BANGOR – With a recent substantial donation from the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation and gifts from other individuals and companies, the fundraising goal for the American Folk Festival has reached 77 percent.

When the Kings learned a few weeks ago that additional funds were needed for the folk festival, they offered a $40,000 matching grant.

“We need to raise $40,000 from other sources in order to get that grant,” folk festival Executive Director Heather McCarthy said Thursday. That $40,000 is in addition to the money they’ve already raised, she added.

“We are hoping for a good festival weekend,” McCarthy said. “We’re where we want to be going into the festival, but that’s counting on a lot of things to happen on-site.”

In order to meet the festival organizers’ goal of $1,045,000, there will need to be adequate T-shirt sales and donations to the on-site bucket brigade of volunteers. Last year the bucket brigade dredged up $94,779, McCarthy said.

Although monetary donations are nearly where they need to be, McCarthy said about 160 volunteer shifts still need to be filled.

Volunteer training is scheduled to take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, at Husson College’s Richard E. Dyke Center for Family Business.

“If people just want to show up that day, we’ll get them registered and get them their information and their T-shirts,” McCarthy said.

The folk festival will open at 6 p.m. Aug. 22, with a performance by Woodland native Johnny Hiland, and work at the site has begun. McCarthy said they’re doing some groundwork now, and will begin setting up tents on Monday, Aug. 18.

To donate or for more information about the American Folk Festival, go to www.americanfolkfestival.com or send donations to 40 Harlow St., Bangor 04401.

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