Join us for the Third Annual Pennamaquan Alewife Festival!
May 24 + 25, 2024 in Pembroke
10am–5pm, both days
12 Little Falls Road
SMOKING AND EATING OF FISH
We will begin smoking fish the day before, with a free local food buffet beginning at noon. If you want to join in the dipping, gutting, and brining, make sure to get a fishing license from the town office.
LEARN
NOAA Fisheries Biologist Max Tritt will be on hand all day Saturday to lead learning experiences about alewives for all ages, with his interactive Stream Smart table, followed by a presentation about Atlantic salmon restoration. (Saturday only)
with Downeast Salmon Federation Fisheries Biologist Mike Manning
BIKE LIKE A FISH
Join bike rides up the Pennamaquan, and a long one around Pennamaquan Lake. Mike Stewart of Mike’s Bikes will be on hand Saturday for bike tune-ups. Haul your bike out of the garage and take a spin up the river, along the rail trail bridge for a short, medium or long ride in the peak of Shadbush flower season. Mike will lead a golden hour group bike ride (longer) up to Pennamaquan Lake, leaving the crossroads at 3pm on Saturday.
MAKE AND EXPLORE
Enjoy a fish painting activity and a lifecycle treasure hunt to explore the riparian habitats of the Pennamaquan, led by artist Rebekah Elizabeth Guiltner (whose work wraps the DSF smoke truck)
LIVE MUSIC
Saturday: Live music by Will Neils and the Midnight Ramblers
Both days: Greenhorns Artist-in-Residence Brian Dewan will sing songs from the Grange. He’ll share his work in progress on a film strip about Civic Halls.
Details
- Electric car charger available!
- The Smithereen Farmstore will be open with local produce, cheese, meats, bakery etc. Plenty of delicious treasures to take home.
- Make a weekend of it and book your campsite at Smithereen Farm, Cobscook Bay State park for a full agritourism experience.
- Thank you to Maine Tourism for supporting this event.
Did you know? May 25 is World Fish Migration Day!
Images from the Second Annual Alewife Festival in 2023.
Much fun was had by all! Photographs by Wilder Nichols.
