Best fest Attendance highest yet as folk fun spreads to downtown businesses

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BANGOR – It was bound to happen sometime.

After four consecutive festival years without a drop of rain, a cold shower started to fall as Sunday’s final acts took the stage for the finale of the 2006 American Folk Festival on the Bangor Waterfront. But it didn’t dampen the festivities for a hundred or so umbrella-toting, raincoat-wearing fans at the Railroad Stage who were determined to stay through to the end.

Diane Hills, 42, and Marvin Austin, 45, both of Hermon, had been there all weekend, and they weren’t about to let a little rain send them home. Instead, they hunkered down in their lawn chairs and settled in to hear Oliver “Tuku” Mtukudzi’s Zimbabwean Tuku music.

“The different kinds of music, we like that,” said Hills, who’s a regular at WERU’s Full Circle Summer Fair but a first-timer at the Bangor festival. When asked if she’d return, she didn’t skip a beat: “Absolutely.”

Despite cooler-than-usual weather, the second American Folk Festival had hotter-than-ever attendance. Heather McCarthy, the festival’s executive director, said the weekend numbers were “easily” 10 percent higher than last year’s three-night record of 145,000, putting total attendance in the neighborhood of 160,000. There were no police complaints and festival organizers said the event went smoothly.

“This year, we’ve learned the people who are coming to this event are participants, they’re stakeholders,” McCarthy said Sunday. “They’re not just passing through. They’re committed to this event.”

And they’re generous. Organizers were $150,000 short of their annual fundraising goal on Friday, but by 3 p.m. Saturday, the bucket brigade already had run out of “I Kicked In!” stickers (they quickly rounded up leftovers from last year), and by midnight, they had raised $47,000. On Sunday, many festival-goers wore stickers in three different colors, meaning they donated at least three times.

Shaun Dowd, 64, and Marcia Biggane, 56, both of Bangor, were in that group. The couple had volunteered as “bucket heads” earlier in the weekend, and thought they might encourage others to donate if they continued to wear their stickers.

“We’re spoiled, and it’s good to be spoiled,” Dowd said. “I think people deserve the best of this type of music, but it costs money to do it.”

If the food vendors were any indication, money flowed freely on the festival grounds over the course of the weekend. The Camden Donut Co. sold out of doughnuts, despite the fact that its owners brought 50 pounds more doughnut mix than they did last year. Orrs Island Chowder had a banner year – the weather was conducive to chowder.

Downtown merchants also felt the effects of the crowds. The Grasshopper Shop was hopping, Bagel Central cracked 15 dozen more eggs than usual on Sunday morning, and the Antiques Marketplace & Cafe had “an exceptional day” on Saturday.

“It’s so wonderful,” said Beverly Hollis, who works at the marketplace. “This is usually our busy time of year, but the festival did bring in a lot of people, and everybody just seems so happy.”

At Hollywood Slots, the parking lot was full all weekend, and one family had spent a few hours salsa dancing at the festival before losing a few dollars gambling.

“We’ve been coming all summer, but we didn’t win anything,” said Elsie Munoz, who lives in Florida and summers in Dexter.

Carol of Augusta, who declined to give her last name, was sitting in her SUV at Hollywood Slots early Saturday evening, debating whether she was going to go back inside or go home. When asked about the festival, her expression was blank.

“I have no idea what that is,” she said.

But the hundreds of people who lined up in pairs on the dance floor Saturday afternoon knew all about folk. They were there to contra dance, and they were thrilled that their beloved New England tradition was taking center stage.

As she prepared to get in line with her dance partner, Kelly Young’s “fan club” cheered her on. The 27-year-old from Belfast is known for her dancing, and though she enjoyed other acts throughout the weekend, the contra dance was the real draw.

“I thought it was about time, because it’s such a New England thing,” she said. “I have young kids, so I go when it’s convenient. This is a special treat.”

As the fiddler warmed up, Young disappeared into the circle of dancers, which became pretzel-like at times, and listened to her hometown caller, Chrissy Fowler.

“Swing your partner,” Fowler told the crowd. “Swing your partner. Round. And. Round. Walk to the music and smile!”

On the other end of the festival grounds, a broad smile spread across Gloria Brayson’s face as the Ethel Caffie-Austin Singers belted out gospel tunes.

“Lord, we exult your name,” the chorus sang, and Brayson, 82, lifted her arms skyward and swayed to the music.

“I believe in Jesus,” Brayson, who lives in Veazie, said after the music stopped. “I believe wholeheartedly. I just came down to look around and I loved to hear her sing.”

Next year, there may be even more singing to love. The size of the crowds may lead organizers to add another stage – and more programming – as they reconfigure the layout of the site.

“I would be very happy if the people who come to the festival had this quality festival experience,” McCarthy said, referring to this year’s relatively seamless event. “We’re looking to make sure we continue to serve the folks here with entertainment, food, crafts, the whole package. We need to keep that strong. And if [the attendance] plateaued here, no complaint.”

There were no complaints to be had Saturday night on the shuttle back from the festival. Peter Shaw, 48, was so happy, he tipped the bus driver. He lives in Carabassett Valley and drives a shuttle at Sugarloaf, and his motto is, “Like the ride, tip the guide.”

Shaw came to town with five other friends who have made the American Folk Festival an annual tradition. It’s an end-of summer reunion for the group, and they relish the music, the food and the fun.

“They’ve got it so together, so well-organized, it’s awesome,” Shaw said. “Last year was good. This year was even better.”

His friend Meredith Foss, 38, of Lucerne agreed.

“We’ll be back.”