Event Planner's Guide 2017

SEASONS .

New England is blessed to have four seasons that each brings its own distinct pleasures. The clear, crisp days of autumn give way to winter’s frosty elegance while spring’s thaw is accompanied by new growth and brilliant floral hues. Summer is chock-a-block full of activities and also a time to unwind by the lake or on the beach, cooled by a salty sea breeze. Year-round in Maine. Meeting in Maine during the peak season can be a challenge for budget-conscious groups, but you can still have a budget-friendly meeting in the summer by choosing the right venue. Head to the mountains where ski resorts welcome groups at off-season rates and state parks are nearby. Or take over a college campus! When school’s out, you can enjoy the robust meeting and leisure space of several colleges near the ocean. Book a multi-functional arena or theatre for your peak season space and shout “Bravo” at the savings. Winter and spring are the value seasons in Greater Portland; your budget will stretch further during these months. Not only are room rates less but the region is filled with fine dining, sports, and an abundance of arts and entertainment. You’ll enjoy performances of professional theater, dance, the Portland Symphony, and headliner concerts, all of whose primary programming correspond with Portland’s value dates. Your delegates will want to take advantage of the seasonal flavors on tap when they’re here. Curling up by a winter’s fire, rafting during a spring high-water release, picking apples, sailing on the bay—there’s always something special to do to make the most of the time you’ve chosen to meet in Maine. Maine is a safe and comfortable destination where delegates often combine a family vacation with business travel. Throughout the summer, the skies fill with the sounds of outdoor concerts. Annual festivals celebrate everything from the bounty of autumn’s harvest to the delights of winter. When you hold your next meeting in Maine, you may run out of time, but never things to do!

FESTIVALS & ANNUAL EVENTS (Continued from page 12) AUGUST 11–13 / Italian Street Bazaar in Portland. Ethnic celebration featuring band music, children’s games & Italian food. 18–20 / MS Regatta Harborfest on Casco Bay. Sailboat race, tug boat display, music & food on Portland’s waterfront. 26 / WCSH-6 Sidewalk Arts Festival in Portland. 350 booths featuring artists from all over the country. 25–27 / American Folk Festival in Bangor. Music, song & dance from across the country & the world, held on the Bangor waterfront. SEPTEMBER 24–30 / Cumberland Fair Large agricultural fair with crafts. OCTOBER 7–8 / Freeport Fall Festival Over 100 artists will exhibit at this annual event. 26–29 / Harvest on the Harbor in Portland. Food & Wine Festival celebrating Maine’s culinary arts. NOVEMBER NOV 24–DEC 23 / Polar Express in Portland. Ride the Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad to the North Pole. NOV 24–DEC 17 / Light Up Your Holidays in Portland. Downtown is alive & merry with joy-filled celebration on its streets. DECEMBER 1–3 / Sparkle Weekend in Freeport. Parade, carol singing & horse-drawn carriage rides. 1–10 / Christmas Prelude in Kennebunkport . Annual celebration with tree lighting, candlelight ceremony, caroling & crafts fairs.

Photos on right: clockwise from top left: Tim Greenway; courtesy Sugarloaf Resort; Thomas Mitchell; Benjamin Williamson

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