In a celebration of Maine’s music heritage, The Waldo Theatre, at 916 Main St., Waldoboro, is hosting a two-day, multi-venue event, Maine Fall Fiddle Fest, Friday and Saturday, Oct. 15 and 16.

This official Maine Bicentennial event was postponed from last fall. Accomplished Maine musicians Smokey McKeen and Ellen Gawler have been collaborating with The Waldo to create together a multi-generational fiddle event, which includes performances and workshops in three Waldoboro locations.

Friday, Oct. 15 from 6 - 8 p.m.: Smokey McKeen will host a traditional music jam session at Odd Alewives Farm Brewery (99 Old Route 1). The event is open and attendees can purchase pizza, farm brews, and other food and drink while enjoying the music.

Saturday, Oct. 16 begins at the Waldo Theatre with a fiddle workshop with Erica Brown from 10:30 - 11:15 a.m., followed by a guitar workshop with Matt Shipman from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. From 12:15 to 1 p.m., fiddler Frank Ferrel offers a workshop at the Broad Bay Church (941 Main St., Waldoboro).

Saturday performances begin at 2 p.m. with a Youth Fiddlers’ Showcase hosted by Gawler and the Pineland Fiddlers, and featuring the Franklin County Fiddlers led by Steve Muise and the Oyster Creek Fiddlers led by Kaity Newell. This pay-what-you-can event takes place at the Broad Bay Church.

Saturday at 7 p.m., Fiddle Fest presents a multi-generational concert at The Waldo. Smokey hosts this culminating event with Darlin Corey’s Erica Brown and Matt Shimpan and Frank Farrell. The Pineland Fiddlers will open the show. This concert will also be live-streamed in real-time.

McKeen, Gawler, and Kate Fletcher, executive director of The Waldo, plan to make this an annual festival event to bring music lovers together and attract more visitors to the Midcoast in the fall.

“We’re thrilled to be bringing together Maine musicians and music lovers from all over the region to celebrate the rich heritage of fiddle music in our state,” says Fletcher. “We’re grateful to the Maine Bicentennial Commission for deferring 2020 grants until we could come together again - safely masked. Thanks to Smokey and Ellen and all of the performers who are bringing their talents to Waldoboro.”

The Waldo is Concert tickets to Saturday night’s show are $25 and workshop tickets are $10. Multi-event packages are available. Visit https://waldotheatre.org/pages/fiddle-fest for all details and https://waldotheatre.org/pages/fiddle-fest-tickets to purchase tickets. Keeping up-to-date with CDC COVID-19 recommendations for Lincoln County. Masks and COVID-19 vaccinations are required for audience members, volunteers, and staff.

Maine Fall Fiddle Fest is funded in part by the Maine Bicentennial Commission. Presenting sponsors are First National Bank and First National Wealth Management. A grant from the Maine Community Foundation Lincoln County Fund makes live-streaming this event possible.