Your Perfect Autumn Long Weekend

PHOTO: JOHN WILLIAMS

YOUR PERFECT AUTUMN LONG WEEKEND IN THE MIDCOAST

BY ARIELLE BYWATER SIMONE

It’s no secret: the Common Ground Country Fair, held every third weekend after Labor Day by the Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association (MOFGA) on its gorgeous permanent fairgrounds in Unity, is a bucket list event. From its humble beginnings in 1977, this Unity festival has grown to welcome more than 60,000 tree-hugging attendants each year for three days of peace, love and manure-tossing. (Don’t ask; just look for “Harry S. Truman games” on the fair schedule.)

PHOTO: JOHN WILLIAMS

PHOTO: RACHEL EPPERLY

If you’ve never been to Common Ground, you have to go. And even if you have been, you’ve probably been so busy eating tofu fries, buying goat’s milk soap and cooing at the lambs to explore what lies just beyond the parking fields. It’s worth bookending your fairgoing experience with some extra time so that you can wander around Unity, a small town of 2000 and home to an environmental college, and other local spots. Don’t forget your camera—the leaves will be spectacular.

PHOTO: RACHEL EPPERLY

Here’s our insider’s guide to spending the Common Ground weekend in the area:

Day One (Thursday): As the saying goes, slow down-—you’re in Maine. Change into your Bean boots and go for a walk. Maybe take time to find some apples at the height of their season: the farmstand at Hillcrest Orchards over in Winterport will be in full swing. While in Winterport, check out the Old Winterport Commercial House antique shop and hunt for treasures. Grab lunch at the new Bantam Café on Main Street—and save room for fresh-baked pie! Once back in Unity, make sure to stop by the Unity Pond Pottery studio. Robert and Wendy Esposito are delightful characters, and would love to show you the amazing things they create on their wheels. If you’re still up for more, check the Unity College events schedule to see if there are any concerts or lectures open to the public that evening.

Day Two (Friday): Spend the whole day at Common Ground. Late September in Maine can range from summery heat to raw chill to gusting rain storms, sometimes all in one day, so get there early, bring a reusable water bottle, dress in layers, and pace yourself so you can take in as much as possible. Give yourself lots of breaks: duck into a musical performance for a spell, sit down for a meal of delicious food from the vendors, and attend a workshop. Don’t miss the Youth Enterprise Zone tent for high-quality gifts, cookies and more made by Maine’s entrepreneurial and talented kids.

Day Three (Saturday): Start your morning at 93 Main, a homey cafe that serves locally-roasted coffee alongside real bagels smeared with cream cheese from the cud-chewing ladies at Springdale Farm in nearby Waldo. If you fall in love with the bacon on your breakfast sandwich, make sure you stop by the Charcuterie, an off-the-grid, Amish-run spot that provides the meats to the coffeehouse and which NPR called a “gourmet haven in the woods.” It’s only open a few days a week, and of course has no web presence or phone, so do your research ahead of time to make sure you don’t miss it—and its locally famous donuts.

PHOTO: JOHN WILLIAMS

PHOTO: JEAN ENGLISH

Day Four (Sunday): Hungry for more organic fairground goodness? Go back for a second loop at the fair. If you missed seeing the cute farm animals on display or the sheepdog demonstration, go see those. If you didn’t get to try contradancing, try it. If the Indian Pudding stand ran out on the first day, get there early this time. If your kids didn’t get to march in the extravagant vegetable parade, make sure to line up for costumes. If you didn’t buy all your holiday gifts, do some shopping at the excellent artisan vendor booths. Just don’t forget to fuel up on delicious herbal chai to keep your energy going throughout the day.

Day Five (Monday): Wake up with a homestyle breakfast at Mammie’s Country Kitchen. If you’ve lucked out with the weather, grab some picnic provisions at the well-stocked Market of Unity. Pack it up and take a hike on the CommUnity trails system to find a quiet spot with a gorgeous view: the college, a local land trust and other locations offer well-maintained public trails, which you can research via the Unity Barn Raisers’ website. Or book a custom guided expedition ahead of time--a hike, kayak or climb--with North Star Adventures. Those who enjoy slightly more raucous outings may want to stop by Chase Toys to check out their selection of snowmobiles and ATVs. All that fresh air will guarantee a good night’s sleep.

PHOTO: RACHEL EPPERLY

Where to Stay

There are lots of great places to stay in the area, especially clustered around Belfast and Camden. Here are a range of options, from B&Bs to motels to farmstays, with driving time to the fairgrounds included. Just make sure to factor in extra time for fair traffic, and book well in advance—places fill up quickly around the Common Ground weekend!

Jeweled Turret Inn, Belfast (30 minutes) Beautifully restored accommodations in the heart of downtown Belfast, along with an iconic veranda overlooking their gardens. jeweledturret.com

High Ridge Farm, Montville (30 minutes) Rustic chic taken to magazine-worthy levels at this working farm. You won’t be able to stop taking photos of your hip lodgings. highridgefarm.me

Toddy Pond Farm, Monroe (30 minutes) Another barn-glam option, with four bedrooms and a screened porch. toddypondfarm.com

Yankee Clipper Motel, East Belfast (30 minutes) This sweet 50s roadside motel has been overhauled with gleaming hardwood floors and flatscreen tvs. yankeeclippermotelbelfast.com

Fireside Inn & Suites, East Belfast (30 minutes) A traditional oceanfront hotel with an indoor pool and spectacular views. www.belfastmainehotel.com

Youngtown Inn, Lincolnville (45 minutes) Go glam at this historic farmhouse, which offers a welcoming, boutique-style hotel experience, complete with luxury toiletries and WiFi. youngtowninn.com

Spouter Inn, Lincolnville (45 minutes) Unwind on the porch of this pristine 19th century Colonial in walking distance from all that Lincolnville Beach has to offer. Enjoy a three-course breakfast on site, or have the innkeepers pack one up for your journey. spouterinnbnb.com

Point Lookout, Northport (45 minutes) Stunning and spacious knotty pine log cabins sprinkled on a mountainside that overlooks one of the Midcoast’s most beautiful bays. visitpointlookout.com