The excitement and anticipation is continuing to growing as the Damariscotta Mills Alewives Festival Committee is busy making sure that 12th annual Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder “Alewives” Festival on Saturday, May 25 is filled with fun, adventures, music, educational exhibits and food to tantalize and intrigue the entire family, and a silent auction with a local artists flare that features the star of the day alewives, the river and lake where they swim and spawn.

The Alewives’ Festival Planning Committee needs your help to make this year’s silent auction a success. We invite readers, local artists, crafters and community members to consider making a donation to the festival’s silent auction. In the past, auction items have included framed photos, handmade quilts, antique fish prints, collectables, pottery and other crafts – all with a focus on the local area or alewife, fish-related. If you have an item that you, your business or organization would like to donate, please call Betty Lu Brydges at 207-832-1566. All silent auction donations are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible.

The one-day festival will be held on May 25 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Memorial Day Weekend). For those who like to not only participate but to also be involved there are many different volunteer opportunities available. If you can give a few hours of your time to work at the festival or would like to become a member of the planning committee, contact Festival Manager David Brydges at 207-832-1790 or db5d@math.ubc.ca. The next festival planning committee meeting will take place on Sunday, March 23 at 4 p.m. at the home of Dick and Mary Cash. FMI and directions give David a call.

Kicking off this year’s festival will be the opportunity to run with the Alewives. What better way to celebrate the running alewives than with a 5K run? On the morning of May 25, join us for a healthy community run that includes cash prizes, professional timing and a gorgeous course along the Salt Bay! Pre-register at http://running4free.com/RaceDetails.aspx?raceid=478

Discounts for runners under 14 and for local school track teams. Use the contact below for more details. For questions or more information, email Bob Barkalow at bob.barkalow@gmail.com

And of course throughout the weekend, there will be alewife viewing up and down the beautifully restored fish ladder. Stay in touch with this year’s festival

and fish ladder happenings by going to and bookmarking https://damariscottamills.org/

The fish ladder in Damariscotta Mills has been in operation for over two hundred years. Built in 1807 by the combined efforts of the towns of Newcastle and Nobleboro, the fish ladder was constructed to allow alewives to bypass the mills blocking the falls between Damariscotta Lake and Salt Bay.