FARMINGTON — Music, art, store specials and tasty treats highlight the annual Summer Fest schedule planned from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday, July 27, in Downtown Farmington.

Along with the Upcountry Artists annual showing of Art in the Park at Meetinghouse Park from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., live entertainment on a stage set up on Broadway near Everyday Music features several local performers and groups, said Beth Beaudoin of the Farmington Downtown Association.

The bands Foothills Jazz and Route 41 ReVisted are new this year but other local favorites such as Country Choir and Shepherd’s Pie keep the music going till 9 p.m., she said.

New this year, vendors along Broadway will stay open till 7 p.m. Usually they close at 5 but when people said they couldn’t get from work to the daytime event before they closed, organizers changed it, she said.

An outstanding Farmington citizen will be acknowledged at 6 p.m. and given the Farmington Gem Award, she said. 

For children, a bounce house, slide and games are planned along with face painting. There is a small fee this year for some activities, she said.

Gifford’s Ice Cream will host a throwing game for prizes Friday evening and Shiretown Snowmobile Club will sponsor a dunk tank.

The traditional St. Luke’s lobster rolls are available at Meetinghouse Park from noon to 2 p.m. and again this year, Old South Church will host “Pie on the Porch” at the Holman House next to the church on Main Street.

Pieces of homemade pie, strawberry shortcake and bread pudding will be served with musical entertainment provided.

For more than 35 years, members of Farmington Fire and Rescue have barbecued chicken with meals ready by 4 p.m., fire Chief Terry Bell said.

The group, under the direction of Deputy Chief Tim Hardy, will cook 300 half chickens starting around 1 p.m. The barbecue is held in the courthouse parking lot at the corner of Main and Church streets.

Bell couldn’t divulge the secret recipe but said it had been passed on to Hardy by other firemen over the years.

Usually the meal sells out, he said.

At Mt. Blue Community Access television in Merrill Hall on the University of Maine at Farmington campus, an open house and free barbecue, including hamburgers and hot dogs, is offered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

It’s a chance for people to come check out the local channel’s facilities, work-study student Justin Denoranville said. All are welcome.

The annual Kids Road race begins at 5:30 p.m. on Broadway and the Adult Road Race starts at 6:15 p.m. Registration for both races begins at 4:30 p.m.

The Farmington Downtown Association will sell Summer Fest T-shirts at their booth at the intersection of Broadway and Main, Beaudoin said.

More information is available at the association’s website, www.downtownfarmington.com

abryant@sunjournal.com

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