
Mid-August happenings in Greenville
GREENVILLE — August is one of my favorite months, not only because it’s usually nice and warm for boating and swimming at beautiful Moosehead Lake, but also because of all the activities offered in and around Greenville. This August is an especially busy one – there are so many things to pick and choose from. Here’s a sampling to consider for the weekend of August 16-18:
Clustered downtown behind Mud Puddle Mercantile and The Gallery are colorful Artisan cottages that are rented during the summer months by Maine artists and craftspeople. August 14–18 features two exciting Maine artisans – potter Libbey Siegars of Whitefield, and Greenville’s own Rita Hall, who makes mittens and other crafts.
Siegars works with earthenware clay primarily doing thrown work on a wheel. She creates all sorts of tableware and unique lamps. “I find my inspiration in the gardens, woods, and rivers surrounding my studio,” she said.

Observer photo/Shelagh Talbot
CRUISE TIME — The SS Katahdin waits for her next cruise out of East Cove in Greenville.
Reflected in her work are the influences from her studies and apprenticeship in Vermont as well as Japan. Siegars takes pleasure and pride in creating pieces that are at once functional and aesthetically pleasing meant to last at least a lifetime. A member of the Central Maine Clay Artists Association, her work has been shown in numerous fairs, festivals, and art shows in New England. Her creations are also featured at the Saltwater Artists Gallery in New Harbor, the Monkitree Gallery in Gardiner, Sheepscot General Store in Sheepscot, the Holiday Pottery Shop in Hallowell, and the Farnsworth Museum Store in Rockland.
Hall, owner of Kelly Mountain Mittens and a native of Greenville, brings her unique work to craft festivals throughout Maine and is lined up to be at the Artisan cottages August 14-18. She has supported the Artisan Cottage project from its inception, and creates a wide variety of craft items. In addition to her one-of-a-kind mittens, handmade out of 100 percent recycled wool and lined with soft fleece, she makes hats, braided rugs, and a comforting healing balm.
She harvests most of the herbs herself from fields near her home in Shirley and sells her crafts all over the state. She demonstrated her rag rug weaving at the opening of the Artisan Cottages this past July, and depending on time available, she may demo this craft again over the weekend. You won’t want to miss meeting these talented Maine artisans. Bring a bit of Maine home and get to know the artisan who crafted it. For further information visit: https://www.mooseheadartisanvillage.com.
There are two great concerts happening at the Gazebo in downtown Greenville. Double Entendre, an eclectic group of enthusiastic artists who play their interpretations of folk, jazz and bluegrass, will appear on August 15. The following evening, as part of “Thoreauly Entertaining! Music Series!”, Gus LaCasse, a talented Maine fiddler will entertain.
The Gazebo Concert Series and “Thoreauly Entertaining! Music Series!” take place from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. and is sponsored by the community and is free to attend. You are encouraged to bring your lawn chairs and blankets, and get here early for a good seat on the grass surrounding the Gazebo and at the downtown waterfront. Organizers are grateful to all community sponsors for making these concerts possible! Visit https://destinationmooseheadlake.com for further information.
On Saturday, Aug. 17 a little further down the road in Greenville Junction, the Friends of the Depot will hold their annual Depot Celebration from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event is special this year – they have completed replacing the roof!
The festivities feature those very popular mooseburgers, and guided tours of the Depot with some exhibits provided by Judy Sanders Enright including a collection of items from the iconic Sanders store once located in the heart of Greenville. There’s a Silent Auction, the annual Railroad Workers Reunion, the very enjoyable HJ Crosby Community Band and musician David Hartley, who played a “wicked guitar” I’ve heard.
Popular author Walter McDougall, who knows a vast amount about Maine railroading history, will say a few words at noon. Come ride the Velocipede, donated by the Bob Roberts family! To find out what that is you’ll need to attend. For further information on this great family-friendly event, visit https://www.greenvilledepot.org.
That same day August 17, if you do not have plans for the evening, why not hop aboard the venerable Queen of Moosehead Lake – the SS Katahdin and enjoy a wonderful evening of music and dancing while taking in the sunset. You’ll be dancing to classic country tunes provided by the Tyler Healy Band from 6 to 9 p.m. This is an age 21-and-older event and this year, for the first time, Katahdin Cruises now has a liquor license! Beer, wine and mixed drinks may be purchased right onboard. No smoking of course.
The cost per ticket is $35. Tickets purchased online will be emailed to the purchaser at the address they provide and should be printed and presented upon boarding. Tickets may also be purchased in person on location in the Moosehead Marine Museum office next to where “The Kate” is moored. Call them at 207-695-2716 for a reservation or visit online: https://www.katahdincruises.com.
The Katahdin cruises occur rain or shine and tickets are nonrefundable unless a cruise is canceled by Moosehead Marine Museum. Please contact them directly to arrange for refund. For information on all of the above and much, much more, visit Greenville’s information site: https://destinationmooseheadlake.com.