Fans pour in to Folk Festival
8/29/09 | 19 comments
video

Fans pour in to Folk Festival


American Folk Festival’s opening night draws large, enthusiastic crowds to Bangor
By Emily Burnham
BDN Staff
BANGOR DAILY NEWS PHOTO BY JOHN CLARKE RUSS
Baton in hand, drum major Robert Young of Stetson leads the University of Maine's The Pride of Maine Black Bear Marching Band to kick-off the 2009 American Folk Festival on the Bangor waterfront Friday evening, August 28, 2009. Buy Photo
The band played on at the American Folk Festival on the Bangor Waterfront — the University of Maine Pride of Maine Black Bear Marching Band, to be exact. A row of shiny silver sousaphones rocked and rolled Friday night, while blue-spandex-clad dancers shook and shimmied, as close to 100 band members led festival-goers from the Heritage Stage to the Railroad Stage to kick off the three-day event.

Coincidentally, the festival this year was the same weekend as move-in day for incoming freshmen at the University of Maine in Orono. Rick and Barbara Ray of Belgrade moved their son Cameron into a dorm on campus earlier in the day, then came to Bangor to take in the festival.

It was their first time attending.

“Cameron’s up at school, getting to know the campus. We’re here, enjoying all this great music,” said Barbara Ray. “This is an incredible event.”

“As soon as we got here, we said, ‘I can’t believe we’ve never been,” said Rick Ray, who, like Barbara, was sporting a UM sweatshirt. “We’re already planning to come next year.”

The American Folk Festival continues to draw both newcomers and longtime festivalgoers from all over Maine and New England. The Friday night crowd appeared to be as big, if not bigger, than in other years — perhaps because some festival-goers had gotten wind of the rainy weather forecast for Saturday and wanted to get their fun in before the clouds came.

Bangor Mayor Gerry Palmer kicked off the festival at about 5:45 p.m. at the Heritage Stage with a plea for generosity from the crowd.

Rain or Shine
Despite a rainy forecast for the area today, the American Folk Festival is still on.

Click to read full story

“There’s been a four-letter word going around today, that starts with ‘r’ and ends with ‘n’,” Palmer said. “This year, I invite you to write the festival a rain check. Write a check, and put it in the bucket. Give until it feels good.”

After Palmer’s speech, the festival officially got under way with a 6 p.m. performance on the same stage from the Lost Bayou Ramblers, a group of Cajun musicians from Lafayette, La. The festival has always had a strong connection to Acadian traditions — from the Maritimes and Maine, and from Louisiana.

“I like anything with fiddles,” said Wanda Gaul of Waterville, who was in the crowd dancing. “And I like anything that makes you boogie. I’m really excited to see the reggae and the blues band, too,” referring to Clinton Fearon and L’il Ed and the Blues Imperials, respectively, who appeared on the Railroad Stage later in the evening.

While the music is priority one, the food runs a very close second. All the festival favorites are back this year, from blueberry smoothies and alligator nuggets to the fabulous Greek food prepared by St. George Greek Orthodox Church of Bangor.

Today's Poll

What do you enjoy most about The American Folk Festival?

Music
Dancing
Food

View results

“This is my second year serving food with the church,” said Tony Margaronis, a Bangor resident and parishioner at St. George. “It’s such a great community of people here, and this is the biggest fundraiser for our church all year. We make almost all our money right here. People love the gyros and the lemonade.”

Besides the food and the music, the sheer size of the party itself is a draw — thousands of people, all gathered together on the Bangor Waterfront, all for the sole purpose of having a good time.

“I love all the people,” said Jennifer Gasaway of Old Town, who was munching on kettle corn and enjoying the music. “Every year you see people you haven’t seen before, and people you haven’t seen all year. Some people don’t like the crowd, but I do.”

Even in the early hours of the festival, people were dancing — some in front of the Heritage Stage, others out on the street.

“I came once before, in 2005, and I was itching to come back,” said Darrell Shields, a resident of Denmark in western Maine. He was dancing next to the Estevan Gomez Memorial by the Heritage Stage.

“I don’t really know any of the music this year, but I saw so much last time that I loved that I’m up for anything.”

“We love to dance,” said Suzanne Silver Moon, also of Denmark, who attended the festival with Shields. “We always dance. That’s the whole point.”

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Comments
19 comments on this item
On 8/28/09 at 11:23 PM, hollora wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Can't believe guests were asked not to bring pets or dogs and the video here shows someon walking in with one. The pet in the suspect video does not have a Service Dog vest on so I suspect is a pet.

This is totally unacceprtable to me. Folks bringing their dogs to this event in not right - and they should be escorted away by the police or security if the dogs are not service dogs. It is dscustin to step in the poop, deal with the sniffing and all which should and usually does not happen with service dogs.

Take your PETS and LEAVE THEM HOME - and to the event organizerrs and LEO - SUMMONDS THOSE WHO DO NOT! It's not fair to those who want to go enjoy the event and not be bothered by pets - either canine or other.

Thanks for trying to deal with this and llistening. You have said - don't bring them - NOW - there needs to be some enforcement!

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On 8/29/09 at 5:53 AM, Taxpayer wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

While I do not condone bringing pets to an event like this, it just proves to me even more that it is the under belly of socieity that attends this event. Responsible pet owners either would not bring their pets at all or diligently patrol their pets' poops. The Folk Festival is gross.

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On 8/29/09 at 6:31 AM, capehartmainer wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I have a feeling today they'll be "pouring out"

due to rain

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On 8/29/09 at 6:44 AM, commutah wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

People ARE asked not to bring pets, but here's always few morons who do. One low-life had a pitbull in tow.

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On 8/29/09 at 7:49 AM, PatrickofBrewer wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

I thought that people weren't supposed to be allowed to brings dogs???!!! I saw people with big dogs that weren't working dogs!!!!! And once again DRUNKS from those beer gardens!!!!! Obnoxious drunks smoking and being all nasty with their drunken selves!!!!!! Some family festival............

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On 8/29/09 at 8:12 AM, JD2008 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The key word here is ASKED...people are asked not to bring dogs to the event....they cannot keep people from bringing dogs as it is a FREE event and there are no gates, etc....also if the City of Bangor is going to enforce the parking rules, they could if they chose to also enforce the "Scoop the Poop" rules and issue citations to AFF attendees which do not comply.

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On 8/29/09 at 8:29 AM, javacat wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Jeepers! Doesn't anyone have anything good to say about Bangor's best success in a generation?

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On 8/29/09 at 9:00 AM, Yesman wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Yes, I do. Over 900 hundred volunteers signed up this year. Boring old Bangor has permanently changed its image for the better.

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On 8/29/09 at 9:42 AM, gtogirl wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Hollora,

Just to let you know the person walking in the video is actually one of the performers................ Brice Chapman. He is a roper from Lubbock, TX.... If you look at the performers on the American Folk Festival page you will see a photo of him with his cowboy hat and his trusty border collie, "Sooner"...

Most people that bring their dogs to events do take care of them. I do agree that there is ALWAYS a disrespectful dogowner that ruins it for everyone else. I love my dogs but they are not well enough behaved to attend that sort of thing, so I leave them at home. COMMON SENSE!! Some folks maybe do not realize their dogs are not festival material and bring them along. I am sorry that something like that ruined your experience at the Folk Festival. I have been several times and I have never stepped in poop. Go for the music and the culture... Not to complain about something beyond your control.

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On 8/29/09 at 10:14 AM, Northwoods_Maine wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

On 8/28/09 at 11:23 PM, hollora wrote: "Can't believe guests were asked not to bring pets or dogs and the video here shows someon walking in with one".

What I can't believe is that you're so hung up over a handful of people that did bring a pet that you feel justified to write a long scathing rant not only here, but also on the other article here about the festival. Get a life. Grow up and shut up.

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On 8/29/09 at 10:43 AM, Keenov wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

looks like a great day for a folk festival. I bet that there are going to be a lot of wet dogs walking around today. Nothing smells worse than a wet Hippie though.

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On 8/29/09 at 11:08 AM, Taxpayer wrote: Click here to view hidden comment         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden
On 8/29/09 at 12:10 PM, Steve63 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

The only people "stepping in poop" are all these miserable jokers that can't say anything positive about anything! I suspect anything out of the mudane, ordinary will make these people come out of the woodwork. I say "rock on" Bangor and keep it up. The waterfront and a new BA is the wave of the future. I belive even the naysayers of a larger new BA can't dispute the incredible draw that the Folk Festival brings.... Kind of contradicts the feasability study of the new BA huh......

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On 8/29/09 at 12:20 PM, donnelly wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

This festival brings alot of people to Bangor. I dont go personally, but I do know alot that go every year.

Have to agree on the pooches though. Have 2 of my own, and love them to pieces....and theyre gentle- but- I dont take them to events. Or to any gathering with alot of people ...some people just DO NOT like dogs. I am always amazed at the dogs I see at the fair each year. Come on people. We know YOU think your dogs are cute....we- just dont.

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On 8/29/09 at 1:06 PM, angela wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

Fans "pour" in...love the word-play Emily! :)

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On 8/29/09 at 3:32 PM, capehartmainer wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

"pour out" is more like it

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On 8/30/09 at 6:55 PM, Richard28 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

im sure half the people welcomed the rain...gives them a chance to take a shower....i noticed the homeless shelter was handing out soap and shampoo samples

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On 8/30/09 at 8:32 PM, Richard28 wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

wow i didnt know people at the homeless shelter had access to a computer...weird..

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On 8/31/09 at 2:08 PM, willows_mama wrote:         Repeated separate thumbs down will cause comment to be hidden

People who really love their dogs, would NOT bring them to such an event! By doing so, they also show a total lack of respect for fellow festival goers, many of whom, I'm sure own dogs, but followed the rules, and left them home! And, dog owners were not the only ones to thumb their noses at the rules. I attended Friday night, and Sunday afternoon and, I lost track of the number of people I saw smoking!, and tossing their cigarette butts on the ground! I was also saddened by the number of people I saw turn down a chance to "Kick In" when approached by a volunteer ! I mean, I know the economy is bad, but come on, people, every dollar counts! I saw groups of 4 and 5 people say "NO", when asked for a donation .... they could have at least given their pocket change! I had a wonderful time & felt good that I donated, each time I attended! To those of you, who broke the rules and to the cheapskates, who couldn't give at least a dollar ... SHAME ON YOU!!!

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