On Oct. 11 and 12 the Boothbay Railway Village along with the Boothbay Information Center will host a true New England Craft Fair.

This year the Fall Foliage Festival is part of a new initiative, called Maine Craft Weekend, sponsored by the Maine Crafts Association in partnership with the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development’s Maine Made Program and additional support from the Maine Office of Tourism.

The beautiful crafts are center stage on the Village Green surrounded by the historic buildings and structures of the Boothbay Railway Village. Rides on the narrow gauge steam train and the opportunity for guests to explore exhibits detailing Maine’s railroad heritage, interpreting village life, and displaying more than 60 antique automobiles set this event apart.

Maine Craft Weekend (MCW), a statewide tour of Maine craft studios, breweries, businesses and events, is an opportunity for the public to explore the life and work of craft artists and craft brewers in Maine.

MCW is a public, educational, community orientated, family friendly weekend October 11-12. MCW is scheduled in conjunction with American Craft Week, a nationwide event promoting craft events each October.

Modeled after Maine Maple Sunday and Buy Local Saturday, this self-guided tour features participants all over the state who are not regularly open to the public or who have planned special MCW events and demonstrations at their locations. 

Last year, the Fall Foliage Festival featured craft demonstrations for the very first time. This year that part of the event has expanded.

“I’m very excited that we are part of the Maine Craft Weekend program,” festival organizer Rene Evans said. “It really makes it special for our artisans to be the highlight of an entire weekend in Maine.”

Visitors will be able to watch beeswax candles being dipped and pottery being fired using the Raku technique. The demonstration schedule will be posted each morning at the festival entrance.

“I’m especially pleased that local musician Tyler Richards will be performing at the festival for the very first time, and that Dickie Spofford is coming back to the festival, with his new group, the Murky Water Band,” event coordinator Melissa Thornton said.

Saturday’s line up begins at 10:30 a.m. with the smooth guitar and vocals of Noel Arrington and Gabe Tonon. Toes will be tapping at 12 when the youngsters of the Oyster Creek Fiddlers take the stage. At 1 p.m. the Boothbay Region Community Band aka Alumni Band performs.

The Holy Mackerels acoustic take on hits by Van Morrison, James Taylor and more is the perfect ending to Saturday with a double set from 2 to 4 p.m.

On Sunday the day starts with newcomer Tyler Richards at 10 a.m., followed by the Murky Water Band from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The fair ends with a big two hour show by the Spaceheaters, known for their original music as well as covers of anything from Miles Davis to the Grateful Dead, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Foodies will not be disappointed in the festival’s culinary offerings. The famous chowder cooked up by the Boothbay Region Lions Club will be back along with wood-fired pizza, crab cakes, pulled pork, hamburgers, hot cider, kettle corn, homemade pies, and much more.

The festival is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Admission is $2 for adults, children and Boothbay Railway Village Museum Members are free. Steam train tickets are an additional $5 each (free for Museum Members.) Parking is free both in the museum’s main parking lots and the special event parking lot across Route 27 next to T&D Variety.

Contact the Boothbay Railway Village for more information at 207-633-4727 or www.railwayvillage.org. The Boothbay Railway Village is located at 586 Wiscasset Road, Route 27 in Boothbay.