Sandy Smith
| Weds., Sept. 23.|Issue #22|Kennebec Valley |
Wednesday, September 23 through Tuesday, September 29, 2026
Fall is officially here in the Kennebec Valley, and the week ahead gives us plenty of reasons to get out, reconnect, and enjoy the season.
The 50th Annual Common Ground Country Fair returns to Unity this weekend, while Thomas College Homecoming & Family Weekend brings a full schedule of activity to Waterville. Across the region, you’ll also find community events, business gatherings, farmers’ markets, local meetings, and plenty of ways to stay connected.
As always, we’ve gathered the week ahead in one place so you can spend less time searching and more time enjoying the communities we call home.
Welcome to Edition #22 of Kennebec Valley Voice. |
Which Kennebec Valley community is home to Fort Halifax, originally built in 1754 during the French and Indian War?
We’ll hold the answer until the end of the newsletter. |
The calendar says fall now, and the Kennebec Valley is beginning to look the part. Cooler mornings are back, the leaves are starting to turn, and this is one of those weeks when there’s a lot happening without having to travel very far.
The 50th Annual Common Ground Country Fair in Unity is certainly one of the big events this weekend. Fifty years is quite a milestone, and it says something about how strongly Mainers continue to support agriculture, local food, craftsmanship, and the people who keep those traditions going.
Waterville will be busy too, with Thomas College Homecoming & Family Weekend, along with plenty of smaller events happening throughout the Valley.
Our Newsletter Sponsor this week is Marshall Communications — Maine Based, Globally Connected. I appreciate Nancy Marshall and her team for supporting what we’re building with Kennebec Valley Voice.
We’ve done the digging again this week so you don’t have to. Take a few minutes, see what catches your eye, and maybe make plans to try something you haven’t done before. — Sandy |
Wednesday: Plenty of sunshine. High 66° / Low 41°
A very fall-like week across the Kennebec Valley — cool mornings, comfortable afternoons, and the best chance for wet weather arriving Saturday. |
50th Annual Common Ground Country Fair — Unity
If the Common Ground Country Fair is on your weekend list, a little planning will make the day easier. The Fair runs Friday and Saturday from 9:00 AM–6:00 PM and Sunday from 9:00 AM–5:00 PM at the MOFGA Common Ground Education Center, 294 Crosby Brook Road in Unity. Wednesday, September 23 is the final day for advance-price tickets. Adult admission is $20 through Wednesday and increases to $25 beginning Thursday. Children 12 and under are free, but still need a reserved ticket. A couple of other things worth knowing: pets are not allowed on the fairgrounds or in the parking areas, and Saturday is generally the busiest day. If a quieter visit sounds better, MOFGA specifically suggests considering Friday or Sunday. |
Viles Arboretum — Augusta
You don’t have to leave Augusta to find more than 200 acres of trails, gardens, meadows, wetlands, orchards, and wooded areas worth exploring.
Viles Arboretum, at 153 Hospital Street, covers 224 acres and includes more than six miles of trails. Admission is free, and the grounds are open every day from sunrise to sunset.
It’s an especially nice choice this time of year. You can take a short walk or make an afternoon of it, with plenty of opportunities for wildlife watching, photography, and simply enjoying the beginning of fall color.
The Visitor Center is open Wednesday through Saturday, 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM, but you don’t need the building to be open to enjoy the grounds.
A free outdoor escape right in Maine’s capital city — and an easy place to overlook if you’ve never taken the turn onto Hospital Street. |
A good mix this week — live music in Waterville, a community event in Augusta, and a rare piece of American history making a stop in Skowhegan.
Lorrie Morgan — Waterville Country music veteran Lorrie Morgan brings her 2026 tour to Waterville Friday night. Morgan became the first woman in country music to begin her career with three consecutive platinum albums and has built a career around songs ranging from heartbreak to humor. Tickets are listed at $55–$65.
NAMI Maine Walk & Family Fun Festival — Augusta NAMI Maine brings its annual walk to Capitol Park with something extra this year — a Family Fun Festival following the walk. The less-than-one-mile walk begins at 10:30 AM, and the event is open to the public, rain or shine. Leashed dogs are welcome too. The day is designed to bring people together while connecting Mainers with mental-health support and resources.
Witness History at 250: Dunlap Broadside Tour — Skowhegan Here’s one you don’t get many chances to see. The Margaret Chase Smith Library is hosting one of the few surviving Dunlap broadside printings of the Declaration of Independence as part of Maine Historical Society’s statewide America at 250 tour. The Skowhegan stop runs Friday and Saturday, and advance reservations are available for viewing the historic document. |
A few more things worth putting on the calendar this week:
Waterville Moves: Family Move + Groove — Waterville A free movement-and-dance session for parents and caregivers with children age 6 and under. No dance experience is needed.
Dinner in the Park — Skowhegan Main Street Skowhegan’s annual fundraiser returns with a farm-to-table dinner, appetizers, auctions and an evening under the lights in Coburn Park.
The Billy Joel Legacy — Waterville A concert tribute built around Billy Joel’s music and career, with tickets listed at $50–$60.
Crafternoons: #1 Fan Craft — Waterville A free children’s craft afternoon with all materials provided. Families can drop into the Children’s Room during the scheduled time. |
A few more worthwhile stops for the week ahead:
Jay & The Americans — Waterville
Palaver Strings: “I Believed in Magic” — Gardiner
Homeschool Hub: Autumn Scrappy Crafting — Waterville
National Theatre Live: The Misanthrope — Waterville |
Wednesday, September 23
Oakland — Town Council Meeting
Fairfield — Town Council Meeting
Vassalboro — Select Board Meeting & Public Hearings
Thursday, September 24
Waterville — Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee
Augusta — City Council Informational Meeting
China — Recreation Committee Meeting
China — Emergency Services Assessment Committee
Saturday, September 26 Gardiner — Meet Your Councilor and City Manager
Monday, September 28
Gardiner — Solid Waste & Recycling Advisory Committee |
There’s a particularly busy Wednesday ahead for the Kennebec Valley business community, with both Chambers holding major events alongside the region’s regular BNI meetings.
Kennebec Networkers BNI — Hallowell
Mid-Maine Chamber Super Raffle Dinner & Auction — Fairfield
Kennebec Valley Chamber Business After Hours — Hallowell
Elm City Referral Source BNI — Waterville
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A few business and economic-development changes are worth noting around the Valley this week.
Rusty Lantern Opens Second Waterville Location Rusty Lantern Markets opened a new store at 224 Main Street in Waterville on September 16. It is the Maine-based company’s 33rd location and its second in Waterville. The new 24-hour store includes a full kitchen, indoor and outdoor seating, an indoor/outdoor fireplace and Irving fuel service.
Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Coming to The Concourse Another retailer is preparing to move into downtown Waterville. Ollie’s Bargain Outlet plans to open this fall in a currently vacant space at The Concourse. The announcement adds another national retailer to Waterville’s commercial center.
New Bus Route Connects Fairfield and Augusta KVCAP has launched a new fixed-route service connecting Fairfield, Kennebec Valley Community College, MaineGeneral Medical Center, Walmart and the Augusta Transportation Center. The demonstration route runs eight times each weekday between 8:30 AM and 4:30 PM and is being evaluated for longer-term service. For employees, students and customers without dependable transportation, that connection could make getting around the Valley considerably easier. |
The season is starting to wind down, but several Kennebec Valley markets are still going strong this week.
Wednesday, September 23
Fairfield Farmers Market Thursday, September 24
Downtown Waterville Farmers’ Market
Saturday, September 26
Hallowell Farmers’ Market
Skowhegan Farmers’ Market
Tuesday, September 29 Augusta Farmers Market at Mill Park |
Homeless Veterans Mobile Stand Down — Augusta
The Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services is bringing together housing assistance, veterans’ benefits help, healthcare, employment resources and other support for veterans who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless.
Walk to End Alzheimer’s — Waterville
The Kennebec Valley Walk to End Alzheimer’s returns to downtown Waterville with a 1.5-mile route. The annual event brings families, caregivers and supporters together while raising awareness and funds for Alzheimer’s care, support and research.
26th Annual Celebrity Dinner — Augusta
The Sexual Assault Crisis & Support Center holds its major annual fundraiser Saturday evening. This year’s Costume Party-themed event includes dinner, a silent auction and community fundraising supporting services for people affected by sexual violence. Tickets are $60 per person or $460 for a table of eight.
Ongoing Ways to Help
Several Kennebec Valley organizations are also actively looking for volunteers. Current needs include soup-kitchen help at Bread of Life in Augusta, kitchen volunteers at the Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter in Waterville, Meals on Wheels support, food-pantry assistance and other opportunities through VolunteerME Kennebec Valley. |
Every week, our Furry Friends come to us from two wonderful organizations helping animals across the Kennebec Valley — the Kennebec Valley Humane Society in Augusta and the Humane Society Waterville Area.
Their teams care for animals who need a little help finding their way to the right home, and we’re always happy to introduce a couple of them to our readers. |
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Meet Henry!
Henry is a very sweet boy who can be a bit nervous at first. He would prefer a home with no other dogs and kids 8 years and older! As for cats we think he would do best with dog savvy cats as he may chase them. |
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Meet Finn!
Finn is a big goofball who just wants to roam free and have lots of attention! Sometimes he can swat and get nippy when he's bothered, but he means no real harm! He loves other cats and is good with both dogs and kids. as long as they're respectful of his boundaries of course. His favorite toy is a lazer light, he will go crazy for it! This boy just needs a big, loving family, and he would enjoy having other friendly cats to play with. |
Apple Cinnamon Bread
This one feels just right for the first full week of fall — apples, cinnamon, and a loaf that works for breakfast, an afternoon snack, or alongside a cup of coffee.
Ingredients ½ cup granulated sugar
Directions Preheat oven to 350°F. In a small bowl, combine the granulated sugar, applesauce, oil, and beaten eggs.
In a larger bowl, mix the all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, baking powder, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon.
Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir just until combined. Gently fold in the diced apple.
Pour the batter into a greased 9-by-5-inch loaf pan. Combine the brown sugar and remaining ½ teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle over the top.
Bake for about 40 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
Makes about 16 slices. Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container at room temperature for up to four days.
Source: University of Maine Cooperative Extension |
A few events just beyond this week that are worth getting onto the calendar now:
Natalie MacMaster & Donnell Leahy — Waterville
MaineGeneral Health Day of Hope — Augusta
Swine & Stein Brewfest — Gardiner |
A special thank-you to the local businesses and organizations helping make Kennebec Valley Voice possible each week.
NEWSLETTER SPONSOR
Marshall Communications — Nancy Marshall
SECTION SPONSORS
North Star Property Solutions — Tony LaPrino
MESA-Maine — Laura & David McIntyre
Woof LLC — Peter Richmond
Pete Gray Painting — Pete Gray
Thank you to all of our sponsors. Your support helps us keep Kennebec Valley Voice free, local and focused on the people, businesses and communities that make this part of Maine home. |
If you enjoy Kennebec Valley Voice, one of the easiest ways to help us grow is to share it with someone else who cares about what’s happening close to home.
Send this edition to a friend, neighbor, co-worker or local business owner and invite them to subscribe. Every new reader helps us reach more people, support more local businesses and strengthen the connections between communities across the Kennebec Valley.
Thank you for reading, sharing and helping Kennebec Valley Voice grow. |
Slate’s — Hallowell.
Some businesses become part of the identity of a community, and Slate’s Restaurant & Bakery is one of those places in Hallowell. Slate’s has been serving people along Water Street for more than four decades, building its reputation around creative homemade food, Maine seafood, locally sourced ingredients when available, Sunday brunch, and a bakery that turns out breads, desserts, pasta and take-home favorites.
Its story is tied closely to Hallowell itself. After a devastating fire in 2007, the community rallied around the restaurant and its employees, and Slate’s eventually reopened. In 2016, it made a short move next door to its current Water Street location while remaining part of the downtown fabric.
That staying power, community connection and unmistakably local character are exactly what this section is meant to celebrate.
161–163 Water Street, Hallowell
This week’s Best of the Kennebec Valley: Slate’s Restaurant & Bakery. |
The first week of fall always seems to change the pace a little. The mornings are cooler, the light looks different, and suddenly the things we’ve been meaning to do all summer start feeling a little more urgent. One more walk. One more market. One more meal outside. One more excuse to take the long way home.
Scout notices the cooler mornings before I do. She has a little more spring in her step, and I have to admit I do too.
What I like most about this time of year is that it reminds us to pay attention to what’s close by. A favorite restaurant in Hallowell. A market in Waterville. A trail in Augusta. A community event we might have driven past a dozen times before finally deciding to stop. That’s really what Kennebec Valley Voice is about.
Not trying to make life busier.
Just helping make it a little easier to notice what’s already here. Enjoy the week ahead, and enjoy the beginning of fall.
Scout & i will see you next Wednesday!
— Sandy |
Winslow Fort Halifax stands at the confluence of the Kennebec and Sebasticook rivers in Winslow. It was established in 1754 to help protect English settlements along the upper Kennebec during the conflict with France and its Native American allies.
The surviving Fort Halifax Blockhouse is recognized as the oldest extant wooden blockhouse in the United States. |