Summer in Franklin County offers an abundance of outdoor activities, history, culture and educational opportunities. Farmington is unique, because past residents took great care to document its history. Today, visitors can take self-guided walking tours of old neighborhoods in the National Historic District. The Historical Society’s Titcomb House and Octagon House are located in downtown, and the beautifully restored Old North Church will host a series of summer concerts.

Farmington’s July 4th parade theme will be Serving Humanity and the floats are always imaginative and varied. The winding route through the downtown streets will be packed for the 10 a.m. procession, so visitors are advised to arrive with plenty of time to park and walk to the event. In July, the annual Summer Fest offers two days of music, parades, great local food and fun. Visit downtownfarmington.com for additions to the schedule.

On Friday, July 27, evening activities include the Merry-Go-Roundup Band, a talent show and the Sunday Project Band. On Saturday, July 28, activities include:
9 a.m.–5 p.m. History Mystery Scavenger Hunt
11 a.m. Children’s Parade: Enchanted Forest theme
11 a.m.–3 p.m. Farmland Fun Petting Zoo
11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. Picnic at Henderson Memorial Baptist Church
12 noon – 5 p.m. Old Tyme Fun in the Park: Enchanted Forest theme
1– 2:30 p.m. Flash! In the Pans – Steel Drum Band & Street Dance
1– 4 p.m. Pie on the Porch at Old South Congregational Church
1– p.m. Fire Truck Rides
1– 4 p.m. The Great Float Race down the Sandy River
5:30 p.m. Spandits’ Road Races (visit downtownfarmington.com for categories)
7 p.m. Farmington Gem Award and Dreamin’ Big Bed Race

And for more fun:
Carrabassett Valley
On June 30, the 16th annual Kingfield POPS concert will feature the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, plus an eclectic assortment of musical performances. The stage on Kennedy Farm fields is just a short distance from the village center, and concert goers can bring picnics, blankets and lawn chairs for the family-friendly event. Performances include Shawn Tooley. GoldenOak, the Gypsy Tailwind Reunion and the Adam Ezra Group. A fireworks finale and a medley of patriotic holiday favorites caps the afternoon and evening of music. Advance tickets can be purchased at kingfieldpops.com.

Starting on Friday, July 15, the Kingfield Festival Days will be three days packed with live music, competitions, talent competitions and boat rides. This year’s Zombie Apocalypse-themed Grand Parade on Saturday at noon will be a highlight of the weekend’s events.

Further north, at the base of Sugarloaf ski resort, the 20,000 square-foot Carrabassett Valley Antigravity Complex offers Maine’s largest indoor skate bowl and street park. Other features include state-of-the-art trampolines, an indoor rock climbing wall, a multi-purpose gymnasium with a surrounding track. For summer hours or more information, visit sugarloaf.com/kids/anti-gravity-complex or call 237-5566.

Sugarloaf will host an all-new Summer Après Series, featuring live music, food and microbrews on June 29, July 13 and August 10. For golf fans, two of Maine’s premier golf destinations, Belgrade Lakes Golf Club and Sugarloaf Golf Club, are located just 60 miles apart. They have teamed up on July 22 for the 3rd Annual ThirtySixSixty golf tournament, featuring 18 holes at each course played on one day. Registration is $280 per person and includes breakfast, lunch, dinner, prizes and transportation between the venues. For more details or to register, contact Sugarloaf Golf Club at (800)-THE-LOAF.

On Saturday, Aug. 18, The Flume foot race features both a 5K and 10K challenge on the Carrabassett Valley Trail Network at the Sugarloaf Outdoor Center. Preregistration is encouraged, according to Tuttle.

“We’ll also be the host site for a new two-day Grit Clinic on the trail network,” she said.

Attendees at any skill level will work on mountain bike skills progression on August 4-5. Registration is $300 per person, and space is limited, Tuttle said.
The 13th Annual Carrabassett Summer Festival will be open from noon to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 4. The fundraiser for local youth features a music festival, an art show and a fly-in at the local airport and KC’s Kreativity Center, off Route 27 in Carrabassett Valley.

Old North Church
summer concerts

June 15 – Ruth Hill – 19th Annual Great American Song Contest winner

June 23 – Bob Simons
& Renee Goodwin – traditional & contemporary folk

July 7 – Bill Berlinghoff – folksinger in the Pete Seeger tradition

July 21 – South Strong Road Crew & Friends – New Orleans-style traditional jazz

Aug. 4 – Peter & Will Anderson – NYC-based jazz saxophonist and clarinetist

Aug. 18 – Mark Mandeville & Raianne Richards – Americana & old country music

Mountaintop Summer Worship Services

High up on Sugarloaf Mountain, an outdoor Amphitheater nicknamed The AMP, will be the site of summer worship services conducted by Sugarloaf Christian Ministry. The AMP is located just West of the top of the Super Quad chair lift and has stunning views, benches for participants, a platform for leaders, and a fantastic sound system. These interdenominational services will utilize the outdoors, be informal, and kid friendly. The Rev. Earle Morse exclaims, “The popularity of the Ministry’s Easter Sunrise Service prompted us to create a summer venue for services and weddings. Sugarloaf and the Ministry have partnered to bring this community resource to life. We are thrilled to be offering these community worship services in God’s great outdoor sanctuary!”

Summer services will be held each Sunday from July 1 through Sept. 2 at 11 a.m. Attendees should load the Super Quad lift by 10:30 a.m. for the 15-minute ride up to the AMP. The trail from the top of the lift to the AMP is a readily navigable 2-minute walk. Tickets for the lift ride are obtained from the Outpost Adventure Center on Main Street of the Sugarloaf base area. Ask for the “Worship Ticket” and receive a discounted round-trip ticket. Sunscreen and a warm jacket are recommended.

Bring your lunch it you want to join others for a mountain picnic following the service. If weather inhibits the on-mountain gathering, a service will be held at 11 a.m. in the Richard Bell Chapel located in the base area of Sugarloaf. In addition to the summer services, there will also be a service on the Sunday of Sugarloaf’s Homecoming Weekend, Oct. 7 at The AMP at 11 am. For more information call Sugarloaf Christian Ministry at 237-2304.

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