The Maine Potato Blossom Festival is once again offering a nine-day celebration of summer and Aroostook County, this year with a large crop of musical performances.
The 69th annual festival kicked off on Saturday, July 9, starting more than 100 activities, contests and performances held throughout Fort Fairfield during the week, including live music, pageants, potato picking, a chess tournament, yard sales, group paddles on the Aroostook River, a 25 mile bicycle race, and a downtown beer garden.
Tim Goff, Fort Fairfield’s economic and marketing director, is tasked with organizing the festival, among other duties, and said he’s hoping it offers a good time for both locals and visitors.
“We want people take the effort to travel here and explore the area,” Goff said. “For the most part everything is free.”
This year, Goff said, the festival drew interest from musicians from around New England, who reached out to inquire about playing during the festival.
Goff said the festival ended up with musicians who’ll offer range of styles — from storying-telling folk to groove metal — including County natives Carol Ayoob, Travis Cyr and French Toast, a trio from the St. John Valley. Other Maine-based bands playing at the festival include The Half Moon Jug Band, Chris Ross and the North, and the Jason Spooner Band.
