BAR HARBOR, Maine — People who expect to be hungry the weekend of May 21 may want to time their appetite with a visit to the downtown village.
The first Taste of Bar Harbor festival is scheduled to take place on Friday, May 20, and Saturday, May 21. The event will involve free food samples outside local businesses, a wine tasting, a crafts fair and special Chef’s Table meals at participating restaurants.
On Friday, registered Chef’s Table guests will attend a 6 p.m. wine tasting at House Wine on Main Street, where they will find out where they are eating that evening. Three local upscale restaurants, which are not being identified ahead of time, will host up to 10 diners each for a seven-course meal with a wine paired with each course. Guests will receive a commemorative wine glass, a copy of that restaurant’s tasting menu and a copy of the meal’s featured recipes. Cost is $85 per person.
Beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday, there will be a sidewalk sale as merchants, restaurants and craftspeople make their wares available along downtown sidewalks. Food samples will be available beginning at 11 a.m. Chowder samples will be featured at many restaurants with tasters eligible to weigh in on which is the best. Prizes will be offered for the chowder preferred by selected judges and the one preferred by festival-goers.
Crafts will be featured on Saturday in the parking lot next to The First bank on Main Street. In case of rain, the crafts display area will be at the local Municipal Building on Cottage Street, across the street from Hannaford supermarket.
The event is being organized by the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce and the Bar Harbor Merchants Association. Registration and other information is available at www.barharborinfo.com or by calling 288-5103, ext. 112. Information also is available online at www.barharbormerchants.com.
