The Pittston Fair, running this week June 18–21, is known by what friendly nickname — and what year did it first hold its fair?

Two Fairs, a Bluegrass Festival, and a Steampunk Takeover: The Kennebec Valley Goes Big This Week

If you've been waiting for a week that feels like summer in full swing, this is it. The Kennebec Valley is hosting one of its most event-packed stretches of the season, with something happening in nearly every corner of the region starting Tuesday and running straight through Sunday.

The biggest anchor of the week is the Pittston Fair, running Thursday through Sunday, June 18–21, at the Pittston Fairgrounds on East Pittston Road. Now in its 74th year, "Maine's Friendliest Fair" is exactly what it sounds like — a small, family-oriented agricultural fair with livestock exhibits, ox and steer pulls, a strawberry museum and pageant, rides, food, and that unhurried, small-town quality that makes Maine fairs different from everything else. Admission is $10 for adults; children 12 and under are free with the purchase of an adult ticket. If you haven't made it to Pittston before, this is as good a year as any to go.

Over in Litchfield, the Blistered Fingers Family Bluegrass Festival is also running Thursday through Sunday at the Litchfield Fairgrounds, 30 Plains Road. This one draws thousands of music lovers to hear banjos, fiddles, and high lonesome harmonies over four days. Gates open Thursday at 4 p.m. The lineup includes Nothin' Fancy (VA), Danny Paisley and The Southern Grass (PA), The Gibson Brothers (NY), The Kevin Prater Band (KY), Caleb Bailey and Paine's Run (VA), Rock Hearts (RI), and Maine's own Hemingway Brothers and Katahdin Valley Boys. Day and weekend tickets are available; check blisteredfingers.com for current pricing.

Then downtown Waterville joins the fun Friday through Sunday with the Steampunk Fair returning to Castonguay Square. The World Steampunk Enthusiasts and the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce are bringing vendors, live music, costume contests, museum tours, and more to the heart of the city — and admission is free.

That's three major events running simultaneously across the valley this weekend, plus a Grammy-winning concert in Gardiner Thursday night and a veterans conference in Augusta Wednesday. It's a big week. Get out and enjoy it.

Weeks like this one remind me why I keep doing what I do. The Kennebec Valley doesn't need anyone to put it on the map — it has two fairs, a bluegrass festival, and a Steampunk takeover happening at the same time. That's not a slow week. That's a community that shows up for itself. I'm glad I get to share it with you every Wednesday.

Speaking of showing up — a big thank you to the folks behind Maine Thrive Voices, The Stories of Maine, for sponsoring this edition. If you haven't listened yet, that's worth fixing

Good timing this week if you're planning to be outside for any of the valley's events.

Wednesday, June 17: Mostly sunny and warm. High near 80. Light winds shifting south 5–10 mph in the afternoon. About as good as a June day gets.

Thursday, June 18: Plan around the rain if you're heading to the Pittston Fair or Blistered Fingers. Showers arrive mainly after 2 p.m., with an 80 percent chance through the evening. High near 70. Southeast wind 5–10 mph, gusts to 20. Get there in the morning.

Thursday Night: Showers continuing, mainly before 10 p.m. Low around 55.

Friday, June 19 (Juneteenth): A rebound. Mostly sunny with a high near 80. A good day for the Steampunk Fair in Waterville.

Friday Night: Partly cloudy, low around 57.

Saturday, June 20: Mostly sunny with a 30 percent chance of showers after 10 a.m. High near 76. Outdoor events look manageable — keep an eye on timing if you're heading out mid-morning.

As Sandy always says: if you don't like the weather in Maine, wait five minutes.

Source: National Weather Service, Gray/Portland, ME. Issued 2:22 a.m. EDT, June 16, 2026.

The Kennebec Valley doesn't look like a lot of places in America. It looks like Maine — and specifically, it looks like the kind of Maine that people drive hours to find. This summer video from the official Kennebec Explorer channel shows you why. It follows the river from the highlands down through the cities — paddling on quiet lakes, whitewater on the Kennebec, hiking above the treeline, downtown Waterville and Hallowell and Augusta in their summer stride. If you live here, it's a reminder of what's right outside the door. If you're sharing this edition with someone who's never been, it's the best three-minute pitch you'll find.

The Kennebec River runs 170 miles from Moosehead Lake to the Atlantic. Most people know maybe ten miles of it. This is worth a watch.

Shared with thanks to the folks at Visit Maine's Kennebec Valley.

WHAT: Shawn Colvin — An Evening with a Grammy Winner
WHERE: Johnson Hall Opera House, 280 Water Street, Gardiner, ME (Reehl Stage, 3rd Floor — handicap accessible)
WHEN: Thursday, June 18. Doors open 6:30 p.m. Show begins 7:30 p.m.
COST: Tickets available at eventbrite.com (search "Shawn Colvin Johnson Hall")
FAMILY: Adult audience. Not recommended for young children.
WALK-IN: Advance tickets strongly encouraged for this intimate venue.
WHY: Shawn Colvin is one of the most respected singer-songwriters working today — three Grammy Awards, thirteen albums, and three decades of songs that earn their place in your memory. Her 1997 hit "Sunny Came Home" won both Record of the Year and Song of the Year. Catching her at Johnson Hall Opera House, one of Maine's best small stages, is the kind of thing you tell people about. This is the only Maine date on her 2026 tour.

WHAT: Pittston Fair — Maine's Friendliest Fair, 74th Year
WHERE: 995 East Pittston Road, Pittston, ME 04345
WHEN: Thursday–Sunday, June 18–21
COST: $10 adults; children 12 and under free with paid adult admission. Camping $25/night (no dogs or pets on fairgrounds).
FAMILY: Yes — all ages welcome.
WALK-IN: Yes.
WHY: This is old Maine. Ox and steer pulls, agricultural exhibits, a strawberry museum, the Strawberry Pageant, food, rides, and 74 years of community fair tradition. It's on Route 194 in Pittston, and it's exactly what you'd hope a small Maine fair would be. The Fair Association is friendly, the volunteers are dedicated, and the atmosphere is as genuine as it gets.

Blistered Fingers Family Bluegrass Festival
Litchfield Fairgrounds, 30 Plains Road, Litchfield | Thursday–Sunday, June 18–21 | Gates: Thu 4 p.m.; Fri–Sat 10 a.m.; Sun 10 a.m. | Tickets: $25–$100 | All ages welcome | Kids Music Academy on-site | Camping, food vendors, free hot showers | blisteredfingers.com

This is one of the largest family bluegrass festivals in New England, running every June and August since 1991. The 2026 lineup includes national acts and Maine favorites across four days of continuous live music. The Kids Academy teaches children ages 6–18 to play and sing bluegrass, and the whole group performs on the main stage Saturday.

Steampunk Fair — Castonguay Square, Waterville
Downtown Waterville | Friday–Sunday, June 19–21 | Free admission | Presented by World Steampunk Enthusiasts and the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce

Gears, goggles, Victorian flair, and a full weekend of vendors, live music, costume contests, and museum tours in the heart of downtown Waterville. Saturday and Sunday are the main fair days at Castonguay Square. There is a Friday night 21-plus Steampunk Dance at Silver Street Tavern starting at 7 p.m.

Homegrown Featuring Mike Van Summern
Johnson Hall, 280 Water Street, Gardiner | Wednesday, June 17 | 7:30 p.m. | Admission charged | johnsonhall.org

A Gentleman's Guide to Love & Murder
Lakewood Theater, 76 Theater Road, Madison | Thursday–Sunday, June 18, 19, 20, 21 | Thu–Sat at 7:30 p.m.; Sun at 4:00 p.m. | Admission charged | lakewoodtheater.org

A Tony Award-winning Broadway musical comedy — one actor plays all eight of the heirs who meet increasingly creative ends. Currently in Lakewood's 126th season. Performances continue through June 27.

Fort Halifax Park Free Concert — Don Roy
Fort Halifax Park, Winslow | Thursday, June 18 | 6:00 p.m. | Free

MMCC Business After Hours — Dirigo Wealth Management
46 B First Park Drive, Oakland | Wednesday, June 17 | 5:30 p.m. | Free

Gardiner City Council
Wednesday, June 17 | Gardiner City Hall Council Chambers, 6 Church Street, Gardiner | 6:00 p.m. | Open to the public. The Gardiner City Council meets on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. The agenda packet for this meeting would be posted on the City's website at gardinermaine.gov. Note: City Hall closes at noon Thursday June 18 and all day Friday June 19 in observance of Juneteenth.

Augusta City Council
The Augusta City Council meets the first and third Thursdays of the month at 7:00 p.m. for business meetings, and the second and fourth Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. for informational meetings. June 18 is the third Thursday — that's a confirmed business meeting night. Location: Augusta City Hall. Broadcast live on CTV7.

Hallowell City Council
Hallowell meets the Monday after the first Tuesday of each month at 6:00 p.m. The most recent recorded meeting was May 11, 2026. The next meeting after that follows the pattern — likely June 15, which is before this edition's window. No Hallowell Council meeting falls within June 17–23.

Waterville City Council
In June, July, and August, Waterville Council meets only on the fourth Monday of the month — that's June 22. Location: Council Chamber, Municipal Building, 1 Common Street, Waterville | 7:00 p.m. | Open to the public. Agenda posted the Friday prior at waterville-me.gov.

The biggest economic story in the Kennebec Valley this week belongs to Waterville — and it's one that's drawing both enthusiasm and real pushback from the community.

The Waterville Planning Board has approved plans for a 159,000-square-foot Amazon distribution center at the corner of Junction and Trafton roads, just off Interstate 95. Developer Camber Development would build the facility on land already zoned for warehouse use, bringing 150 to 200 new jobs to the region. The operation would run 24 hours a day, seven days a week, functioning as a last-mile delivery hub — packages arrive by tractor-trailer and go out to homes and businesses by delivery van. The project still needs approval from the Sidney Planning Board, as part of the parking area falls on the Sidney side of the town line.

Not everyone is on board. Hundreds of Sidney residents signed a petition seeking a special town meeting to consider a 180-day moratorium on large-scale industrial facilities in town. Traffic, neighborhood character, and community impact are among the concerns raised. That vote, if it moves forward, would be scheduled by the Sidney Select Board. The conversation in both communities is far from over.

Supporters point to decades of prior planning that designated this corridor for exactly this type of development. The Central Maine Growth Council called it a result of long-term economic preparation aligned with the region's vision for that area. Amazon, which already operates a facility in Caribou, is pursuing similar approvals in Hermon and Gorham.

Also in business news this week:

Kennebec Savings Bank continues its Augusta expansion, moving toward a new five-story office building near Memorial Circle on Western Avenue. The project would house more than 100 employees and significantly expand the bank's downtown Augusta footprint. A proposed demolition of a historic 1899 house on the site remains under review by the Augusta Historic Preservation Commission.

KVCAP's King Street Apartments in Waterville's South End are nearing completion. The $16 million, 37-unit workforce housing complex on the corner of King and Gold streets broke ground in late 2024 and has been anticipated as a spring/summer 2026 opening. All units are earmarked as affordable, targeting renters who earn 50 to 60 percent of area median income. The Waterville Housing Authority is accepting applications — call 207-873-2155 for information.

The Kennebec Valley's business networking community meets every week. Two BNI chapters serve the region with structured weekly referral meetings open to one member per profession.

Kennebec Networkers BNI meets Wednesday morning at 8:00 at the Thomas College Ice Vault, 203 Whitten Road, Hallowell.

Elm City Referral Source BNI meets Thursday morning at 8:30 at the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce, 50 Elm Street, Waterville. Both meetings are in-person and open to prospective members visiting for the first time.

This Wednesday evening, the Mid-Maine Chamber of Commerce hosts a Business After Hours networking reception at Dirigo Wealth Management, 46 B First Park Drive in Oakland. The event runs from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. and is free to attend. It's a relaxed, open-door mixer — a good way to meet other Kennebec Valley business people in a casual setting.

The Maine Military Community Network Annual Conference is happening Wednesday at the Augusta Civic Center — and if you work with veterans, serve them professionally, or simply care about the people who've worn a uniform, this is worth your time. This year's theme is "Beyond the Uniform: Rediscovering Identity, Purpose and Belonging," which speaks directly to one of the harder transitions military life asks of people. Details and registration at mainemcn.org.

KVCAP serves Kennebec Valley residents across housing, food security, energy assistance, and more. If you or someone you know needs support, or if you'd like to volunteer or donate, visit kvcap.org or call 207-859-1500.

Maine Strawberry Shortcake — The June Classic

It's strawberry time in the valley, and there's no sense overcomplicating it. Pick up a quart at the farmers market this week and make this.

Serves 6.

For the strawberries: hull and slice one quart of fresh Maine strawberries, toss with 3 tablespoons of sugar and a pinch of salt, and let them sit at least 30 minutes. They'll release their juice and turn into something wonderful.

For the shortcakes: preheat your oven to 425 degrees. Mix 2 cups all-purpose flour, 3 tablespoons sugar, 1 tablespoon baking powder, and half a teaspoon of salt. Work in 6 tablespoons of cold butter cut into small pieces — use your fingers until it looks like coarse crumbs. Don't overwork it. Add two-thirds of a cup of whole milk or heavy cream and stir just until a shaggy dough comes together. Turn it onto a floured surface, pat to about three-quarters of an inch thick, and cut into rounds with a biscuit cutter or a glass. Brush the tops with a beaten egg and sprinkle with sugar. Bake 12 to 14 minutes until golden.

Split the shortcakes while they're warm, pile on the strawberries and all that juice, and finish with whipped cream. This is June in Maine.

If your lawn has patches that came through spring looking rough, mid-June is still a workable window — but you're running out of it. Maine's soil doesn't hold moisture the way it does in spring once July heat arrives, so seeding or overseeding bare patches now gives new grass a better shot than waiting until August. Water newly seeded areas lightly once or twice a day for the first two weeks. For established lawns, raise your mower deck height if you haven't already — taller grass holds moisture, shades the soil, and crowds out weeds naturally. Most people mow too short. Two and a half to three inches is the right summer height for Maine lawns.

One summer reminder worth passing along: if you haven't had a check-in with your primary care provider this year, this is a reasonable time to schedule it. MaineGeneral Health serves the Kennebec Valley with campuses in Augusta and Waterville. Call your PCP directly or visit mainegeneral.org to find a provider.

Axel, a lovable 5-year-old Labrador Retriever mix, is hoping to find a forever family at the Humane Society Waterville Area in Waterville, Maine.

With a glossy black coat and gentle temperament, he’s eager to please and already housebroken.

Axel knows basic commands, behaves well with some dogs and children, and is open to meeting cats.

He’s been waiting at the shelter since June 2, 2026—ready to start a new chapter.

The Humane Society Waterville Area at 100 Webb Road, established in 1970, is a no-kill, open-admission facility providing every animal with a chance at a better life.

Visit Axel Monday–Saturday during posted hours or call (207) 873-2430 for details about giving him the loving home he deserves.

Sky is a lively five-year-old Siberian Husky mix with stunning black and white fur, looking for a loving home at the Kennebec Valley Humane Society in Augusta, Maine.

With her natural curiosity and zest for outdoor adventures, she delights in hiking Maine’s trails and playing fetch, making her an ideal match for an active family.

After a day of play, Sky enjoys quiet time, relishing snuggles and affection from her human companions.

She requires a prescription Z/D diet and daily probiotic for her sensitive stomach, a routine that helps her stay healthy and energetic.

Sky’s strong prey drive means she’ll flourish in a cat-free home, though she does well with other dogs and could benefit from a canine friend.

Reach out to the Kennebec Valley Humane Society to meet Sky and offer her a loving, forever home.

If you haven't heard Maine Thrive Voices yet, this is a good week to find it.

Maine Thrive Voices is a podcast built around the people who make the Kennebec Valley and all of Maine worth paying attention to — business owners, community builders, and local leaders who have a story worth hearing. Each episode is a real conversation, not a sales pitch, focused on the kind of work that doesn't always make the news but shapes a community every single day.

The podcast is produced right here in Maine by Smith Digital Solutions and is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and iHeart. If you're a Kennebec Valley business owner with a story to tell, the Maine Thrive Voices team wants to hear from you. This is your valley. These are your stories.

Listen at podcast.mainethrivevoices.com.

If someone in your life would enjoy a weekly guide to what's happening across the Kennebec Valley — events, business news, community stories, and more — share this edition with them and ask them to subscribe. It's free, it's local, and it comes out every Wednesday morning.

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The Pittston Fair has been running for 74 years. That's not a small thing. Somebody had to start it, somebody had to keep it going through bad weather and tight budgets and years when the crowd was thin. And then somebody else showed up the next year and did it again. That's how community traditions work — not through grand gestures, but through a long string of people who decided it was worth the trouble. When you show up at Pittston this week, or Blistered Fingers, or the Steampunk Fair in Waterville, you're part of that string. You're the reason it keeps going. I grew up in the Kennebec Valley and I love it to this day and, these events make me proud to be part of the community.

I look forward to creating and sending another edition next Wednesday!

This edition of the Kennebec Valley Voice is brought to you by Maine Thrive Voices — The Stories of Maine. Maine Thrive Voices is a podcast dedicated to the stories, businesses, and people shaping life in Maine. Listen at podcast.mainethrivevoices.com.

The Pittston Fair is known as "Maine's Friendliest Fair," and 2026 marks its 74th year. It has been held on its fairgrounds on East Pittston Road since the early 1950s.