Check back often as more and more schedules will appear for things to do while staying at Lilac Place.

APRIL 14TH- until??????  Papa J’s restaurant opens @ 5 P.M. for dinner – Tuesday thru Saturday.   Its a favorite spot on Rte. 1 in East Belfast – (between Searsport & Belfast).    A lobster pizza is a never forget event  as are their mussels as are other great foods/  However, its the ambiance and the friendliness that you just don’t find anyplace else – along with a fantastic wine list, a good bartender, fun staff, and a Host that not only cooks very well – but enjoys meeting and greeting all his guests with a huge smlie.   We are anxious.

May 1st,  Fort Knox and Penobscot Narrows Observatory, Prospect, Maine reopens. The Fort Knox State historic site features one of America’s best-preserved examples of seacoast fortifications constructed in the 1800s. The new Penobscot Narrows Observatory, the tallest bridge observatory open to the public in the world, boasts breathtaking views of the Penobscot Bay area. Visitors to the observatory ride an elevator up 420′ feet on Maine’s fastest elevator for incredible views. Admission to these attractions is only $5 for adults and $3 for children.Non-resident fees may differ

Starting May 2nd

The Belfast Farmers’ Market runs on Fridays from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. (May 2 to Friday before Thanksgiving) at Front Street in downtown Belfast. For info phone (207) 568-3201.

oMAY15th – Saturday – Penobscot Bay Restaurant opens for Lunch on Saturdays.   They are open for dinner on Friday and Saturdays and brunch on Sunday until 2 P.M.   Its one of my very favorite restaurants.

JULY 1 st  The 50TH SEASON OPENING NIGHT OF THE BAY CHAMBER CONCERTS in Rockport.  This is a Summer program.

GOOD NEWS – Papa J’s will be staying open this year during the fall and winter.

Penobscot Bay Inn is now running dinner Wednesday thru Sunday, and Lunch Friday thru Sunday.

Starting July 21st – Every Wednesday – Farmer’s Market – Hamilton Wharf (Steamboat Ave) FARMER’S Market – from 9 AM- 1 P.M.

JULY 30 – AUGUST 8 – Bangor State Fair   Good Old Fashioned State Fair – with displays of animals – great food -  live music

July 31 and August 1, Fort Knox Paranormal/Psychic Faire, Saturday and Sunday: Meet with people who believe in things unusual. This unique event features renowned crytozoologist and author, Loren Coleman (often seen on the History and Travel Channel), psychics, ghost hunters, UFOologists and dowsers. Regular Fort admission and a $2 event donation requested.

August – 4 – 8th -   The 63rd annual Maine Lobster Festival - Rockport & Rockland – see mainelobsterfestival.com .  Make your reservations early as everyone from the southern border to the northern border of Maine fills up on this weekend.   Tons of steamed Maine lobsters, waterfront activies – you won’t want to miss.

August 5th – Penobscot Marine Museum:   Gala and  Silent Auction at Point Lookout in Northport

August 6 and 7, Friday/Saturday,  Shakespeare Comes to Fort Knox featuring the presentation of Romeo and Juliet, performed by Ten Bucks Theatre Troupe. Ticket Prices- $10 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under, per performance. Advanced tickets may be purchased at the Fort Knox gift shop, by telephoning 207-469-6553 or by emailing FOFK1@aol.com

August 2-6 Monday through Friday Archaeological Field School The field school will focus on a foundation of one of the “out” buildings of unknown use present during the construction phase of Fort Knox. The field school will offer students hands-on excavation techniques accompanied by classroom sessions that will include an introduction to historical archeology, evolution of U.S. Seacoast defenses and the construction and history of Fort Knox. Minimum age 16. Students must make their own arrangements for room and board.

August 13 – 15th – Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors show - Rockland

This is a highly attended show with many exhibors and a lot of action.

Saturday, August 14,  Fort Knox – Afternoon, Rock the Fort with tunes from Waldo County rock band “Oversoul” and other groups who will play classic rock music

August 14th -  5 – 9 P.M. Hutchinson Center , University of Maine, Belfast – AUCTION to benefit Hospice of Waldo County General Hospital.   Promises to be great auction and for this most worthy cause.

Friday/Saturday, August 20 and 21, from 8 PM to 10:30 PM – Moon Viewing at the Penobscot Narrows Observatory (Fort Knox)  $5 per person (all ages) Rain and/or clouds will result in cancellation…call 469-6553 the evening of the event for recorded message if canceled.

August 20 -23rd – Machias – Wildblueberry Festival – absolutely delicious

August 21 – Penobscot Marine Museum – Exhibit at Belfast Harbor Festival

August 21 – Hospice Care auction at the Univ. of Maine, Hutchinson Center, Belfast.   You WILL want to attend.  Starts at 5 P.M.

August 22nd – 28th – Union Fair & State of Maine Wild Blueberry Festival. Union Fairgrounds (off Route 17), Union. Classic, rural fair, one of the oldest in Maine, celebrating all aspects of agriculture, including a wild blueberry festival. Events include harness racing, old fashioned pig scramble, wild blueberry pie baking and eating contests, horse, oxen, and tractor pulls, fireworks, sheep shearing contest, 4-H exhibits, carnival, entertainment and more. Crowning of the State of Maine Wild Blueberry Queen. Location: Union Fairgrounds, Union. For more information, please call 207-785-3281, or go to our web site, www.unionfair.org.

August 26th – Last event – Mostly Beethoven – Bay Chamber Concerts

August 27th – 29th -  American Folk Festival on the Bangor Waterfront (Penobscot river)   Traditions from across the U.S. and the world – Music,

Song, Dance and of course, Maine food.

August 28 and 29,  Fort Knox Saturday and Sunday – Granite cutting demonstration. Come and view the skills that were used to create the architectural masterpiece known as Fort Knox.

September 3 – 6th – Camden – Windjammers Festival – 14 Windjammers . live outdoor music, lobster-crate race; chowder challenge and lots more – a great weekend filled with fun and tasty food – again,  reserve early as this draws thousands of people

September 4 – 6 – Penobscot Marine Museum exhibit at Common Ground Fair – in Unity.

September 4 – 6 – Newport -Northcountry Inter-tribal Pow-wow

September 5 & 6 – Penobscot Marine Museum exhibit at Windjammer Weekend in Camden.   14 wooden Windjammers

September 11th , Saturday,  Fort KnoxThe 8th Annual Medieval Tournament: Knights will have armored combat, medieval music played, arts and science displays will be on hand and an archery demonstration will take place.

September 24 – 26th – Common Ground Country Fair in Unity.   Sponsored by MOFGA (Me Organic Famers and Gardeners Association) – this is another weekend that  reservations are hard to come by  if not made very early.    MOFGA.net

October 9-10, Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM until 4 PM, 6th Maine Battery Cannon Firings – a full-scale Civil War era Parrot cannon firing demonstration will take place throughout the day. This cannon is the real deal and will provide some explosive excitement for all who visit.

October 9 & 10 – Fling into Fall in Searsport and Wet Paint Auction at Penobscot Marine Museum

October, 22/23 and 29/30, Friday and Saturday, 5:30 to 9 PM, Fright at the Fort  2010: Visitors are led through the dark passageways of Fort Knox where indescribable things lurk in the shadows, creating screams of fright. Admission is $5 per person and additional information on Fright at the Fort 2010,

October 23rd – Penobscot Marine Museum – History Conference.