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Join the Street Parade in the 51st Annual Windjammer Days Festival

May 8, 2013 in Activities,Around Town,Events,In the News,Maine,Seasonal,Shopping,Vacation | No Comments

Boothbay Harbor Windjammer Days Street Parade

Boothbay Harbor, Maine (May 7, 2013)— The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce is putting the call out for residents and businesses to enter a float in the Windjammer Days Street Parade. The parade will take place on Wednesday, June 26, at 5 p.m. This year the new parade theme categories include: Most Nostalgic, Most Outrageous and Most Nautical.

The grand prize will be awarded to the overall “Best Float” and the winner will also receive the trophy rights for a year. The first place in each of the categories will also receive prizes. Participants are encouraged to pre-register before June 17 and receive a free Windjammer Days t-shirt.

New for 2013 the Chamber would like to encourage participants to pre-register online at the Chamber’s Windjammer page (www.boothbayharbor.com/windjammer-days) or drop off or mail in a Street Parade Registration form by Monday, June 17^th. Pre-registrants will receive an Event t-shirt (valued at $15) that can be picked up at the Chamber on Friday, June 21^st. Float captains will need to pick up t-shirts for the entire float team at the Chamber office.

Registration fees are based on the number of participants per float:

A single participant is $10
2-9 participants is $35
10-19 participants is $50
and 20+ participants is $75

Non-profits are not required to pay a registration fee but they will not receive a free t-shirt. Event t-shirts will be available for purchase at the Chamber Whale Park booth on June 25-26, 2013. Thank you to Lincoln County Healthcare for being the official 51^st Annual Windjammer Days Event t-shirt sponsors.

On the day of the parade, June 26th, line-up for floats will begin at 3 p.m. at the high school. Float judging will commence at 3:30 p.m. All participants in the parade will be required to sign a participation waiver form. For more information and to register online please visit www.boothbayharbor.com/windjammer-days or stop in at the Chamber’s office and pick up a registration form.

The 2013 Windjammer Days is scheduled to take place June 25 & 26, with the schooners appearing inLinekinBayon Tuesday the 25th and in the harbor on Wednesday the 26th.

To learn more about Windjammer Days and to track updates, visit the Chamber’s Website at www.boothbayharbor.com or find us on Facebook.

Windjammer Days 2013 is presented by Maine Magazine and The Brand Company and includes the following sponsors: Fisherman’s Wharf Inn, Tugboat Inn, Boothbay Harbor Inn members of the Lafayette Group, 94.9 WHOM, WMTW News 8 ABC, Pepsi, Amtrak Downeaster, Lincoln County Healthcare, Boothbay Harbor Country Club, First Federal Savings, The Thistle Inn, McSeagull’s Restaurant, Rocktide Inn, J. Edward Knight Insurance, The First, Flagship Inn & Suites, Boothbay Region Land Trust, Marshall Tent and Event Rental, Hannaford, Brown’s Wharf Restaurant Motel and Marina, Cabbage Island Clam Bakes, Oak Street Provisions, Capt. Terry Arford & Jon R. Doyle, Esq., Paul E. Luke Boatyard, Southport Island Marine, LLC, Ocean Point Marina, Edgecomb Boat Works, Inc., Boothbay Region Boatyard, Boothbay Harbor Shipyard, Topside Inn, Atomic Studios, Maine State Aquarium, Hodgdon Island Inn, Tile Connection & Cottage Connection, Wiscasset Ford, Pat Farrin & Sons, Good n’ You, The Boothbay Register, Central Maine Pyrotechnics, Boothbay Region Y-Arts Chorus, Boothbay Playhouse, Boothbay Fire Department, US Coast Guard, Coastal Shipping, Captain Peter Ripley, Tidal Transit Kayak, Hay Val Charters, Blake Builder’s, Laura Blake Realtor at Pottle Realty Group, Town of Boothbay, Town of Boothbay Harbor and Town of Southport.

For more information about this year’s Boothbay Windjammer Days Festival, including sponsorship opportunities, please contact the Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce at 207-633-2353 or visit the Chamber’s website: www.boothbayharbor.com.

Hope to see you there!

Media Contact:

Angie Helton,Northeast MediaAssociates

(207) 653-0365

nema@maine.rr.com

Photo by: Steve Demeranville

Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce Hosts Captains Dinner

April 9, 2013 in Activities,Around Town,Events,Food and Drink,In the News,Maine,Seasonal,Thoughts,Vacation | No Comments

The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce hosted the annual Windjammer Days Captains Dinner at McSeagulls Water Front Restaurant & Bar on Friday April 5^th. Every year the Captains’ Dinner kicks off the Windjammer Days festivities with sea-faring camaraderie. Owners Ralph and Elena Smith sponsored the event and offered guests the entire main floor to mix and mingle while sipping cocktails. Guests enjoyed an elegant buffet while the staff outdid themselves with their attentive service and hospitality.

Photo Credit: Richard Riley
Thank you to Central Maine Pyrotechnics for donating the sparklers!
Front Row: Chamber Member Services & Event Manager Cherie Scott, Boothbay – Harbor Master – Peter Ripley,
Second Row: Fireworks Chair Dianne Gimbel, Retired Fireworks Chair Sally “Sparkle” Bullard , Chamber Board President Pamela Byrne Riley, Chamber Executive Director Catherine Wygant Fossett , Elizabeth Chaousis, Jim Chaousis Boothbay Town Manager
Back Row: L to R- Jeremy Boyd, Andrew Luke – Windjammer Days Chair, Bruce White – Hayval Charters & Friendliest Catch Lobster Tours

Over 35 guests attended including Schooner American Eagles’ Captain John and Kathy Foss, Schooner Bowditch’s Captain Owen and Cathy Dorr and Schooner Eastwind owners Jennifer and Tom Smith. Schooners Bowdoin, Heritage, Lazy Jack, Lewis R. French, Timberwind and Sherman Zwicker will all be participating in this year’s Fleet of Sail but were unable to attend due to previous obligations. Captains Randy and Nate Jones, father and son duo, and owners of friendship sloop Sarah Mead and tour company Sail Muscongus and the Pirates of the Dark Rose’s Captain Tom Tomlison of the Mustroos vessel also attended. There will be a total of 10 vessels and counting that will parade in the Fleet of Sail on June 26^th at 2:00 p.m. at the Boothbay Harbor Public Landing.

After dinner Board President Pamela Byrne Riley thanked the captains for their support and the Windjammer Committee for their renewed efforts in making this year’s festival a tremendous success. Chamber Executive Director Catherine Wygant Fossett also brought everyone up-to-speed on the 51^st Annual Windjammer Days festival details. Finally, Peter Ripley – Harbor Master of Boothbay, wrapped up the evening’s remarks with a big thank you to all the captains for including Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce’ s Windjammer Days festival into their respective schedules.

As the sun set over the Harbor, guests were asked to head out on to McSeagulls’ newly renovated deck and bar for the surprise of the evening. For the last 10 years, Fireworks Chair Sally “Sparkle” Bullard has led a highly successful coordinated effort along with a dedicated team of ladies to raise funds for Community Fireworks. She received her title from Bob “Sparky” Memory who had spearheaded the Community Fireworks campaign before her. This year Ms. “Sparkle” retired as the Fireworks Chair. In an effort to honor Sally’s dedication and years of service the Chamber and the Windjammer Days Committee put on a sparkle display. But the display was more than a community celebration it was also a symbolic ceremony: Sally accepted the sparkler from President Pamela Byrne Riley and passed it on to her capable and dynamic successor, Dianne Gimbel. In her touching speech, Sally made sure to wish Dianne years of success and also nicknamed her as the new Ms. “Dazzle”.

Year after year retailers, restaurants, and lodging establishment’s remark upon the influx and spikes in their revenue for the duration of the festival. Based on estimates from the US Bureau of Tourism, overnight visitors generate $381 of spending and day visitors $47 per day. Last year, the Maine Department of Transportation conducted a study that tracked an additional 3,286 vehicles on Route 27/96 during the festival time frame, which conservatively generated over $529,678 in revenue for area businesses.

The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce, since being founded fifty-one years ago in 1962, has grown into a first-rate, multi-service membership organization that currently serves over 370 members. Its signature fund-raising event, the Windjammer Days Festival, marks its 51^st anniversary this year and will be held June 25-26^th, 2013. Please contact Cherie Scott, member services and events manager at 633-2353 or Cherie@boothbayharbor.com if you are interested in joining the Windjammer Days Committee or sponsoring this community-wide event.

Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce Welcomes New Windjammer Days Chairs

March 29, 2013 in Activities,Around Town,Events,In the News,Maine,Seasonal,Uncategorized,Vacation | No Comments

2013 Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce Windjammer Days Chairs

Photo Credit: Richard Riley
Cherie Scott, Mary Yokabaskas, Catherine Wygant Fossett, Andrew Luke, Pamela Byrne Riley (left to right)

The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce Board and staff are pleased to announce the 51st Annual Windjammer Days Chair Paul E. Luke, Inc. and Mary Yokabaskas, branch manager for Key Bank as the Windjammer Days Sponsorship Chair.

Paul E. Luke, Inc. has been a family run boatyard for over 75 years. Having made 75 wooden and 35 aluminum boats, the yard also has a worldwide reputation for marine hardware, most notably automatic feathering propellers, three-piece storm anchors and ventilators.

Now in its third generation, the yard’s focus in on storage and repair. Andrew Luke is an East Boothbay native who has returned to the peninsula after 20 years in New York doing marketing and advertising for a large fashion company. He happily brings back corporate experience to the small town that taught him his work ethic and is pleased to be the point person for the chairmanship for the company for the 51^st Windjammer Days Festival.

“I’m thrilled to be involved with such an iconic event for the community. As a little kid, Windjammer Days was always the highlight of the summer. Seeing the community come together to put on the festival is an example of one of the things I missed most when I was in New York. Everyone’s contribution of time, services, goods and money is valuable and graciously received. With more, we could do more to make it an even bigger draw to the community helping more people experience the kickoff to summer,” stated Luke.

Mary Yokabaskas grew up in Gardiner Maine and attended University of Maine Farmington where she was involved in student government, played collegiate soccer and worked as a ski instructor at Sugarloaf on the weekends. The summer between her junior and senior year of college she lived and worked in Boothbay Harbor which was her first introduction to this amazing community. After moving to CT and living there for 20 years, she jumped when Key Bank offered her the bank manager position in this beautiful and historical community. She moved back to Maine a year ago this month and lives in Bristol Mills with her family. Yokabaksas states, “I’m thrilled to accept the position of Sponsor Chair and to be more deeply involved with Windjammer Days!”

Year after year retailers, restaurants, and lodging establishments remark upon the influx and spikes in their revenue for the duration of the festival. Based on estimates from the US Bureau of Tourism, overnight visitors generate $381 of spending and day visitors $47 per day. Last year, the Maine Department of Transportation conducted a study that tracked an additional 3,286 vehicles on Route 27/96 during the festival time frame, which conservatively generated over $529,678 in revenue for area businesses.

Boothbay Harbor Region 2013 Visitor Guide, one of first to print in the state!

February 5, 2013 in Activities,Around Town,Events,Fall Foliage,Food and Drink,In the News,Maine,Seasonal,Shopping,Thoughts,Uncategorized,Vacation | No Comments

Relax, Rejuvenate & Reconnect in our Friendly Coastal Community

Boothbay Harbor, ME: (February 5, 2013) If you’re on the lookout for the pseudo-pocket-book guide to planning your trip to the Boothbay Harbor Region then you’re in luck. The Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce is one of the first in the state to print its 2013 Visitor & Resource Guide (with the second largest print run after Bar Harbor) filled with 148 color glossy pages chock-full of new and expanded editorial, 180 fun things to do in our region in our Calendar of Events, 280 local business listings and close to a 100 advertisements, reflecting an expanding and thriving economic region. Don’t worry about losing your way on the Peninsula either – the visitor’s guide contains three area maps that entail the entire Boothbay Harbor Region, a detailed two-page Recreations & Activities map including sectional legends, and for all those art lovers out there: an Art Trail map.

This year the Chamber is proud to announce that it’s going MOBILE and will host a profile on Maine’s only award-winning Mobile App m.gotravelmaine.com. This is exciting news for chamber members who will now enjoy a wider presence on a virtual travel map. For visitors, The travelMAINE Mobile Map gives them a convenient way to find information on over 365 chamber members representing places to eat, stay, play, shop, services and so much more right at their fingertips from their mobile devices. The mobile app is a win-win for both tourists and chamber members.

Our special thanks to artists Lynne and John Seitzer, owners of Joy To The Wind Gallery, for their stunning cover design and artistic contributions on the front and back covers of the 2013 guide. “I think it’s appropriate to have art images incorporated into the cover, says Lynne Seitzer. “Boothbay Harbor Region has historically been an art colony with over 200 artists residing or exhibiting their work at the Boothbay Region Art Foundation (BRAF) and various galleries in and around town during the summer.”

The Boothbay Harbor Region is also a boat lover’s paradise and ranked as one of Yachting Magazine’s 50 Best Towns for 2012 .Come on down to the harbor and explore our waters, but first read through our newly added Boating section.

In April, 2012 the Chamber celebrated its 50th Anniversary at its Annual Awards dinner gala at The World Is Mine Oyster restaurant. Chamber President, Pamela Byrne Riley and the Board of Directors felt it was important to recognize the significant contribution that certain organizations had made to the success of our Chamber and particularly our region. The three recipients of these awards for Business, Community and Community Service Improvement are featured under the Annual Awards section.

The Chamber’s 50th anniversary celebration ended on a high note with the First Annual Claw Down Chef’s Lobster Bite Competition. In conjunction with the Maine Lobster Promotion Council’s Lobster Lovers Celebration, an effort to promote buying and eating more Maine lobster in support of the lobster industry, the sold-out culinary event was held this past fall at the historic Opera House at Boothbay Harbor. Stay tuned for the 2nd Annual Claw Down event where top local chefs will once again compete for the People’s Choice and Judges’ Choice award. Visitors can log onto our Claw Down Facebook page or enjoy the two-page spread with decadent details of the winning lobster bites in our visitor’s guide.

Over 60,000 guides will be distributed to AAA’s offices from Albany NY to Louisville KY, across the East Coast and into Canada plus visitor centers and chambers state-wide from York to Bar Harbor to Aroostook, train stations, airports and several other public locations statewide and beyond. Over 35,000 guides will be distributed locally to our members and 10,000 picked up at our office and our Downtown Information Center. With another 5,000 mailed to people interested in our region and from our Yankee magazine leads.

Chamber members who wish to get their guides now, are welcome to stop by the chamber office. “For a long time now, this guide has been referred to as the most trusted and comprehensive source of information for visitors coming to our region,” says Catherine Wygant Fossett, Chamber Executive Director. “We print and distribute over 115,000 guides a year and have 4,000 visitors downloading the guide on our website that gets over a million hits a year.” For a digital copy visit: http://www.boothbayharbor.com/visit/

Rachel Tibbetts, Visitor Relations Coordinator often needs an intern or volunteer to help her keep up with the mailings from April-September. “I mail out around 40-60 guides a day in peak season to countries as far as India, Colombia, Italy and New Zealand, not to mention the influx of visitors that come in each day and walk out with the guide in-hand.” The Chamber office is open 7 days a week in-season. If you are interested in volunteering to greet visitors or assist with mailings, please come in and speak with Rachel. We also encourage any member business attending a travel show this spring to promote our region by distributing our popular guides at their booth. Give us a call at the Chamber office at 633-2353. Your Chamber staff: Catherine, Cherie, Brooke, Rachel and furry friend Bella Boo would love to hear from you and hand you a glossy guide hot-off the press.

Early Bird Sale November 20th!

November 12, 2010 in Activities,Around Town,Events,Seasonal,Shopping,Uncategorized | No Comments

Early Bird Shoppers REALLY love a great sale!

Early Bird Shopping in Boothbay Harbor Gets Even Better!!

Shop in Comfort! The Boothbay Harbor Early Bird has always been a winning combination of great shopping and great fun, and this year the Early Bird Sale is getting even better with addition of severl great new activities. It all kicks off in the wee hours of the morning on November 20th when shoppers gather on the streets on Boothbay Harbor in their Pajamas! Yep, you heard right, shopping in your pajamas is fun! Most stores open at 6 a.m. with great reductions in prices, usually the earlier you shop the greater the discount. Many establishments offer door prizes and delicious refreshments. Shopping continues throughout the day, provided the merchants don’t run out of things to sell, because of these great sales.

Pajama Parade! Wait, wait, and wait! There is so much more to come. Anybody love a parade? All Pajama clad shoppers are invited to line up on the Library lawn in the center of town at 10 a.m for the Pajama Parade through town. Prizes, prizes, prizes will be awarded when the parade ends up back on the Library lawn - great gift bags supplied by area merchants. Categories include Best Jammies, Best footwear, Best headwear, Best Children’s PJ’s under 12, and The Very Best Group of Shoppers, you know matching pajamas and all that sort of thing.

Bed Race! Okay, we aren’t done yet. Next up is the Bed Race, where teams of five maneuver their beds down Howard St. two by two as fast as they can. It’s an elimination race, with winners moving on to the next race. Participants will be wearing their pajamas, of course, and there are more prizes. The winner will receive a $25.00 check and a trophy will be awarded to the top 3 winners! There will also be awards for the Best Decorated Bed and Best Team cheer.

Window Display Contest! Almost done…while in town shopping and parading and racing beds, don’t forget to vote for your best window display! Many merchants have gone the extra mile this year by decorating their windows early for the Holidays. Shop at all the stores, choose what you think to be the very best window and drop your vote in the beautifully wrapped box on the Library lawn. Shoppers won’t win a prize for this event, but, a lucky creative merchant will. The winning merchant will receive a $75.00 display advertisement donated by the Boothbay Register.

So, please don’t miss out on this unusual and fun filled event, where else but in Boothbay Harbor could you find all these events in one spot? Great shopping, funny pajamas, friendly merchants, a window display contest, a parade, a bed race and lots and lots of prizes. See you there on November 20, 2010. Wake up, get out of bed, don’t get dressed and head on down Route 27 to the lovely village of Boothbay Harbor where we know how to have fun!

Fall Foliage Splendor!

October 19, 2010 in Around Town,Fall Foliage,Maine,Seasonal | No Comments

The sound of leaves crunching under your feet, the cool salt breeze, beautiful colors…scarecrows, pumpkins, fall flavors, scents and sights abound. A few of our favorite drives, of course there are many more, are a scenic tour out to Ocean Point on Route 96, or follow Route 27 out to Southport Island and soak up the brilliant fall color.

Courtesy of Flickr Shrike1964 Photostream

SHOP Boothbay Harbor

July 27, 2010 in Activities,Around Town,Maine,Seasonal | No Comments

A great way to enjoy the Boothbay Harbor Region is to peak inside some of the wonderful shops. In a town with so many options, a visitor can definitely find some gems. From one end to the other visitors can find painters, antique dealers, jewelers, shops that sell Christmas ornaments and handmade items by Maine craftsmen.

Maine Coastal Lighthouse photo from Christmas Magic.

Weekend Plans

July 16, 2010 in Activities,Around Town,Food and Drink,Seasonal,Vacation | No Comments

Hope you have a fun weekend planned! It is beautiful here. If you have not been you should and if you have been you should come again. If not overnight, at least for a day trip.

Sunday’s forecast: Mostly sunny, with a high near 83. West wind between 9 and 11 mph.

Does it get better than that? We don’t think so at least not this time of year.

The flowers are in bloom here, fresh lobster is available on the waterfront deck of this restaurant, and kayaks and bikes are for rent from Tidal Transit Kayak Company (see photo below).

Come enjoy kayaking in Boothbay Harbor Maine

Take Time Off to Spot Whales

July 14, 2010 in Activities,Food and Drink,Seasonal,Vacation | No Comments

You have a few days off from work and want to spend it as a family. Or maybe you want a weekend getaway with guys/girls and bit of adventure. This summer look no further than Boothbay Harbor and Cap’ n Fish’s Whale Watch or Boothbay Whale Watch. Guaranteed whale spotting or your money back! Sightings might include a Humpback Whale, Fin Whale, Minke Whale, Pilot Whale, SEI whales, Northern Right Whale, and the Sperm Whale.

Afterwards head to one of our many waterfront restaurants for a cocktail and delicious food with a view!

Captain Fish's Whale Watch is the premiere choice for experiencing the whales, sea birds and marine wildlife that the Boothbay Region has to offer.

Fin Whale near Pink Lady II

Photos by Cap’n Fish’s Whale Watch.

Hello Summer

June 24, 2010 in Maine,Seasonal,Vacation | No Comments

Time for shorts, toes in sand, lobster bibs, lobster rolls, boating, hammocks, ice cream, sunscreen, fishing gear, a mystery or romance paperback, picnics, camping, and all the other wonders that become part of our lives June – September in Midcoast Maine.

It is time to be outdoors from sunrise to sunset, and quite possibly long after that. After all one of the magical qualities of the Boothbay Harbor Region is the night sky. Whether on a windjammer, the deck off your room, or from a trail the lack of light pollution will enable you to see the sky as clearly as when you were on a school field trip to the local planetarium.

Starry sky by m0nkiii.

Photo by monkiii.

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