Quietside Festival in the pink once again

SOUTHWEST HARBOR – Flamingos are edging out sea gulls this week as the most common bird in town, and global warming has nothing to do with the phenomenon.

The Quietside Festival has arrived again with its usual flourish of pink feathers and lots of general silliness, which means fun for folks of all ages, according to organizers.

“It’s just a very family-oriented, kid-friendly festival,” Elizabeth Kirk of Harbor House said Friday. “Everybody gets involved.”

The festival started a decade ago as Southwest Harbor Days, she said. Over the years, it acquired a new name and the flamingo theme, which happened when former Harbor House director Marty Lyons called up Don Featherstone, creator of the ubiquitous pink plastic flamingo lawn ornaments, and asked whether he wanted to participate.

He did. Now, every year, both Don and Nancy Featherstone join the Southwest Harbor party. The couple will ride in this morning’s parade.

It’s a flamingo parade, of course.

“It’s flamingo-themed, so everybody gets into the spirit,” Kirk said. “You can’t take yourself too seriously. It’s just fun. everybody dresses in pink, and the theme this year is Mardi Gras.”

Another event that’s notable for its tongue-in-cheekiness is Sunday’s Polo & Yacht Club party. Despite the highbrow name, the bash is open to everyone.

“The joke is that you absolutely don’t have to own a yacht or play polo,” Kirk said.

Aside from the $25 admission fee, there’s only one requirement.

“We request that everybody comes dressed in festive flamingo attire,” the organizer specified.

Today’s events include:

. 6:30 a.m. pancake breakfast sponsored by the U.S. Coast Guard, under the tent on Pemetic Green.

. 8:30 a.m. Tremont Trot 4-mile road race, starting at Seawall Picnic Area.

. 9:30 a.m. flamingo parade, kids carnival and craft fair. The parade starts at the Seal Cove Road and winds through town.

. 11 a.m.-2 p.m. firefighters muster at Pemetic Field.

. 1-5 p.m. Coast Guard open house at Coast Guard Station on Clark Point Road.

. 1:30-5 p.m. Bayside Stompers, Dixieland Band, under the tent.

. 3:30 p.m. croquet tournament at the Stettners’ home on the Seawall Road.

. 6-7:30 p.m. magic show under the tent.

Sunday’s events include:

. 3 p.m. Golf Scramble at the Causeway Club.

. 5-7 p.m. Polo & Yacht Club Cocktail Party at Causeway Club Barn.

Monday’s event:

. 7 p.m. Flash in the Pans! Steel drum band, under the tent.