eagleisland - Posted - 03/30/2011:  02:51:43

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Sept. 2-4. Good lineup, too. Details here.

stevel - Posted - 03/30/2011:  05:22:24

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Hi Skip- this may be a dumb question, but that's not the same event as the Maine Festival (or something like that) they used to have there?

eagleisland - Posted - 03/30/2011:  05:35:23

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quote:

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Originally posted by stevel

Hi Skip- this may be a dumb question, but that's not the same event as the Maine Festival (or something like that) they used to have there?

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Dunno, Steve - TPB has hosted a number of festivals of various types over the years. The TPB Bluegrass festival is well known as its own entity, however.

It ran for many years, and then several years ago the owners of the campground decided that they'd had enough. There was no joy around these parts as a result - TPB is a wonderful venue for a bluegrass festival and the event has long enjoyed an "A" list lineup of performers. The TPB website lists this year's festival in such a way that it's not certain that they're bringing it back as an annual event - but regardless, it's nice to know that there'll be a great show here in Maine in early September.

stevel - Posted - 03/30/2011:  05:59:07

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Thanks Skip.... I'm starting to think they're one of the same... but I have no idea where I got the title "Maine Festival" from.... a quick google search didn't return anything in the area....

I do recall being at TPB about 15 years ago or so.... and there being a lot of bands playing good music.

Thanks for the head's up. I live in Bath, so its almost in my back yard.... (to a degree).

arnie fleischer - Posted - 03/30/2011:  07:49:01

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From the website it appears that Pati Crooker, whose family started the festival on their family-owned campground, and who has owned the campground herself for many years, is bringing back the festival to memorialize what would have been the 100th birthdays of both her father and Bill Monroe. As Skip says, it's not clear that this is anything more than a one-time event. But what a wonderful place TPB is. When the festival ended in 2008, after 30 years, I had heard that Pati was planning to sell the park, but that must have fallen through.

The Old Timer - Posted - 03/30/2011:  09:03:27

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The Maine Festival was a separate, unique event, not the same as the bluegrass festival.

TPB was also noted for a Scottish Highland festival, plus I think there was at least one more big event they used to do every summer.

Pati and her Thomas Point Beach crew were the beaming recipients of the IBMA "Best Festival" award the last year they held it. It IS a great place and a great festival, Pati has the contacts and she's not afraid to spend money for top entertainment. Her crew runs a smooth operation.

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Edited by - The Old Timer on 03/30/2011 09:05:07

arnie fleischer - Posted - 03/30/2011:  10:20:24

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Hey Dick, you were a part of that crew for a long time and did a great job emceeing. Are you going to be there this summer?

Arnie

steve davis - Posted - 03/31/2011:  08:07:03

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That's a great line-up.
I haven't been there since '01.

Bill Keith was at that one in a big TeePee.

The Old Timer - Posted - 03/31/2011:  10:12:12

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Arnie, I will at least be "attending". We'll see if anything else develops.

kathy315 - Posted - 03/31/2011:  16:40:35

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Even though there wasn't an official festival,we went up last year and picked all weekend..There were a lot of people there....Will definately be there this year too.