The inland Waldo County town of Unity is unlike any other town in Maine – rural with a twist of diversity. There is something for every taste and pocketbook from hiking trails to wine tastings at Younity Winery to world class performances at the Center for Performing Arts, The Northern Solstice Alpaca Farm, the Common Ground Fair and auto racing. America’s foremost environmental-studies college is in Unity. There is an Amish community, an active farmer’s market, and a rail depot.

Unity Historical Society: Located at 8 Depot Street is open by appointment. The building is surrounded by life-sized bronze animal sculptures including bear, moose and deer by Forest Hart of Monroe. For information call 948-5610 or visit unityhistoricalsociety.wordpress.com

Unity College: Located at 90 Quaker Hill Road prepares environmental professionals with 16 environmentally-focused majors amd a liberal arts curriculum built on sustainability science, a first in the nation, from a campus on 225 acres overlooking Unity Pond. Information at unity.edu

Unity College Center for the Performing Arts (UCCPA): Located at 42 Depot Street, it was built from a one hundred year-old barn with attached farmhouse. This is a vibrant cultural and arts center that offers an eclectic mix of music, films, art, lectures and more.  Since opening in 2000, the UCCPA has seen many events including world-renowned musicians, award-winning speakers and memorable community gatherings. More information at uccpa.unity.edu

Unity College Field of Dreams: There are public walking and jogging paths, playground, picnic area, tennis court and three ball fields. The area is adjacent to picturesque Unity Pond where visitors can canoe, kayak, swim and fish. See more at: unity.edu/about-unity/campus-facilities/field-of-dreams#sthash.IXkYCBjX.dpuf

Younity Winery & Vineyards: Located at 317 Albion Road, the winery uses minimal amounts of sulfates in making wines and uses organic cane sugar so there are no residual chemicals in the sweeteners. Call 948-7777 or visit younitywinery.com

Northern Solstice Alpaca Farm: Located at 141 Crosby Brook Road, it’s open Wednesday – Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Owners Robin and Corry Pratt offer Alpacas for sale and boarding, farm tours, seminars & Alpaca fiber and apparel at the retail store in Unity. Alpacas are amazing creatures, sweet dispositions, incredibly soft, versatile fiber, curious and a joy to work with and be around say the couple. Robin Pratt has been working with alpacas for 12 years and is still excited to be working with them. The Pratts love sharing their alpacas with visitors and provide educational support and resources with other owners. They have two other retail locations:
• Northport Store – 608 Atlantic Highway in Northport, Maine open Sunday & Wednesday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. and Thursday-Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Ellsworth Store – 112 Main Street in Ellsworth is open Tuesday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Call 356-4146 or visit northernsolsticealpaca.com.

Unity Barn Raisers: This community and economic development group has taken on the challenge of transforming downtown properties into commercial and residential use, recruiting new businesses including a health center, veterinarian, credit union, expanding grocery store and creating a farmers market. They’ve also been beautifying the area with trees, benches, sidewalks, hiking and biking trails. They are located at 32 School Street. Call 948-9005 or visit unitybarnraisers.org

Unity Food Hub: UFH is housed in a renovated 1898 school house at 69 School Street and contains an event space with a fully-licensed commercial kitchen offering kitchen rentals, cold storage rentals, and rental space for events. For more information check unityfoodhub.com

Sebasticook Land Trust: “Conserving the Heart of Maine since 2005” with a mission to recognize and conserve the wild and working landscape of the Sebasticook River watershed, the Trust is located at 93 Main Street. Call 948-3766 or visit sebasticookrlt.org

Common Ground Country Fair: Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) hosts the annual event September 21-23. Almost 60,000 visitors enjoy the Common Ground Country Fair yearly – a celebration of rural and agricultural traditions in Maine with alternate life-styles and farming methods information, great food, animals and vegetable exhibits, craft exhibits, farmer’s market, composting and recycling, sheep dog demos, donkey and mule show, draft horse show, environmental concerns, spinners, weavers, Maine Indian basket makers, low-impact forestry, social & political action, music, parades, speakers & presenters, public policy teach-in, 5K foot race. Plan your fair visit because there is so much to see and do you will never be able to do it all. Free admission to MOFGA members. mofga.org/theFair

Unity Farmer’s Market: Since 1999, the market has been offering veggies, melons, meats, cheeses, baked goods, and fruits from the first Saturday of May until the Saturday before Thanksgiving from 9 a.m. -1 p.m. on School Street (Rte. 139) at the Community Center. The market is part of the greater Unity Market Day events which often include barbecues and children’s shows. For more information visit mainefarmersmarkets.org/market/unity-market-day/

Recreation trails: Open to public. No motorized vehicles. Dogs must be under control; pick up wastes. Find information at unitybarnraisers.org/trails.html.

CommUnity Bikeway: From Main Street to the fairgrounds Loop Trail is one-half mile and when finished will connect with Unity College Trail.

Triplet Park Nature Trail: Now under construction, the ¼-mile trail will travel over bog, bridging through wetland ideal for bird watching, from Wood Lane to the Old Grammar School on School Street.

Unity College trails: Three miles of dirt and forest floor, great for walking and photography. Keep your pets under control at all times, to protect both them and wild animals, fragile environments and preserve the enjoyment of other visitors.

Field of Dreams Trail: The one-mile loop begins at the Field of Dreams parking lot on Rte. 9/202, passing ball fields, playground and Unity Pond.
Connor Mill Trail: With one mile built, one mile under construction, the trail loops off Rte. 9/202 on the south side of Sandy Stream and continues to Bacon Brook. For birding, nature observation and fishing access.

Fairgrounds Loop Trail: One-mile trail begins at Newell lane across from where Bikeway ends and passes Old Unity Fairground with Sandy Stream overlook.

Unity Pond Pottery: Located at 222 Bangor Road, the business offers. Maine-made stoneware with lead-free glazes, safe for microwave, dishwasher and oven. Open June, July and August Wednesday – Saturday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Visitors welcome to studio and showroom or shop on line. Call 207 948-2400 or visit unitypondpottery.com.

Belfast & Moosehead Lake Railroad: The Brooks Preservation Society and the B&ML RR provide trains to/from the Common Ground Fair, September 21, 22, and 23. A two-train schedule offers access from Unity or Thorndike parking areas to a station at fairground commons and helps avoid traffic congestion at the fair. Your train or train-fair combo ticket is valid for any train for the day of purchase or use.  This is more than a round-trip ticket, this allows travel back to your car if you forget something and back to the fair. See schedule at belfastandmooseheadlakerail.org/joomla/index.php/menu-common-ground-fair-trains.

Amish Community: About 20 families have settled in Unity, opening a hardware and home goods store, a bakery and woodworker store. Expect to see the typical horse-drawn buggies on the roads. And this year a Charcuterie opened in the Amish community offering a variety of meat specialties, sausage and cheese at 41 Leelynn Drive. Call 948-1777 for information.

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