KINGFIELD – In its fourth year, the Kingfield POPS continues to grow, making it one of the most popular summer events in the Western Mountains.
Along with the annual concert by the Bangor Symphony on Saturday, the Festival of Arts and an area garden tour have been added to the POPS lineup this year. Both events will begin at 10 a.m. July 1.
Almost 20 artisans have signed on to take part in the art festival in the center of town. Demonstrations will take place every 45 minutes beginning at 11 a.m. with wood turning followed by wire jewelry, stained glass, wool spinning, glass blowing and glass painting. Pat Johnson, an organizer for the art festival, said the event will get visitors into town rather than just on the outskirts where the POPS concert takes place.
“They can walk around the village all day and visit the shops, have some food and really see the town,” she said.
People will also have a time to get out and about during the garden tour, which has been organized by the Kingfield Garden Tour. A sign-up tent will be in the town center, and tickets cost $8 or $5 for those 62 and older. Proceeds will help to beautify Kingfield.
There will be eight gardens on the tour, ranging from simple to extravagant, said garden club member Robin Konieczko.
“So people can visit, and the novices can see how to get started and others can see what they can aspire to,” she said.
The garden tour ends at 3 p.m., and things in town will wrap up at about 4 p.m. Gates open at the Kennedy Farm on Route 142 at 5 p.m., when the music begins. Visitors are welcome to bring their own picnic or enjoy food from vendors set up at the farm. Warm-up acts will include the Western Mountain Steel Drum Band and the Smith Brothers of Industry. Jay Smith, 16, is an award-winning fiddle player, and brother Shane, 14, is a talented rhythm guitar player.
The Kruger Brothers take the stage at 6:15 p.m. Lead vocalist and guitarist Uwe Kruger and his banjo playing brother have teamed up with Joel Landsberg on bass to play American Folk and bluegrass blended with classical European music. The trio is now based in North Carolina, but the brothers met American Landsberg in the Kruger’s home country of Switzerland.
Jens Kruger has always wanted to write music for a symphony orchestra, and the Bangor orchestra has been rehearsing some of his work, said Vici Robinson, a POPS organizer. The orchestra has scheduled a premier for Kruger’s work for next June, but “there’s a chance they’ll play something” on Saturday, Robinson said.
The main act, the Bangor Symphony Orchestra, will play a spirited patriotic medley beginning at 7:45 p.m. More than 50 musicians make up the orchestra, which is under the leadership of conductor Xiao-Lu Li. Special guests this year will include soloist Sally Swallow of Farmington and the Kingfield Spirit Marchers, a youth dance group.
Tickets for the music events are $20 in advance and $25 at the gate. Children 17 and younger are admitted free when accompanied by an adult.
Money raised from the POPS and a concert by the Acadia Brass Ensemble on Thursday at Nordica Auditorium, will help support music programs in SADs 9 and 58.
For updated recorded information about the POPS phone 265-5831. Information and tickets will be available on the Bangor Symphony Orchestra Web site at www.bangorsymphony.com, by phoning 1-800-639-3221 or at www.kingfieldpops.com. Tickets are also available at all United Kingfield Bank branches.
The Festival of Arts will happen rain or shine, and the rain date for the concerts is Sunday, July 2. The event will be moved to Mt. Abram High School if needed, but the weather looks promising and forecasts are calling for sun on Saturday.
“We are thrilled that mother nature will provide us a wonderful day for the artisan festival, garden tours and the Kingfield POPS,” event organizing committee member Bobby Brown said. “Thanks to so many sponsors, supporters and volunteers from the whole region, the event is in its fourth year and we can continue with the year-round programs that bring music events into SAD 9 and SAD 58 to entertain, educate and inspire the region’s youth.”
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