Folk Festival to host wilderness demos, speakers

A lineup of outdoor-related demonstrations and talks will be featured at the 2012 American Folk Festival Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 25-26, in downtown Bangor. So if music and dancing isn’t your thing, grab some chicken on a stick and head over to the Narrative Stage for some presentations about the Maine wilderness.

“The Way Life Should Be: Maine’s Great Outdoors” is the theme for a series of presentations that celebrate the many traditions that are central to Maine’s outdoor heritage. Festivalgoers can sit down and enjoy demonstrations on fly-tying, decoy and pack basket making, canoe building and duck calling. Or sit back and listen to stories told be Maine guides and game wardens.

The Narrative Stage will be located off Front Street by the Chamberlin Bridge, right beside all the food vendors. (wink)

And don’t miss the L.L. Bean “Bootmobile,” a giant Bean Boot on wheels that will roll into the festival to offer fly-casting lessons.

Schedule for “The Way Life Should Be: Maine’s Great Outdoors” at the Narrative Stage:

• Saturday

Noon: “Maine’s Singing Guide,” with Randy Spencer

1 p.m.: “Maine Guides,” with Randy Spencer, David Kelso and Linda Kelso.

2 p.m.: “Basket & Decoys,” with Bill MacKowski and Tom Cote

3 p.m.: “Maine Game Wardens,” with Doug Tibbets and Eric Wight

4 p.m.: “Fly Rods and Fly Tying,” with David P. Van Burgel, Kathy Scott and Sharon Wright

• Sunday

Noon: “Maine’s Singing Guide,” with Randy Spencer

1 p.m.: “Maine Guides,” with Randy Spencer, David Kelso and Linda Kelso.

2 p.m.: “Basket & Decoys,” with Bill MacKowski and Tom Cote

3 p.m.: “Maine Game Wardens,” with Doug Tibbets and Eric Wight

4 p.m.: “Fly Rods and Fly Tying,” with David P. Van Burgel, Kathy Scott and Sharon Wright

Keep in mind that the American Folk Festival actually starts on Friday with the parade starting at 6:45 p.m., followed by several musical acts on the Railroad Stage, Penobscot Stage and Dance Pavilion along the waterfront in downtown Bangor.

For information about the 2012 American Folk Festival, visit www.americanfolkfestival.com.

Aislinn Sarnacki

About Aislinn Sarnacki

Aislinn is a Bangor Daily News reporter for the Outdoors pages, focusing on outdoor recreation and Maine wildlife. Visit her main blog at actoutwithaislinn.bangordailynews.com.