glacier receded from the Down East area about 12,000 years ago, it left behind sandy soil and rocky-strewn barrens that became populated with a very special fruit: Maine’s famous wild blueberry.
Bursting with flavor, these nutritious berries were tended and gathered by the indigenous people of the land, who used them for food and medicine. Today, they are one of Maine’s most iconic products, featured in pies and jams, ice cream and pancakes. The list of products goes on and on.
Maine grows 99 percent of the wild blueberries sold in the U.S., according to Eric Venturini, executive director of the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine. More than
500 wild blueberry farmers grow up to 100 million pounds of fruit per year.
“Folks are proud of this unique industry where you have the incredible combination of the food being truly wild food and yet it’s stewarded by farmers,” said Venturini. “Every Mainer knows that wild blueberries are better than ordinary blueberries. It’s because they’re healthier, but it’s also because they taste far better.”
When Maine’s blueberries become ripe this summer, here are a few ways you can enjoy them and support local businesses in the process.
One of the best ways you can connect with local blueberry farmers and enjoy their products is by participating in the fourth annual Maine Wild Blueberry Weekend, Aug. 3-4, at select farms and businesses throughout the state. Fashioned after the long-standing Maine Maple Sunday, the weekend features farm tours, opportunities to rake and pick blueberries, hay rides, guided hikes through barrens, special blueberry-centric products, and more.
“You can meet the actual farmer, ask them questions,” Venturini said. “You can make a direct connection with local businesses that often have been growing wild blueberries for seven, eight, sometimes nine generations.”
At many farms, you can purchase blueberries in bulk to be frozen and used throughout the year, so bring a cooler.
“I don’t know about you, but my family and I go through probably 50 pounds a year,” Venturini said. “It’s just so versatile. You can put it in yogurts, smoothies, pancakes, and cereal.”
A list of participating farms and businesses will be updated as the weekend draws near at wildblueberries.com.
MACHIAS WILD BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL
Now in its 47th year, this three-day event is a mixture of contests, entertainment, and vendors, many of which offer blueberry-packed or blueberry-inspired products. A project of the Centre Street Congregational Church, it’s slated for Aug. 16-18 at locations throughout downtown Machias.
Each year, the work of a local artist is selected for the official festival T-shirt. And in years past, the festival has included baked bean suppers, footraces, parades, and more. Admission is free. For more information, visit machiasblueberry.com.
WANDER WILD BLUEBERRY LAND
A domed building constructed to look like a massive blueberry is located on the side of Route 1 in Columbia Falls. You really can’t miss it. Surrounded by gardens, it looks like something that should be featured in the board game Candy Land.
Wild Blueberry Land first opened its doors in 2001. In addition to being a fun place to take photos, the property features a small blueberry museum and offers blueberry-related gifts and pies. Learn more at wildblueberryland.com.
“It has become such a landmark and is so beloved by so many,” said Marie Emerson, who built it with her husband Dell Emerson. “It’s a fun place for people to come and be happy.”
The Emersons also own Wescogus Wild Blueberries, a farm located in Addison where they grow and harvest what they lovingly refer to as Maine’s “precious blue gems.”
Blueberry jams, jellies, pastries, soda, chocolates, candies, beer, BBQ sauce — if you can dream it, it has likely been done. Blueberry products abound at Maine gift shops and farm stands. And at restaurants, the berry often graces the menu in salads, sauces, and desserts.
In the Down East region, a few top locations to enjoy blueberry pie are Helen’s Restaurant in Machias, Water Street Inn and B&B in Lubec, and Nook and Cranny Restaurant in Baileyville.
If you enjoy rolling up your sleeves and getting your hands dirty, or stained purple, there are many opportunities to pick wild blueberries throughout the Down East region.
A few farms invite visitors to pick blueberries for a small fee. For example, Beddington Ridge Farm in Beddington opens a pick-your-own area from late July through mid to late August, on specific days and times. You can use their rakes and either bring your own containers or buy some of theirs. The price is $4 per pound.
Many farms, however, do not allow visitors to pick their own, so it’s important to never enter a blueberry field without permission.
Wild blueberries grow in abundance along many Down East hiking trails, especially in the mountains and along the edge of fields. Picking for personal consumption is usually permitted, but check visitor guidelines first.
To spot them, keep an eye out for low-lying plants with small, pointed leaves and clusters of blue berries that can vary in shade. A similar berry you may find along trails at the same time is black huckleberry, which is also edible but not quite as flavorful or juicy. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT MAINE’S WILD
THERE’S NOTHING LIKE camping at Cobscook Bay State Park.
Maybe it’s the sound of the waves hitting the shore along Whiting Bay. Maybe it’s the saltwater estuary that fuels a food chain from plankton to invertebrates all the way up to the eagles, osprey, seals, and otters that feed on them. Maybe it’s the trees or the night sky perfect for stargazing on clear nights.
Add in the fact the park is located less than a 30-minute drive from the working harbor community of Lubec and international Campobello Island, along with miles of trails, lighthouses, and attractions making up Maine’s Bold Coast, it’s easy to see why folks consider it a crown jewel among the state’s parks.
The park’s two peninsulas extend out into the waters of Whiting, Broad, and Burnt coves. They are lined with a combined total of 125 campsites. Thanks to the park’s geography, most of the sites are on the water. Those that are not, have a water view.
I try to camp there several times a summer and quite frankly, there is no such thing as a bad campsite in the park. Granted, some are more desirable than others — like the four single-tent only spots at the tip of Cobscook Point.
Sure, you have to walk several hundred feet to access the sites — you can park your car next to any of the other sites — but their relative seclusion, tall shady trees, and water on both sides more than makes up for that. As a bonus, the park provides wheeled carts at the designated parking site you can use to pack your gear in.
All the sites have a designated fireplace and a picnic table. Outdoor toilets and access to drinkable water are never more than a couple hundred feet from your site. If you’re looking for more amenities, showers are available near the park’s entrance.
The park is part of the larger Moosehorn National Wildlife Refuge and a gorgeous six-mile loop trail that starts about a mile from the campground. It’s well worth a visit. And that’s just one trail. There are dozens
of others in varying lengths and terrain up and down the Bold Coast.
For a list of trails and a map, you can download the Cobscook Bay area trail guide at cobscooktrails.org.
I love hiking along the Bold Coast and am always up to check out a new trail. But, there are times when I’ve camped there and the most exertion I’ve managed is bringing my binoculars up to my eyes to observe the birds as I sit in a comfy camp chair enjoying the saltwater breeze.
Amazing how tired and hungry you can get doing that. Go to campwithme.com and select Cobscook Bay State Park to book your site (for the coveted walk-in spots be ready to book the moment reservations open in February). Then all you have to do is pack your gear and dream of a place where trees and land meet the water along one of the prettiest sections of the Maine Coast. And hey, if you spot me relaxing in my fancy standalone hammock, don’t be shy. The coffee’s always on.
MAINE HAS SOME of the most beautiful spots on the east coast to enjoy. And what could be better than going for a morning hike to watch the sunrise over the ocean with a warm cup of coffee in your hand? First Light Hikes is offering just that in Acadia National Park.
Founded last year by Denise Chandler and her husband Rodger, First Light Hikes takes small groups for sunrise hikes away from the crowds. The hikes are dog and family friendly, and can be adjusted to your ability, so almost anyone can participate. Headlights and walking poles are provided, and the best part of your morning will surely be the local coffee and pastry that are provided as you watch the sun come up.
To participate in a hike, all you do is head to their website (firstlighthikesmaine.com) and sign up. Prices range from $50 to $55 per person, but dogs and chil dren under five are free so bring the entire family.
“Each hike lasts between two to three hours, but it ultimately depends on the client. We only hike as fast as the slowest client,” Chandler said.
First Light Hikes operates from mid June through October, so plan a rejuvenating summer hike as well as a fall hike to see Maine’s stunning foliage.
“We love to share our love for the area, and our love of hiking. We also offer suggestions for other hikes in the area that people can go on independently. And of course we love coffee and use a local coffee company that is zero emissions,” Chandler said.
Hikes start at the Great Head trail parking lot off Schooner Head Road in Bar Harbor about 40 minutes before sunrise. The first half of the hike is easy and flat for about a half mile. Then you get to watch the sunrise with grandiose views of the ocean. After the sunrise, you can hike around Great Head to Sand
Experience all the Blue Hill Peninsula has to offer.
Planning your day on the Blue Hill Peninsula couldn’t be easier! Visit bluehillpeninsula.org or use our QR code to view our events calendar
YOU CAN TELL a lot about a person by the books they keep on their shelves (or don’t). Similarly, you can tell a lot about a place based on the local library. As a newer full-time Maine resident, it was the local libraries that told me everything I needed to know about my new home. After spending time exploring, I was quickly impressed by the remarkable libraries in towns big and small throughout the state. Maine is a place that holds the community tight, especially in dark cold winters. Many writers and artists find their way to Maine, a place that gives one time and space to explore these quieter pursuits. The local libraries are a reflection of all of these values. With historical artifacts on display, unique architecture and active programming, visiting the library is a way to experience the local flavor of the towns and villages of Down East Maine.
The library that first sparked my obsession is one we stumbled upon on a day trip to the Schoodic Peninsula. The Winter Harbor Library is a striking stone building originally built as a Unitarian chapel in 1887 by David Flint.
Today, more than 130 years later, it still features the chapel’s stained glass windows with Flint’s likeness. The librarian’s desk is the same desk that Flint used in his lumber office in Boston and the history of the library is written in one of the desk drawers. As I walked through the library I imagined what it must have been like for those early residents to escape to the library in a place that feels like living on the edge of the earth.
The Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor sits in the heart of the bustling walkable town. Built in 1911 after the collection had outgrown its first location, the building holds onto its early 20th century style. The wood-paneled walls are lined with shelves of books that reach the ceiling like the quintessential library of a bibliophile’s dreams. The well-worn tiled floor reminds us of all the patrons who have traveled through the library doors over the century. A capital campaign raised money for construction of a new wing in 2025 which will expand and modernize the library’s space while maintaining the original building.
Further along the coast, Northeast Harbor boasts a large modern library just a block away from the village shops and restaurants. The size of the library is impressive considering the size of the town, suggesting that the town’s residents understand the importance of a strong library. Throughout the reading room and in the upstairs Maine room are an eclectic collection of art and crafts including an incredible life-like lobster hand carved in wood. In the reading room, bird lovers will enjoy a collection of 20 paintings of birds of Mount Desert Island by Carroll Tyson and upstairs, fiber artists could spend hours studying the collection of wollies that line the hallway. In the 19th century, sailors recorded their journeys across the sea through wool embroidery on sailcloth.
My library-lover’s heart was filled when, during a 3-day boat cruise around the islands from Castine to Northeast Harbor, we stopped at Frenchboro Village on Long Is-
land. The island population was 29 in 2020, and while there is not much to the island, there is a library. Unattended, the library runs on an honor system 24 hours a day and shares a building with the historical society. It reminded me how important libraries are even if it’s just a place for a weary traveler to browse and charge their electronics.
There are many more libraries to explore Down East. Each one carries a history and a story worth exploring.
