BANGOR – The annual Fair Trade Fest, a celebration of Bangor’s leadership in creating local and global economies that benefit all people, will take place 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10, at the Bangor Waterfront Park.

At 3:30 p.m., Reverend Billy brings the Church of Stop Shopping from New York to Bangor with music and song. The Fest will feature a fair trade marketplace with an array of sweatshop-free products, food and coffee, a Clean Clothes fashion show with celebrity models, educational exhibits and presentations, and great music. The event is free and open to the public.

“It’s really exciting that Bangor is leading the way in creating a fair trade marketplace,” said PICA Board president Katherine Kates. “Living in eastern Maine, sometimes it seems like we’re out of the mainstream. But communities, organizations and businesses throughout the hemisphere look to Bangor as a leader and a model. And we’re having fun doing it.”

The musical entertainment is headlined by Reverend Billy and his Stop Shopping Gospel Choir. With a message of “think before you shop,” Reverend Billy and the choir promote fair trade across the country while entertaining, educating and mobilizing thousands.

Sharp Teeth, an up-and-coming group from Boston, playing “folk music with an edge,” will appear, as will other local groups and performers, providing live music throughout the afternoon.

Fair trade vendors are coming from across North America. Adbusters Media Foundation will bring union-made Blackspot sneakers all the way from Vancouver, British Columbia, and CRISPAZ will be here from Boston with Salvadoran handcrafts, books, music and other locally made objects. Local Maine merchants will sell everything from sporting goods to clothing to ice cream.

PICA’s Bangor El-Salvador Sister City Project is offering embroidered tablecloths, tote bags, T-shirts and aprons made by the sewing cooperative of Bangor’s Sister City -Carasque, El Salvador.

The 2005 Fair Trade Fest is made possible through the support of the Stephen and Tabitha King Foundation. For information, visit www.pica.ws.