The skies are clear, the winds are warming as is the sun, the time of year thoughts begin to turn to outdoor fun, boating … and the annual Windjammer Days Festival! The festivities of the 54th begin Sunday, June 26 and run through Saturday, July 2. And the Friends of Windjammer Days (WJD) are quite sure a great time will be had by all.

Let's start with the stars of this event — the schooners. Our local schooner Eastwind will be sailing with the visiting American Eagle, Lazy Jack, Heritage, Alert, Ernestina-Morrissey, Bowdoin,  and (as of May 2) the Harvey Gamage! But, keep in mind this isn't a complete list. Cap'n Pete Ripley, Friends liaison with the captains, is working on a few more as this press release is being written.

New events for WJD include the Blessing of the Fleet, traditionally performed during the region's Fishermen's Festival. With the discontinuation of that festival, the Friends had no qualms about bringing the blessing in for WJD. In a fishing/lobstering community such as ours, the fleet must be blessed. A possible new event still being worked out is the possibility of continuing a girls' pageant, similar to the former Miss Shrimp Princess Pageant — maybe a Miss Windjammer or the Windjammer Princess Pageant. More to come on that idea.

Last year's inaugural Tug of War Across the Harbor was a raging success. The Tug Across the Harbor will commence on Saturday, July 2 at 1 p.m. (Note earlier time due to need for high tide.)

Entertainment confirmed for the stage at the Whale Park are: Noel Arrington & Gabe Tonon, Tim Sprague and the Murky Water Band, Danny Beal, Hollis Woods, Dani Tribesmen, R&R Duo, Delta Knights, Dyer Neck Gang, Pat Colwell and the Soul Sensations and Y-Arts, with more in the wings.

Kids will have a blast during WJD at the Boothbay Region Land Trust Kid's tent — where something is always being built, arts & crafts, Kids Alley — filled with games, arts & crafts and facepainting, and then there's all of the sea learning, ocean critter petting, lobster catching talk at the Maine State Aquarium. Oh, and did we mention the carnival?!

That's right. Amyland Amusements of New Hampshire will be setting up on the school grounds on Townsend Avenue/Route 27. And, they are staying right through to Fourth of July! Hours of operation will be: 5-10 p.m. on Tuesday, June 28; 6-10 p.m. on Wednesday, June 29; 4-10 p.m. on Thursday, June 30; noon to 10 p.m. on Friday, July 1, Saturday, July 2 and Sunday, July 3; on Monday, July 4 – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

And you better keep your eyes and ears open because the Pirates of the Dark Rose are returning — more committed than ever of taking over Boothbay Harbor — so, expect a major sea-based conflict between the pirates and the English at high noon Wednesday, June 29. Those pirates will be up to their usual no good antics like trying to recruit your sons and daughters to sail off with em and live a pirate's life. So, if you and your family decide to be brave and tour their ship, Must Roos, keep a close eye on those young ones.

Other events include tours of the U.S. Coast Guard Station and a vessel or two, tours of the schooner Bowdoin. Artists Alley is a haven for artist lovers. Situated on The By-Way, near the former bowling alley, local and regional artists display their works, do live demonstrations, and will love to talk art with you. A reception for the participating artists is held on Monday, June 27, an Open House and Artist Reception at the Greenleaf Inn, just off Commercial Street. Tickets are $10 per person (includes hot hors d'oeuvres). Ticket sale proceeds are donated to the Community Fireworks Fund for both the Windjammer Days display (Wednesday, June 30) and the Fourth of July display.

The Windjammer Days Raffle tickets, maps, T-shirts and information will be available at the Friends of Windjammer Days tent on the waterfront. Raffle drawings will be announced from there. The grand prize is a group of 15 tickets to sail aboard the schooner Eastwind!

Golfers may want to sign up (sooner rather than later) for the WJD Golf Tournament at the Boothbay Harbor Country Club on Sunday, June 26. Lunch is at 11:30 a.m. with the shot gun start at 1 p.m. Call Dianne for more information: 207-504-0242 and visit www.boothbayharborcc.com.

What would a festival be without craft fairs, pancake breakfasts, food booths, an antique boat parade, street parade, a fish relay race (visitors welcome to participate), boat tours offered by local excursion companies to get folks out on the water to watch the schooners sailing about in Linekin Bay Tuesday afternoon and on Wednesday, before the Parade of Sail into Boothbay Harbor that afternoon.

Fireworks, haunted history tours, a road race, oyster shucking contest, lobster eating contest, and a lighted boat parade. Any boat owner can enter the parade. Register your boat on www.windjammerdays.org. Decorate your boat by July 2, tune in to Channel 10 and go to the lineup position. Parade will begin at 9 p.m. on July 2. No definite position for the judging station as yet. Yes, that’s right. There are prizes at stake here, mates!

Speaking of boats, Maine Maritime Museum will have a tent on the waterfront this year — and rumor has it MMM’s lobster car (given by Disney) will be in the Street Parade.

The 54th Windjammer Days Festival is just a few months away, best you book your lodging now – including campgrounds, if you're so inclined. We've got some on the water and others centrally located. For more information on where to stay in the region, visit www.boothbayharbor.com.

For more information about the festival, visit www.windjammerdays.org. To register for the antique boat parade, street parade, lighted boat parade, golf tournament, and Artists Alley, go to the Windjammer Days website and click on the Events tab at the top of the page then select the entry forms and rules subcategory. 

Interested in volunteering? The next Friends of Windjammer Days meeting is on May 10 at the Boat House Bistro, downstairs, at 5 p.m.

In the meantime, stay tuned for more updates as the dates, June 26-July 2, get closer.