preservation and hokum

[Pete "Cosmo" Barrington]

Oh MAN!
Farmer's Market, Harvest Fair! Why didn't I think of that!
Something like that could work, provided Mr Albee is willing

[Wayne Laepple]

I am all about the concept of a folk or blues festival at Alna Center. But as has been noted further up on this thread, such events will require a lot more parking and comfort facilities, not to mention more passenger equipment.

And while the corn maze is a great idea, there aren't many cornfields in Maine, at least not around Alna Center. I wonder if a hay maze would work.....?

Ice cream trains and barbecues can be fairly small events with minimal cash outlays. There's a local guy in this area who runs an ice cream maker with a Fairbanks-Morse hit-and-miss engine which is as much of an attraction as his ice cream -- which is also quite good! And there are folks all over the place who do barbecues with homemade cooker trailers.

[Allan Fisher]

The Museum was put on notice earlier this year by BMI (with two follow up letters) that if we sponsor a music group or play any music licensed by them without paying them a $500 annual license fee that we will be subject to penalties in the thousands of dollars.

[Pete "Cosmo" Barrington]

Then the thing to do is find a promoter that already HAS that covered and will work it into the price.
(Kinda like the concept of having a contractor, with liability, licencing and permits covered, to do the work on the washouts.  )

But I digress.

Having a BBQ with a couple folkies playing "Public Domain" shouldn't be a big deal. NOW, that having been siad, I fully realize that any big "Festival" would require both extensive onsite comfort facilities AND onsite parking for that and other such equipment.
My take would be to start SMALL, (if possible.)

But this is all spaculative.

[James Patten]

..a farmer turned his corn field into a maze during the fall.

So you're saying he turned his maize field into a maze field?

(Ba-dum-bum!)

[John Kokas]

Pete,

combine a farmers market / fair with a Threshers display and you've got a winner..........  Anyone know a local lobsterman in Wiscasset who'd "bring the claws"? (wishful thinking  )

[Pete "Cosmo" Barrington]

Y'know, I like that idea more and more.
I can see an event that'd combine a few things here:
1) Food, ie: lobster/clambake, harvest-type goodies, BBQ or the like,
2) Demonstrations, ie: tractors/threshers, the sawmill at Alna Ctr, antique engines; steam AND diesel, maybe even atique autos and firetrucks etc.
We see stuff like this at the picnic, why couldn't it show up again around harvest time?
And there's no reason it need be a  huge "Fairground-sized" event either, NOR would ALL the action need be at AC. There's plenty of room if you spread stuff out at both locations.
Hey, maybe the threshers display could help sell the idea to Mr Albee by haying his field for him. 

All just thoughts.

[John Kokas]

Now you're talkin'........  Trains, tractors, BBQ & Lobster...

I am soooooo there........

[Steve Zuppa]

Sounds like you all would like to ATTEND one of these events. I've yet to hear a single one of you offer to organize it, promote it, staff it and in general, work your tail off to make it happen.

[Ed Lecuyer]

Well said Steve. Here, here!

[Duncan Mackiewicz]

Steve,
You don't comment too often but you do manage to nail it when you do.  Amen.
Duncan

[John Kokas]

For many of us, we would love nothing more than to be there all the time.  Reality is that our jobs and family commitments keep us hundreds if not thousands of miles away.  Speaking for myself, I know what it takes to do these things.  Been there - done that.  That's why I have advocated partnering with others in order to "simplify" the process, learned that the hard way.  If some of these events were during the summer, then I would presume you would see more participation from those "long distance" supporters as it would work with vacation schedules.  It is not reasonable to expect people to participate in a one-day or weekend event when they also must add-on 10+ hour drives just to get there.  In today's world, many simply cannot get off of work for extended periods of time and keep their jobs.

That said, in addition to financial support, what we can provide is ideas and suggestions on events that either we have worked on or have organized ourselves - that are proven winners.

[Duncan Mackiewicz]

John,
I, for one, understand quite well where you are coming from.  I have a 4 hour drive to reach the museum.  However, I enjoy coming to assist where and when I can.  To this end I have arranged my time so that I come to both work weekends and arrange for accomodations in the area nearby the museum as do many others.  Perhaps you and others who are a greater distance away can find a way to visit and help out physically as well as financially.  It isn't necessary that you do so and I don't think the museum expects folks who are 10+ hours away to come on a regular basis but the museum is always happy to welcome those who do come to help out. 
Duncan

[Ken Fleming]

How about one of these (or similar era piece) at Sheepscot Station?  Vending popcorn, hot dogs, cold drinks and ice cream.

[Stephen Hussar]

Those are interesting... does anyone know if you need a Victualer's License to operate something like this...if it's "mobile"