Live music, crafts, pooches on parade and more made for a memorable 40th Summerfest celebration Saturday on the Wiscasset Town Common. First Congregational Church’s midsummer fair, a tradition since 1983, continues to grow in popularity. Proceeds go to local outreach organizations at a special Sunday service set aside for the presentations.   

This year’s parade of pooches attracted just shy of 20 canine entries. Dogs of all shapes and sizes were led around the Common by their owners including Wiscasset’s John and Lori Allen who brought Sierra and Lilly, and Frank Barnako who came with Luc. “Luc,” Barnako explained, “is a French Briard, or sheepdog breed.” Along with the parade, this year’s competition included the “Hot Dog Challenge,” very popular with the dogs, and “Trick Competition.” Judges for the competition included Dennis Simmons, Wiscasset town manager; Rev. Thomas Junkert from St. Philip’s Church; and Cindy Clerment. Every dog went home with a rainbow ribbon!

Linda Winterberg who was working the “Treasures Table” with Hanna Stewart has been a Summerfest volunteer since the 1980s. “The fair really goes back a lot further; it was started initially by the church’s Ladies’s Organ Society in the early 1900s. Since the 1980s it’s involved all the members of the church,” she told Wiscasset Newspaper. Winterberg recalled yard sale tables of the past brimming with hundreds of donated items, everything from pots and pans to rakes and shovels, clothing, books, furniture and more. “They used to call it, ‘Jumble,’” she said.

Alongside the tent of the “Uncommon Café,” Sarah Whitfield, chairman of the Wiscasset selectboard, was taking orders and grilling hamburgers, hot dogs and veggie burgers. “This is my third year cooking but I’ve been attending these since I was just a child in kindergarten,” she said. “Summerfest has always been a lot of fun and this one’s extra special because it’s the church’s 250th anniversary.” Nearby, Rev. Dr. David C. Myers assisted by Ken Cooper heaped steaming pulled pork onto sandwiches. “It’s been simmering all morning,” said Cooper, taking a big bite into one.

Added attractions to this year’s festival included live rock 'n' roll music from the Salty Dogs on the bandstand, their appearance being sponsored by Sherri Dunbar of Wiscasset. Also performing were Jeff Grosser and his trio, Ragtime Razcals, on the church landing overlooking the Common, while inside the church, organist and choir director Joel Pierce provided a solo recital. Their appearances were sponsored by Nancy Roby and two anonymous donors. Among this year’s silent auction items were an L.L.Bean canoe package, a watercolor painting by Jan Kilburn, a genuine sweet grass basket, a quilt rack and many gift certificates from local businesses. The event has been traditionally held on the fourth Saturday in July.