The Kennebec Explorer 2018 Visitor's Guide to Maine's Kennebec Valley | Page 39

Skowhegan
A place to watch becomes the place to be.
Event-full year
2018 is a big year for Skowhegan and
it’s going to be busy. March gets things
rolling with the Maple Festival. Yummy!
Then in June, we welcome the annual
Moose Lottery with the Skowhegan
Moose Festival. July brings the amazing
Kneading Conference and Artisan Bread
Fair. Catch your breath as August kicks
off with River Fest and the Somerset
Family Arts Festival, followed by the
Skowhegan State Fair celebrating its
bicentennial. By the time September
rolls around, it’s no wonder we will
need the Craft Brew Fest to help level
things off. So don’t worry if you can’t
make an event—there will be plenty of
chances to jump in and enjoy the fun.
fishing in the state. Climbers looking
to explore a little might find a treasure
here, and trail running and biking are
found in any direction you go. But the
best part? At the end of the day, you can
head back to town for a hot meal, some
local craft beer, and a welcome slice of
civilization. Cheers to that!.
Farm-to-table
The Kennebec Valley has always been
known for its rich soil and farming has
been part of the community since the
Norridgewock Abenaki began to till
the soil long, long ago. Fast forward to
today. As home to a year-round farmers
market on the rise, Skowhegan upped
the ante with a stroke of genius when
it upcycled the abandoned county lock-
up into Maine’s premier modern grist
mill. That plus the continued success of
the Kneading Conference and Artisan
Bread Fair have given Skowhegan the
cachet that makes it an ideal location
for breweries, food-friendly events,
restaurants, pubs, and of course, one
heck of a tasty bakery.
Along Water Street
As one of the three Main Street Maine
communities in the Kennebec Valley,
Skowhegan has been recognized for its
very walkable downtown area, filled
with small cafés, shops, and businesses.
These are set in a backdrop of beautiful
and well-maintained buildings that
show off the history of the town. When
you get here, walk around some. Just
up the street from downtown is Coburn
Park, a pretty and welcoming green
space that also hosts events like the
charming summertime gazebo concert
series and dinner in the park.
That’s the thing about Skowhegan, it
possesses an indescribable vibe and
boundless energy. Through the last
few years, that energy and vibe have
continued to grow like the rolling
waters of the Kennebec River cascading
into the river’s deep gorge here.
Whatever the cause, it is definitely
worth keeping track of. But don’t just
stand there and watch: join in and
see what you’ve been missing.
Basecamp for adventure
For the visitor who loves adventure,
Skowhegan makes a perfect jumping-off
point. Further up the valley is the state’s
best white water rafting. The waters
of the Kennebec River, its tributaries,
and the dams along the way make for
excellent kayaking (try the Madison
Wave) as well as some of the finest trout
Skowhegan River Gorge
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