Join us on Memorial Day weekend to celebrate the return of the alewives. The seventh annual Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder Restoration Festival will be held on Memorial Day weekend, May 24, 25 and 26.

"We are holding the festival to celebrate the return of the alewives and the restoration work completed to date," said Deb Wilson, one of the event organizers. "We are nearly finished, we just have a punch list to go — what a wonderful achievement thanks to neighbors and friends of the fish ladder."

The festival is sponsored by the towns of Nobleboro and Newcastle, the Nobleboro Historical Society, and many local businesses. Festival events will take place in many locations around Damariscotta Mills: at the fish house at the bottom of the ladder, Mulligan's Smokehouse; along Ladds Hill Road; at Alewives Fabrics on Main Street; and on Town Landing Road. Look for signs pointing the way to activities and maps showing the location of all events.

Each day a special menu has been prepared. On Saturday, Chef Tom Wriggins will again put on his famous pig roast with all the fixin's — a real treat! And, thanks to the Damariscotta River Grill, Sheepscot Valley Brewing Company and D. L. Geary's Brewing Company, you can enjoy your pulled pork sandwich with a cold beer-while alewives swim by and osprey dive to eat their lunch. The food on Sunday will be equally special: the super-secret-recipe North Nobleboro barbecued chicken served with cole slaw, chips and a roll; and perhaps another cold beer! Beer will also be available on Monday, when we'll be serving the best crab and lobster rolls in town. We'll also have hot dogs, oysters and ice cream all three days.

Mulligan's smoked alewives, the best in the area, will be on sale all weekend at the smokehouse, or until they run out. The "Smokehouse Girls" will be serving food on Saturday and Sunday this year: their famous breakfast sandwiches, hamburgers and hot dogs for lunch, with all the fixins.

Paula Roberts will be making her fabulous donuts: molasses, squash, and chocolate, on Saturday near the bake sale tables; and Fondie York will be making her famous homemade donuts on Sunday at the smokehouse.

Children's activities will be held near the fish house, on Ladds Hill Road and at Alewives Fabrics. The ever-popular osprey fishing game can again be played on Ladds Hill Road, while there will be a touch tank including tide pool creatures located near the fish house. And, there will be free face painting at Alewives Fabrics together with ice cream, soda and viewing of video, "Closing the Circle."

Special children's activities on Sunday include storytelling and crafts with Dena Davis of Stories by the Sea (all day) and a Hootenanny at 11 a.m. with Derek DeGeer. Additionally on Sunday there will be an Antique Car Show, which will include Model T rides.

Please join us for a wonderful festival and a chance to see alewives close up as they ascend the fish ladder to spawn in Damariscotta Lake. For additional information, please check out our website at www.damariscottamills.org or contact Deb Wilson at 207-380-6997.