All About the Machias Wild Blueberry Festival

Way Downeast

The Machias Wild Blueberry Festival is a summer festival like no other.
Situated in the heart of wild blueberry country, the festival has expanded from a small one-day event in the 1970s to a three-day extravaganza that still carries forward decades-old local traditions like the wild blueberry quilt, live music, the library book sale, the blueberry farm tours, the FOOD, the tradition of a Saturday night dance, and perhaps the most unique of all --- the Blueberry Musical, a locally written and performed musical comedy centered on Washington County, and blueberries.

What other festival has that, I ask you?
In this episode, we meet Dwight Whitney Jr., the man who first came up with the idea for the festival in 1975, then speak to Festival Director Ellen Farnsworth, Blueberry Run Race Director Angela Fochesato, DEVI Productions owner Ryan Malagara, wild blueberry farmer Lisa Hanscom, renowned Machias Music Man and Blueberry Musical Writer/Director/Actor Gene Nichols, and Blueberry Ball Director Melissa Hinerman.
For festival schedule and calendar information, visit www.machiasblueberry.com.
Way Downeast is a production of The Washington County Almanac. Sign up for essays and updates at www.washingtoncountyalmanac.com.

Chapters

1. All About the Machias Wild Blueberry Festival (00:00:00)

2. Festival creator Dwight Whitney Jr. (00:03:02)

3. Festival Director Ellen Farnsworth (00:10:02)

4. Blueberry Run Director Angela Fochesato (00:18:09)

5. DEVI Productions' Ryan Malagara (00:22:38)

6. Blueberry Musical Comedy Director/Writer/Actor Gene Nichols (00:28:33)

7. Lisa Hanscom of Welch Farm (00:35:50)

8. Blueberry Ball Director Melissa Hinerman (00:42:36)