PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Around 20 private and commercial businesses participated in the first annual Commercial Expo and Marketplace during the Northern Maine Fair this week, an event that takes the place of the former Northern Maine Agri-Business Trade Fair.
The Forum became the center of the action at this year’s fair, as a new layout positioned the parking lots, ticket booth and midway in front of and around the building for easier access to activities. Agricultural and wellness-related businesses and local crafters displayed farm equipment and sold handmade items to community members.
On Wednesday, Aug. 1, Krista Kennedy of Castle Hill was at The Forum — with her 6-month-old grandson Beckett Guimond in tow — selling her crocheted hats, scarves, mittens and coats. Kennedy has been crocheting since she was 9 years old and has been participating in local craft shows for the past five years.
Although she was never part of the Northern Maine Agri-Business Trade Fair, Kennedy noted that the time slots for the newly established Commercial Expo and Marketplace are what allowed her to participate during the fair.
“I work two jobs and so the times for this expo were really convenient,” Kennedy said. “I like meeting different people that come by and I’ve had some repeat customers as well.”
Willard Green of Presque Isle also used the expo as an opportunity to sell both his own creations — handcrafted mirror and picture frames — as well as similar items that he’s collected over the years such as flower vases.
“Most of these items I’ve made and some are from home that I’ve been wanting to sell for awhile,” Green said.
In March, the Fort Fairfield Quality of Place Council cancelled the long-running Northern Maine Agri-Business Trade Fair due to a range of factors, including limited product and employee availability as well as questions about the trade fair’s agricultural focus. Lynwood Winslow, president of the Northern Maine Fair Association, saw the annual fair as an opportunity to provide more convenient times for vendors to showcase their products and to expand upon what the trade show previously offered to the community.
The Commercial Expo and Marketplace will be open for the remainder of the fair, which ends on Aug. 4, everyday from 4 to 9 p.m. in The Forum. For a complete schedule of Northern Maine Fair events visit http://northernmainefairgrounds.com/.
