Few foods say coastal Maine better than salmon and seafood - and few festivals serve up either food better than the Eastport Salmon and Seafood Festival. Now in its 36th year, the festival draws from a long heritage of fishing tradition to produce a full weekend of events and dining opportunities between Friday, August 30, and Sunday, September 1.
      Just before the weekend's events get started, Phoenix Fine Wines will kick things off on Friday at 5 p.m. with a tasting of wine and smoked salmon samples, an offering that will be repeated on Saturday at 3 and 6 p.m.
      On both Saturday and Sunday, expect to find quality craft vendors with regional and Maine produced wares along Water Street between Boynton Street and Bank Square between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. Along with the vendor tables, participants will be able to purchase raffle tickets to win a kayak, pick up some Eastport merch, including festival T shirts and vintage design tote bags, and enjoy wine, spirits and craft beers by Horn Run Brewing.
      On Seafood Saturday, young fishermen are invited to get their fishing poles and try their hand at the George S. Harris Memorial Fishing Derby for Youth, hosted by Moose Island Marine at the breakwater from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Tours of the Coast Guard Station start simultaneously and run until 1 p.m.; both events are free.
      Artists of all ages will enjoy the free activities at Overlook Park between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., including the Eastport Gallery community mural project, gyotaku fish prints with Sara Myrick and face-painting with Aralyn Myrick.
      The feature meals of the day will be served starting at 11 a.m. with the Eastport Senior Center and Christ Church manning a booth offering crab rolls and a seafood truck offering lobster rolls, seafood baskets and fish and chips. During the meal will be performances by regional musicians, including the O'McCrelli duo and a Celtic jam session at the Old Sow, both playing until 3 p.m., with Cody Phipps coming on deck at Horn Run Brewing between 4 and 7 p.m.
      Saturday's events include a free tour of Lighthouse Lobster and Bait's lobster pound at the end of County Road between 12 and 3 p.m.
      Salmon Sunday features a slew of events starting at 11 a.m., including a home and garden tour featuring six or more area homes and a chance auction featuring gifts and certificates from local businesses and artisans. For the home tour, the owners of these charming residences will be tour hosts throughout the day. Among the homes on the tour is the Isaac Hobbs house owned by James Pollowitz. Spaces are limited for the Hobbs house tour and advance tickets are encouraged.
      The Downeast Institute's Traveling Touch Tank will be on hand at Peavey Memorial Library until 2 p.m. for those wishing to get up close and personal with marine animals.
      Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., the namesake salmon dinner will be served under tents by the fisherman statue, including a six-ounce grilled salmon fillet, Raye's Winter Garden sauce and all the trimmings. The Easternmost Jazz Quartet featuring Ellis Sanchez and native acoustic rocker Tonemah will provide musical accompaniment for the meal. Those who partake in the dinner can take a complementary boat ride to the salmon pens, during which Cooke Aquaculture staff will provide educational commentary about the salmon-farming process.
      Tickets for the various events can be purchased online at www.eastportchamber.net/salmon.