punkinfiddle?

Great idea! Thousands of people have enjoyed this event since the first one in 2003. We make it happen rain or shine. It's a great bargain when you take advantage of our carload fee.

You can get directions to our site here. Please understand that neither smoking nor dogs are permitted on the site.

On Stage

• 10:30 — Paul Wells and Sally Sommers Smith play a hodgepodge of traditional and modern tunes and songs.
• 12:00 — David Surette and Isa Burke play a mixture of traditional old-time and New England-based fiddle tunes — plus a few songs — on fiddle, guitar, mandolin, and cittern.
• 1:30 — Robert Sylvain and Pip Walter bring inimitable cajun mayhem.
• 3:00 — Erica Brown and Matt Shipman put together a mix of tunes and songs.

Around the Site

Look for the Wells Farmer's Market, a few friendly farm animals, and some cool old tractors and farm tools. Take a wagon ride or ride a pony for a small fee.

Fun Ways to Learn

Volunteers are essential! If you can help, please call Nancy at 646-1555!

• Docent-led walk
• Self-guided solo walk (on Laird-Norton boardwalk)
• NERRS activity with sand from many other reserves from around the country
• Library open with puppets and storybooks and a story time
• Switchel tasting
• Games (water cycle, parachute game, and more)
• Pumpkin decorating with natural materials
• Estuary crowns and paper bag estuary bird puppets
• Face painting (estuary and pumpkin themes)
• Discovery Book table with treasure maps for sale separately
• Estuary scavenger hunt

What's to Eat?

The Landing Store will offer a variety of lunch items for sale. You can always bring a picnic, too. But leave room for some frozen yogurt from Sweet Scoops!

Traditional Arts Demonstrators

• Sal & Lisa Adinolfi – Stone Masonry
• Moe Auger – Pumpkin Carving
• Tom Berry – Folk Instrument Making
• Angela & Diane Chamberlain – Felting and Spinning
• Martha Chessie – Basket Weaving
• Claire Curtis – Violin Making
• Marjorie Dearborn – Tape Loom Weaving
• Richard Dearborn – Butter Churning
• Pamela Drew – Wool Making
• Jadeane Gauvin – Soap Making
• Claire Genest – Fudge Making
• Diane Howe – Flax
• Lynn Jourdan – Quilting
• Barbara Morran – Spinning and Weaving
• Larry Peiffer – Beekeeping
• George Polichronopoulos – Broom Making
• Gardner Whitney – Chair Caning

Farmers' Market

• Mud Meadow Farm
• Two Can Estates – natural wool products
• The Sweet Specialist
• Tracy's Treats
• Little Cottage Bakery
• Cricket Corner Soaps
• Creeping Thyme Farm – goat cheese
• Sunburst Clay Works
• Buddha's Burning Buns
• Maple Ridge Farm – maple syrup
• Pamelama Fibers
• …and more

Lead Sponsor

Pratt & Whitney

Sponsors

• Farm Family Insurance
• Sevigney-Lyons Insurance Agency
• People's United Bank
• Shaw's Supermarkets
• Mike's Clam Shack
• Tourist News – tent sponsor
• Dana Dakers, CPA of Purdy, Powers & Co.
• Bandaloop
• L.L. Bean

For Performers, Artisans, and Vendors

Performers: We have been fortunate to welcome many talented musicians and storytellers to this event. If you are interested in performing at Punkinfiddle, please review this information first, then get in touch with us.

Artisans: We work with specific artisans who are especially interested in demonstrating traditional skills such as basket making, chair making, tape loom weaving, spinning, butter churning, and broom making. The focus is on education rather than sales. If you have a special skill that would be a good fit for Punkinfiddle, please call us at 207-646-4521 or email trust@laudholm.org.

Vendors: Punkinfiddle is not a sales event, though musicians and artisans do sell products and promote services. The Punkinfiddle committee limits the food vendors to one or two preselected, local businesses.

Event Mission Statement

Punkinfiddle, A National Estuaries Day Celebration, fosters stewardship of coastal environments by celebrating the richness of estuaries, Maine's cultural traditions, and our beautiful historic site. This annual fall festival features environmental education, artisan demonstrations, lively music, wholesome food, farm animals, and children's activities.