HOULTON, Maine — While the weather has seemed a bit more akin to summer, participants in Saturday’s annual Riverfront Harvest Festival did not seem to mind the above-average temperatures. After all, it was just a year ago, when many of the vendors were forced to close up shop early because of the cold, blustery conditions.
“We couldn’t have asked for a better day to have vendors in Riverfront Park and the Community Market in Market Square,” said Jane Torres, executive director for the Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce. “The Riverfront Harvest Festival was developed to highlight the coming of the harvest and to get the community to visit the Market and to walk across the Gateway Bridge to enjoy what has become a favorite destination in Houlton.”
The Chamber had its booth close to the entrance to the walking bridge and saw a steady stream of young parents pushing strollers and grandparents with children going back and forth all day.
“It started the conversation about how lucky we are to have young people coming back to town to raise their children,” Torres said. “These families came to enjoy pumpkin painting and the Northern Maine Antique Tractor Club’s Tractor Train. There really was something for everyone at the event from food to music and lots in-between.”
The Northern Maine Wood Turners added excitement to the event with their finely-crafted hand turned items. The event also served as the unofficial opening of Pips, the new food truck located in Riverfront Park.
“By the time we started packing up at 2:30 p.m., people didn’t seem to want to leave, which is always the sign of a great event,” Torres said.
