The 50th annual Fall Foliage Festival is scheduled for Oct. 7-9 at the Boothbay Railway Village, 586 Wiscasset Road in Boothbay. To mark the anniversary, fair organizers added events on Monday for the first time.

Festival hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday and Monday.

More than 100 artists and makers of fine art, crafts and homemade items will be center stage on the Village Green. Rides on the narrow-gauge steam train and the opportunity for guests to explore exhibits detailing Maine’s railroad heritage, interpreting village life, and displaying more than 60 antique automobiles set this event apart from other craft fairs.

The festival is just one stop along Maine’s Pumpkin Trail, a partnership celebrating history, art and giant fruit along 50 miles of Maine’s scenic coastline from Bath to Rockland. Pumpkin-themed activities are planned at the Maine Maritime Museum, Farnsworth Art Museum and Boothbay Railway Village as well as the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest and Regatta. Follow Maine’s Pumpkin Trail on Facebook to discover ways to celebrate fall with friends and family of all ages.

The pumpkin carving contest with prizes for all ages and abilities. Entering the carving contest will cost $5 and includes a pass for free admission to the festival and your pumpkin to carve and keep. Contestants can register in advance or at the door until all pumpkins have been spoken for.

Some tools are provided but serious contestants might want to bring their favorite tools from home. Electricity will be available for those who might want to bring power tools, bring your own extension cord. Carving must be completed at the Museum during the festival and no later than noon on Monday. At noon, the judges will review all entries and award prizes. The award ceremony will start at 12:30 p.m. and prizes and pumpkins can be picked up starting at 1 p.m. Monday.

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Many area non-profits have booths to promote their programs and services or to raise funds.

The Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library and Boothbay Sea & Science Center are sponsoring an expanded kid zone near the pond specially for hands-on activities.

In addition, the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library will kick off the festival by presenting the first stage performance. Pancoast will perform at 11 a.m. Saturday. Pancoast crafts clever songs with infectious melodies that delight the young and the young at heart.

The other performers featured this year include the Boothbay Region Community Band, Space Heaters, Oyster Creek Fiddlers, Holy Mackerals, Fay Christy, and the duo Noel Arrington & Gabe Tonan.

Admission will cost $4 for adults, and is free for children younger than 12 and Boothbay Railway Village Museum members. Steam train tickets are an additional $5 each (free for museum members.)

For more information, call 633-4727, or visit railwayvillage.org.


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