Music, autumn, homemade pies and fundraising converge on Saturday, Oct. 13 at Inn Along the Way at the Chapman Farm, 741 Main Street in Damariscotta. This autumn music celebration in the Big Red Barn featuring the Rusty Hinges, Damariscotta Region Open Mic, community sing-a-long, a fall pie and yard sale, inn tours and hay field walks is a by donation fundraiser for the Inn Along the Way. The IAW model is a unique and innovative community design in which elders live interdependently in a neighborhood-style setting of small, environmentally friendly homes. The Inn Along the Way will always welcome members of the greater community as well as serve those who seek respite.

In traditional Autumn on the Maine coast style, community members attending the Inn’s musical lawn and barn party and who want to bring your own creative picnic will be surrounded with an eclectic mix of music, song, community fun and laughter. Open mic registration begins at 12:30 p.m., festivities begin at 1 p.m. with open mic performances and run until 5 p.m. Whether you come for the whole afternoon or just for a musical break on a busy Saturday bring your blanket and picnic basket, bring family members, neighbors and friends, your instruments, voices, Rise-Up-Singing Song Book, talents and dancing shoes or just your enthusiasm and listening ear to the big red barn at the Chapman Family Farm where the Miles Hospital League’s huge tent sale took place.

The Inn Along the Way is a nonprofit organization in the process of creating a collaborative community offering older adults, and those seeking temporary relief from the responsibilities of caregiving, an environment of support, purpose, and sustainability in a multigenerational and mutually interdependent setting. Through collaborative community events IAW is raising funds, one donation at a time, to complete its first phase, which will transform the original farmhouse into a small inn with a café and community rooms, offering overnight accommodations to the general public, as well as those seeking respite.

The Rusty Hinges, whose performance will begin at 3, are a local midcoast band consisting of John Couch, John Monterisi, Kat logan, Nancy Jones Bridges, Brian Dunn and Laura Buxbaum. They play folksongs, country, golden oldies, sea shanties, contemporary tunes, and original songs with a variety of instruments and vocal harmonies. Guitars, mandolin, banjo, accordion, fiddle, cello, and pennywhistles are included in the mix. Following the Rusty Hinges performance community members will have the opportunity to Rise-Up-Singing during the sing-a-long led by local musician and song writer Sylvia Taveras.

If you are on the run remember to stop by to purchase a whole pie or just a slice between errands and other fall activities. While you are in the barn take a moment to check out the Inn’s yard sale including novelties, vintage furniture and lamps.

Questions about open mic participation or the summer music celebration fundraiser schedule please contact Sylvia Tavares at (207) 766-8469 or sylviatarvares502@gmail.com. For more information about the Inn Along the Way including volunteer opportunities go to www.innalongtheway.org or contact Inn founder Sherry Flint at (207) 751-6261 or info@innalongtheway.com.