Rockland, Maine - Hundreds of people young and old turned out for annual Summer Solstice hosted by Rockland Main Street INC on Saturday, June 15th, 2019 in Rockland, Maine.
Big hit during the event were annual Rockland Sculpture Race, Studio Red performing routines on Main Street and Whoopie Pie Eatting Contest.
For all ages, live music, dancing, kids activities, street vendors, crafts.
Summer Solstice is a production of Rockland Main Street, with generous support from:
Rockland – The annual Festival of Lights celebration in downtown Rockland is on schedule to kick off the holiday shopping season on Thanksgiving weekend, November 24-26. This year’s major sponsor for Festival of Lights is the Island Institute.
By the time Santa arrives via U.S. Coast Guard vessel at 12:00 Noon on Friday the 24th, the Lobster Trap Christmas Tree will be up, and storefronts along Main Street will be decorated.
Upon his arrival at the Middle Pier, Santa will be escorted by his biggest fans to the corner of Park and Main Streets, where he will officially declare Downtown Rockland “Open for The Holidays”, with a ribbon cutting. He’ll then retire to his workshop in Mildred Merrill Park, where he will greet children during the afternoon. Free horse-drawn wagon rides will also be available. Santa’s Workshop is provided by Shed City, and sponsored by Hampton Inn.
The lighting of the Lobster Trap Christmas Tree, hyperbolically measured by some as the largest of its kind in the world, will occur on Friday evening. Santa will be assisted by the mayor and others in the flipping of the switch at 6:00. The lead sponsor for the lighting of the Lobster Trap Tree is Camden National Bank.
Music for Santa’s arrival and for the tree lighting will be provided by the Midcoast Music Academy.
Saturday November 25th, Santa will return to his workshop from Noon to 3:00. Free horse-drawn wagon rides will be available, and downtown businesses will be open with special promotions for Small Business Saturday.
According to Gordon Page, executive director of Rockland Main Street, Inc., shopping in a downtown district is far more appealing than any shopping mall. He noted that ‘Main Streets’ in every town and city of all sizes offer unique advantages, and added that, “during the holidays and all year long, Downtown Rockland offers a vibrant community connection with city residents, friends from neighboring towns and merchants that are known by their first names”.
Saturday night features the annual Parade Of Lights, beginning at 6:00. Floats sponsored by participating businesses, neighborhoods and organizations will gather at the public landing beforehand. The parade will begin at the Public Landing, head north on Main Street, turn around in the ferry terminal parking lot, then return to Main Street heading south. The lead sponsor for the Festival of Lights parade is First National Bank.
Parade-goers are encouraged to “vote” for their favorite float with non-perishable food and new, unwrapped gifts that will be donated to the Salvation Army food pantry. Hot chocolate will be available at strategic locations along Main Street.
On Sunday the 26th, families will have an opportunity to have Breakfast With Santa at Eclipse Restaurant at 2 Park Drive from 7:30 AM to 9:30 AM. Breakfast is $2 for children and $5 for adults. The breakfast is sponsored by Bixby & Co., who will also be providing hot drinking chocolate.
FMI - or to acquire an application [required] for the Parade Of Lights, email: rocklanddowntown@gmail.com.
Rockland Main Street, Inc., is a downtown advocacy organization that focuses on historic preservation of, and economic development in the downtown district.
[Rockland] Applications to enter a float in the annual Parade of Lights in downtown Rockland are available.
Families, neighborhoods, businesses and organizations wishing to enter a float in the parade are encouraged to contact Rockland Main Street, Inc., to obtain an application.
Participation in the Parade of Lights requires an entry fee of $20, and insurance documentation for the organization and vehicles in the parade.
The Parade of Lights is an integral part of the Festival of Lights activities, which are produced by Rockland Main Street, Inc., every year during Thanksgiving weekend. The organization is also responsible for the construction of the Lobster Trap Christmas Tree overlooking the waterfront at Mildred Merrill Park, Breakfast With Santa, and the annual Lobster Trap Raffle.
Space in the parade is by reservation through the application process, and space is limited. Early responders have a better chance of being included.
The Parade of Lights is scheduled for Saturday the 25th of November at 6:00. The Parade of Lights is sponsored by First National Bank.
The major sponsor for this year’s Festival of Lights is The Island Institute.
To receive an application for the parade, or for more information, email: rocklanddowntown@gmail.com, or call 593.6093.
Rockland - Hot on the heels of the City’s annual Summer Solstice Celebration and just in time for the busy festival season, Rockland has been selected by Country Living Magazine as having one of the 23 Best Small Town Main Streets in America. This recognition is one more in a long series of superlatives for Rockland that continues to keep the Down East Magazine2017 Maine’s Best Place to Live, and SmithsonianMagazine's [one of the]20 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2017 in the national tourism spotlight.
According to scientific evidence, the summer solstice occurs when the tilt of a planet's semi-axis, in either the northern or the southern hemisphere, is most inclined toward the star (sun) that it orbits.
This is the explanation for the fact that Downtown Rockland will be throwing two big parties on Saturday, June 17.
The traditional Summer Solstice Street Party on Main Street, complete with live music, food, fun and games from 4-7 PM, will precede the Summer Solstice 2nd Annual After Hours Dock Party at Journey’s End Marina at the end of Tillson Avenue, featuring a cash-only bar, live music, and dancing from 6-10:30 PM. The street party is family-friendly, while the dock party is strictly adults – 21 and over, with ID. Both events are free to the public – there is no cover charge.
The decades-long tradition for residents from all over the Midcoast region will bring hundreds of families – thousands of people - to a Main Street that will be closed to vehicular traffic. During that time, the street will be filled with pedestrians enjoying live bands, plenty of food, and fun for all ages.
In addition to live bands and plenty of food options, festivities will include games and prizes for children, dancing, and a spontaneous flash mob dance where everyone is encouraged to participate.
Free face painting, temporary tattoos, giant bubbles, art classes, knitting classes, and a street chalk-art exhibition are also scheduled.
While this is a free, family event, donations to help support this and other events are appreciated.
In addition to the outdoor activities for the duration of this event, many of the downtown shops will be open, and all of the restaurants are expected to be open for dinner.
During this rain-or-shine event, organizers have said that smoking on Main Street will be prohibited, and dogs must be kept on a leash. According to Gordon Page, executive director of Rockland Main Street, Inc., Main Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from the corner of Park Street all the way to Summer Street, but the entire harbor will be accessible to vehicles via Park Drive and the Harbor Park entrance next to Mildred Merrill Park on South Main Street.
Park Drive will be open to provide complete vehicular access to Buoy Park, Lermond’s Cove, Journey’s End Marina on Tillson Avenue, the Landings Restaurant and Marina on Commercial Street.
There will be no vehicular access to Main Street via the side streets between Park and Summer. Parking will be available behind the Thorndike block, accessible from lower Tillson, via Park Drive, in the Winter Street parking lot, also accessible via lower Tillson Avenue. Public bathrooms are located on Tillson Avenue.
Signs stating NO PARKING AFTER 3:00 PM will be posted on Main Street earlier in the day.
The Annual Summer Solstice Celebration is produced by Rockland Main Street, Inc. Major sponsors are Journey’s End Marina; Back Cove Yachts; LCI Fiber Optic Networks; and Bud Light.
In addition to the Summer Solstice Celebration and other events, Rockland Main Street, Inc., also produces the “Festival of Lights Parade and Lobster Trap Christmas Tree”; Rockland Main Street, Inc. Rockland Main Street, Inc., is committed to the historic preservation of, and economic and community development in the downtown district.
Jeff Hamilton, plant manager at FMC presents a check to Gordon Page, executive director of Rockland Main Street, Inc. The contribution by FMC is to support the advocacy organization in their ongoing revitalization efforts of economic and community development of Rockland’s downtown district.
FMC Corporation Celebrates Rockland Downtown, Makes Donation to the The Annual Downtown Summer Solstice Celebration Street Party & Dock Party
Donation to support ROCKLAND MAIN STREET, INC
Rockland -FMC Corporation’s Rockland production facility recently presented the Rockland Main Street, Inc. organization a check for $750 to support the non-profit’s Summer Solstice Celebration. This donation is part of the FMC facility’s continued annual support to a local community cause.
“At FMC, we’re committed to being a responsible, supportive, and good neighbor. Our corporate values guide everything we do from maintaining an injury-free workplace to giving back to the communities where we live, work and play,” said Jeff Hamilton, FMC Rockland plant manager. “We’re proud of our Rockland community and their hard work and commitment to growing the town economy and we make this donation on their behalf”.
The annual Summer Solstice Celebration is an opportunity for local residents and others to gather for a few hours of fun and fellowship and to enjoy an open air party in the heart of the City -- our vibrant, historic downtown.
Rockland Main Street, Inc. is a focused partnership of residents, businesses and local government that enhances and protects the unique sense of place and economic vitality of downtown Rockland, Maine. "Contributions of this type by FMC demonstrates the kind of leadership and support that is so important in our community", said Gordon Page, executive director of Rockland Main Street, Inc.
About FMC
For more than a century, FMC Corporation has served the global agricultural, industrial and consumer markets with innovative solutions, applications and quality products. Revenue totaled approximately $3.3 billion in 2016. FMC employs approximately 6,000 people throughout the world and operates its businesses in three segments: FMC Agricultural Solutions, FMC Health and Nutrition and FMC Lithium. For more information, visit www.FMC.com.
Rockland, Maine- Gordon Page, Sr. - Executive Director of Rockland Main Street Inc announced the winners of the Lobster Trap Raffle, "Once again I want to thank you and your organizations for your support in this year's Lobster Trap Raffle.
We drew the winning tickets this afternoon at Noon, and the winners are....
Ethan Dorr of Milbridge, and Talon Westhaver of Round Pond.
Both winners opted to accept the CASH PRIZE of $2,250 each, rather than the 50 traps each.
Net proceeds from this raffle go to Rockland Main Street, Inc.'s operating budget. This very important funding supports our non-profit organization in our efforts of downtown revitalization and community and economic development.
Below are the sales statistics for this year's raffle. Please extend my appreciation to your respective teams at Brooks Trap Mill, Camden National Bank, Hamilton Marine, and First National Bank."
ROCKLAND, MAINE – The opportunity to win fifty lobster traps or a cash prize of $2,250 is underway in Midcoast Maine.
The annual Lobster Trap Raffle is a fundraising event for Rockland Main Street, Inc. The non-profit, downtown advocacy organization has been raffling the traps that are used in the construction of the well-known lobster trap tree which has been overlooking Rockland Harbor every Christmas season for the past 13 years. The raffle supports the ongoing revitalization of the downtown district.
Of the 154 traps used to build the behemoth, 100 of those will be divided into two separate prizes of fifty traps each. For those who want to support the effort but have little need for the traps, the alternative prize is $2,250 cash.
The cash prize is a new component to the traditional raffle event, according to Gordon Page, executive director of Rockland Main Street, Inc. “We’ve been looking at ways to increase ticket sales over the years and we discovered that by adding a cash prize, we’ve opened up the market to people that are not associated with the lobster fishing community”.
Page added that people have been very excited about the raffle and begin asking about it as soon as the lobster trap tree goes up in the week before Thanksgiving. The traps are built in Thomaston by Brooks Trap Mill, and delivered to Mildred Merrill Park where as many as 30 volunteers work for the better part of a day to stack the traps using a secret engineering plan.
The four-foot traps are ready to fish; “just add bait”, Page said. If a fisherman wins, he or she can choose to keep these specific traps, or may trade the value of these traps for their own customized version.
Tickets are $50 each and are available at Brooks Trap Mill, including some of their satellite locations. Tickets are also available at Camden National Bank; Hamilton Marine in Rockland and Southwest Harbor; and First National Bank. A maximum of 500 tickets will be sold. The drawing will be the 4th of January.
Rockland Main Street, Inc., is a focused partnership of residents, businesses and local government that enhances and protects the unique sense of place and economic vitality of downtown Rockland.
The group also produces the Summer Solstice Celebration & Street Party, and other events that bring people and attention to the historic downtown.
Rockland, Maine -Summer Solstice Celebration is hosted by Rockland Main Street, Inc. Main Street, in between Park & Summer Streets, vehicular traffic is closed from 4:00-7:00 PM for this fun, family event, sponsored by: Journey's End Marina, Island Institute, Back Cove Yachts, and Bud Light. Other sponsors include Gartley & Dorsky, Philbrook & Associates, First National Bank, M. Cayoutte Flooring, Graffam Brothers, KDK Printing & Embroidery.
Rockland Main street was transformed into street fair fun for the whole family for this premier summer festival.
Great food, games for the kids, special fare at Main Street's restaurants and as always a great
Rockland Main Street, Inc., produces the Summer Solstice Celebration & Street Party each year to create a fun, family event in Downtown Rockland. Street food vendors, games and activities, dancing and live outdoor music provide the entertainment on Main Street, which will be closed to vehicular traffic from 4-7 PM. NEW THIS YEAR - is the Summer Solstice After Hours Dock Party, from 6:00-10:30 PM. This 21+ Adults-Only-With- I.D. event will feature music, dancing, and a “cash only” bar at Journey’s End Marina at the end of Tillson Avenue, overlooking Rockland Harbor and the breakwater light. All events are FREE to the public.
According to scientific evidence, thesummer solsticeoccurs when the tilt of a planet'ssemi-axis, in either the northern or the southern hemisphere, is most inclined toward thestar(sun) that it orbits.
This is the explanation for the fact that Downtown Rockland will be throwing two big parties on Saturday, June 18.
The traditional Summer Solstice Street Party on Main Street, complete with music, food, fun and games from 4-7 PM, will precede the all new Summer Solstice After Hours Dock Party at Journey’s End Marina at the end of Tillson Avenue, featuring a cash-only bar, music and dancing from 6-10:30 PM. The street party is family-friendly, while the dock party is strictly adults – 21 and over, with ID.
Both events are free to the public – there is no cover charge.
The decades-long tradition for residents from all over the Midcoast region will bring hundreds of families to a Main Street that will be closed to vehicular traffic. During that time, the street will be filled with pedestrians enjoying live bands, plenty of food, and fun for all ages.
In addition to live bands and plenty of food options, festivities will include games and prizes for children, dancing, and a spontaneous flash mob dance where everyone is encouraged to participate.
Free face painting, temporary tattoos, giant bubbles, art classes, knitting classes, and a street chalk-art exhibition are also scheduled.
While this is a free, family event, donations to help support this and other events are appreciated.
In addition to the outdoor activities for the duration of this event, many of the downtown shops will be open, and all of the restaurants are expected to be open for dinner.
During this rain-or-shine event, organizers have said that smoking on Main Street will be prohibited, and dogs must be kept on a leash. According to Gordon Page, executive director of Rockland Main Street, Inc., Main Street will be closed to vehicular traffic from the corner of Park Street all the way to Summer Street, but the entire harbor will be accessible to vehicles via Park Drive and the Harbor Park entrance next to Mildred Merrill Park on South Main Street.
Park Drive will be open to provide complete vehicular access to Buoy Park, Lermond’s Cove, Journey’s End Marina on Tillson Avenue, the Landings Restaurant and Marina on Commercial Street.
There will be no vehicular access to Main Street via the side streets between Park and Summer. Parking will be available behind the Thorndike block, accessible from lower Tillson, via Park Drive, in the Winter Street parking lot, also accessible via lower Tillson Avenue. Public bathrooms are located on Tillson Avenue.
Signs stating NO PARKING AFTER 3:00 PM will be posted on Main Street earlier in the day.
The Annual Summer Solstice Celebration is produced by Rockland Main Street, Inc. Major sponsors are Journey’s End Marina; Island Institute; Back Cove Yachts; and Bud Light. I
In addition to the Summer Solstice Celebration and other events, Rockland Main Street, Inc., also produces the “Rockland Has Style & Taste” fashion show; the “Festival of Lights Parade and Lobster Trap Christmas Tree”; Rockland Main Street, Inc. Rockland Main Street, Inc., is committed to the historic preservation of, and economic development in the downtown district.
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