The 35th running of the Laudholm Nature Crafts Festival, a celebrated and celebratory showcase of fine art and craft from across New England, was once again a very successful fundraiser and community event.

"You do everything right," shouted the baroness of wool, Nanne Kennedy, about this year's crafts festival. Nanne was one of nearly 130 artists at the 2023 show, at which volunteers and staff worked together to welcome 4,000 attendees and raise more than $103,000 in support of the Wells Reserve's facilities, operations, and visitor services in the coming year. It was among our top three shows of all time.

Setup Storm Doesn't Dampen the Mood

Attendees wouldn't have known that 39-mph gusts, pelting rain, and nearly continuous lightning had terrorized the Friday evening setup of the show; all was calm and smooth at the admissions gate, under the four tents and in the barn, and across the Laudholm campus all weekend long.

The smooth sounds of Rob Spaulding, Gordon Shannon, and Bob Moore on keyboards and guitar mingled with the smell of warm cider donuts, hot dogs, pizza, and kettle corn. There wasn't a more peaceful, relaxing, and inspiring place to be in southern Maine that weekend.

The Laudholm Trust thanks our festival's lead sponsor Kennebunk Savings Bank, along with Maine Community Bank, L.L.Bean, Lee Auto Malls, Sevigney-Lyons Insurance, Renewal by Andersen, and Tully's Beer & Wine for making this show such a grand day out in Wells.

We'll see everyone again next year for the 36th Laudholm Nature Crafts Festival—"always the weekend after Labor Day!"