All About the Machias Wild Blueberry Festival

I’m Sarah Craighead Dedmon. Welcome to Way Downeast, where I’ll share small-town stories and big conversations -- about the people, communities, struggles and successes of Washington County, Maine.

The Machias Wild Blueberry Festival is a summer festival like no other. Situated in the heart of wild blueberry country, the festival has expanded from a small one-day event in the 1970s to a three-day extravaganza that still carries forward decades-old local traditions like the wild blueberry quilt, live music, the library book sale, the blueberry farm tours, the FOOD, the tradition of a Saturday night dance, and perhaps the most unique of all --- the Blueberry Musical, a locally written and performed musical comedy centered on Washington County, and blueberries.

What other festival has its own custom musical comedy each year, I ask you?

In this episode, we have everything you need to know about the 46th Annual Machias Wild Blueberry Festival, including we meet Dwight Whitney Jr., the man who first came up with the idea for the festival in 1975, then speak to Festival Director Ellen Farnsworth, Blueberry Run Race Director Angela Fochesato, DEVI Productions owner Ryan Malagara, renowned Machias Music Man and Blueberry Musical Writer/Director/Actor Gene Nichols, wild blueberry farmer Lisa Hanscom, and Blueberry Ball Director Melissa Hinerman.

For festival schedule and calendar information, visit www.machiasblueberry.com

To order t-shirts featuring the Wild Blueberry Ball: A Dress Up Dance Party For All, visit Melissa Hinerman here.

To purchase tickets to this year’s Blueberry Musical Comedy, “The Record of Washington County,” visit here or purchase in person at Centre Street Congregational Church beginning 30 minutes in advance of showtime.

To register for the Blueberry Run, and to learn when registration desks are open so you can purchase t-shirts, visit here.