Saturday, June 29, plan to spend an amazing day in beautiful Wiscasset. Spend part of your day at St. Philip’s Church, 12 Hodge St., where the traditional, family friendly, 70th Strawberry Festival will be happening from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Around the grounds, several craftspeople will be presenting their intriguing wares. From wood turned bowls to baskets to jewelry to handmade clothing to silkscreened goods and more, there will be ample opportunity to do some early holiday shopping or to treat yourself a little. 

As well as shopping for crafts, peruse the Church’s bake table, plant table, collectables area, used book nook, not to mention the ever popular Bargain Basement. The Silent Auction with its items and gift certificates for bidding, thanks to donations by local businesses and individuals, will be available throughout the day. People are sure to come away with some nifty finds.

As you queue up to purchase an unbelievably generous strawberry shortcake with real whipped cream or locally made ice cream, hot dogs from the outside stand, or as you purchase some quarts of juicy berries to go – fresh picked that morning – listen to the mellow strumming of resident artist and troubadour Mat O’Donnell. 

Not to be missed: the noontime Pie Auction! Auctioneer Suzanne Rankin returns to wheedle and coax bidders to go high for one scrumptious homemade pie or another, be it rhubarb, strawberry, blueberry, apple, or more. It’s all for fun, and all funds go to support St. Philip’s and its outreach ministries.

After enjoying the Strawberry Festival, there’s plenty to explore. Walk around the corner to Maine Art Gallery on Warren Street to view its current en plain air show, “Paint It! Wiscasset – Drawn to Maine: Contemporary Drawing and Printmaking.” For more information, visit maineartgallerywiscasset.org

There’s so much to do and see. If you’ve got your walking shoes on, walk the town following the Museum in the Streets map. Don’t want to do it all? Lincoln County Historical Society’s Old Jail Museum is on Federal Street, while Historic New England’s Castle Tucker is on Lee Street with a great view of Wiscasset’s harbor, and the stately Nickels-Sortwell House is right on Main Street. 

But first, do St. Philip’s Strawberry Festival. For more information about the Festival, call the Church at 882-7184, leaving a short message and a return phone number. Or email via Stphilips@wiscasset.net, or visit https://stphilipswiscasset.org/