MARINE EXPERIENCE TENT

The Marine Experience Tent

The Marine Experience Tent is a Festival attraction that provides hands-on opportunities to touch and learn about a wide variety of marine life. Maritime activities and demonstrations continue throughout the Festival. Who knows what creatures from the deep will show up? Exhibitors set up interesting displays for all ages. Ongoing activities planned for this 75th annual event will include games and contests with various prizes for kids and adults. We will have special prizes from our favorite fishing gear company “Grunden” Come in and ask about our giveaways!

THE LOBSTER TOUCH TANK gives guests the opportunity to hold a live Maine lobster and other fascinating sea creatures found locally, like starfish, sea cucumbers, scallops, crabs, and more! Volunteers will be standing by to educate guests about each sea creature and offer proper holding instruction.

“PIECE BY PIECE BY PIECE” Sea Glass Art by Anne Dow, Westbrook, Maine. Anne’s art is created from sea glass and shells that are found, piece by piece by piece, along the shores of Maine. It has always been a favorite pastime to collect sea glass in the midcoast area with her sister and niece. Enjoy her one of a kind creations found at the 75th annual Maine Lobster Festival Marine Tent. STATION MAINE of Rockland is an organization of community members dedicated to offering boating opportunities at no cost to youth of all ages in the Midcoast area. Members will do rowing demonstrations and recruit prospective rowers.

BROOKS TRAP MILL of Thomaston will once again display the complete start-to-finish process of building a lobster trap—and the materials that go into its building.

MAINE AUTHORS PUBLISHING

The trusted source for books by Maine authors since 2009! As a cooperative-style publisher, Maine Authors Publishing’s goal is to support local, independent authors throughout the publishing process with affordable services such as editing, design, printing, a trade catalog, distribution, and marketing assistance. Writers wanting to explore publishing are invited to register for a free Zoom class on the first Friday of every month called “Introduction to Cooperative-Style Publishing.”

You can find Maine Authors Publishing all week-long in the Marine Tent, where they will have signings as well as a selection of books by Maine authors. Visiting best-selling Maine authors will include Laurie Chandler (Through Woods & Waters; Upwards), Claire Ackroyd (Murder in the Maple Woods), and Rae Chalmers (Bear and the

Oxbow Island Gang; Oxbow Island Gang: Lobster Graveyard; Oxbow Island Gang: Winter Crows).

PAINT IT SHORESELF CERAMICS Lots of nautical and lobster themed ceramics will be available for purchase at the Festival. Kids will have the opportunity to do some onsite painting too. Cynthia and Ralph Dean are the owners of the shop located at 193 Park St. in Rockland. They offer paint nights, birthday parties, ladies nights out, ceramic classes, kids summer camp, company Christmas parties and event parties. It is loads of fun for all ages. Come on down and get your paint on!

PENOBSCOT BAY WATCH Keeping an eye out for threats to Maine's biggest bay. Projects: wastewater outfalls oversight, legacy industrial waste site identification and cleanups, aquaculture oversight, fending off marina sprawl and commercial sprawl. They will be set up in the Marine tent to educate the public about their service and projects.

FANTASY DESIGNS MAINE BY DIANE

SEIDERS Lovely scarflets handmade with magnetic clasps with many different nautical and floral prints. Wine glasses, resin tumblers, nautical resin trays, coasters and many other fun items! Diane Seiders of Hope will be in the Marine Tent every day 10am–6pm. We have a feeling the lobster design will be VERY popular! Local Maine author, ALI FARRELL, brings the lobster industry to life in her two latest books.

A Lobstergirl Can is a charming children's book about a girl who grows up fishing with her father. Within the pages, you'll see many well-known sights along our beloved coast of Maine. Along the way, she learns of her many strengths, such as positivity, endurance, kindness, independence, and more. The non-fiction book, Pretty Rugged, sheds light on the many women working in Maine's lobster industry. Readers can expect to see authentic stories of dangerous situations faced out on the water, the realities of the fishing lifestyle, and family history on generations of local Maine fishermen. The book is beaming with gorgeous photography from various local Maine photographers.

KAY STEVENS, a local author and journalist, will be signing her award-winning lobstering novel, “The Ghost Trap,” about a man caretaking for his head-injured fiancée and dealing with mounting trap wars. The book was optioned to become an independent feature film.

HERRING GUT LEARNING CENTER

Educating students and communities about the connections between the ocean, inland waters, and economy of Maine. Students and faculty will be in the Marine Tent throughout the week to answer questions and let Maine Lobster Festival goers see what HGLC has to offer.