Festival attendance tips offered Practical advice covers traffic, parking, safety

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BANGOR – With the start of the 66th National Folk Festival just one day away, organizers are offering some practical advice for the tens of thousands of people expected to make the trip, whether they plan to drive, pedal or ride one of the shuttles that will run between Bass Park and the festival site at Bangor Waterfront.

The idea is to help residents and visitors alike get the most of their Folk Festival ex-perience by reducing the amount of time they spend getting to and from the event Friday through Sunday at Bangor Waterfront.

The showcase of the best in song, dance, food and crafts from many of the ethnic groups that make up the nation’s rich cultural fabric will wrap up its three-year Bangor run this weekend.

Though the national festival moves on to Richmond, Va., for the next three years, plans are under way to ensure the party continues in Bangor.

“The spirit and the diversity will be here for as long as we want them to continue, with the American Folk Festival on the Bangor Waterfront,” said Heather McCarthy, local organizer of the National Folk Festival.

Though the National Council for the Traditional Arts provides a great deal of support for the festival, $600,000 must be raised locally to pull off the three-day event.

As of Wednesday, festival fund-raising was still short $100,000, a figure representing a number of large pledges that still have not arrived. Fund raising will continue after the festival if a shortfall persists.

An estimated 80,000 people attended the 64th National Folk Festival held here in August 2002. Last year, attendance exceeded 100,000.

“This year, we expect 110,000 plus, weather permitting,” McCarthy said.

The elements

Bangor has been blessed with good weather for the past two years.

“So far, we’re six for six,” McCarthy said about the rain-free festival days Bangor has enjoyed during the event’s first two years. Long-range weather forecasts suggest that this year will be no different.

As of Wednesday, the National Weather Service was predicting mostly clear skies for Friday night’s festival opening, partly cloudy weather for the early part of Saturday, mostly cloudy weather Saturday night and Sunday, with a chance of showers Sunday afternoon. Temperatures were expected to reach the mid-80s over the three-day event.

Despite Maine’s reputation for changeable weather, there are no special rain plans.

“We asked that question the first year,” McCarthy said. Organizers considered designating backup venues but quickly concluded that there were too few indoor spaces with sound systems to meet the need.

To that end, the show will go on, rain or shine. Should weather conditions reach the point that they pose safety risks for performers or audiences, some or all of the performance stages would temporarily close until the weather clears.

Traffic

While through traffic will be allowed on Main Street during the festival, motorists won’t be permitted to turn right onto Railroad Street or otherwise drive into the festival grounds.

People headed for Brewer accustomed to reaching the Joshua Chamberlain Bridge via Railroad and Summer streets should instead take Cedar and Summer streets.

Festival volunteers – who’ll be clad in red T-shirts this year – and Bangor police officers will be staffing several key intersections, McCarthy said.

Broad Street, which was limited to one-way traffic last year, will be open to two-way traffic this year.

Parking

With regard to parking, the same rules of thumb apply as last year, McCarthy said.

Downtown Bangor has several public parking lots, plus the Pickering Square Parking Garage. Those familiar with downtown Bangor should consider parking in one of those locations.

Festival-goers unfamiliar with the city should follow these directions:

. From the north- or south-bound lanes of Interstate 95, take Exit 182A to Interstate 395, then take Exit 3B to Bass Park parking.

. Easterly traffic taking Route 1A should access I-395 in Brewer and take Exit 3 to Bass Park parking.

A continuous convoy of shuttle buses will be available at Bass Park to carry attendees to and from three drop-off points at the festival grounds.

Those who live within walking distance can avoid traffic hassles by leaving their vehicles at home and walking.

Bicycle parking

For those who plan to pedal, the Bicycle Coalition of Maine will again offer its free bicycle valet and bike and ride services.

However, the parking site has moved from its former digs near the Railroad Street entrance to the heart of the festival grounds, between the Heritage Stage and the Kenduskeag Dance Pavilion.

Bicyclists from nearby can ride directly to the bike parking area. Those coming from farther away can drive to one of several designated sites that will be set up along the major routes to Bangor.

Trains

As has been the case for the first two festivals, trains will be part of the mix. Residents and guests are asked to use caution around the active railroad tracks running through the entire length of the waterfront.

Due in large part to safety precautions established by Guilford Rail System and Maine Operation Lifesaver – an education and information organization dedicated to preventing accidents at rail crossings and along railroad rights of way – there have been no train-related accidents during the festival thus far.

Four freight trains a day will move through the area, according to David Fink, executive vice president of track owner Guilford Rail System. There is no specific schedule.

Fink said that while Guilford was unable to postpone or reroute the trains, the company has worked closely with officials from the festival, city and others to keep festival-goers off the tracks.

They’ll also be on the lookout for illegal activities such as placing objects on tracks, throwing objects at trains and trying to hop aboard trains.

A security fence has been installed on both sides of the track, Fink said, and railroad police again will patrol the tracks and the crossings on Railroad, Front and May streets during the festival.

City police will assist, especially during periods when trains are traveling through the festival grounds.

“It’s a working waterfront and it’s a working railroad,” McCarthy said. “I’d have to say that’s a good thing.”

Craft vendors

Because Bangor’s ongoing waterfront improvements have removed some festival space along Railroad and Front streets, the Folk Arts Marketplace, where traditional crafts are demonstrated and showcased, will move to a new spot in the parking lot between the Pickering Square Parking Garage and the Kenduskeag Stream.

That will allow the many boat builders coming here to take advantage of the nearby water, McCarthy said. The new spot also will give crafters high visibility because it is just across the stream from the popular dance pavilion.

Food vendors

Food vendors will be located in the same places as last year with one exception. The vendors who last year set up near the intersection of Main and Railroad streets have been moved closer to the river down Railroad Street near the intersection of Front Street.

McCarthy noted that hungry festival attendees also can visit the many downtown restaurants handy to the festival site.

More information

As in previous years, dogs are not allowed at the festival. Additional information about bicycle parking, as well as maps, can be found on the Bicycle Coalition of Maine’s Web site at www.bikemaine.org/valet.htm.

General festival information, including schedules and maps, is available at the National Folk Festival Web site at www.nationalfolkfestival.com or 207-992-2630.

Park and Pedal sites

Festival-goers can park their cars at one of the following sites and bike into downtown Bangor. All distances given are one-way.

1. University of Maine Steam Plant, College Avenue, Orono (10 miles)

2. Eddington School, Route 9, Eddington (7 miles)

3. Brewer Auditorium, Wilson Street, Brewer (1 mile)

4. Fruit Street School, Mount Hope Avenue, Bangor (2 miles)

5. R.H. Foster Energy LLC, Macaw Road and Route 2, Hampden (3 miles)

6. Pumpkin Patch RV Resort, Billings Road, Hermon (8 miles, hilly)

7. Dysart’s Truck Stop, Cold Brook Road, Hermon (10 miles)

Remember to bring?

. Water

. Sunscreen

. Hats with brims

. Lawn chairs or blankets to sit on

. Festival programs and maps