In its seventh year, the Live Edge Music Festival at Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson drew a record turnout Sunday, Aug. 19.
Running from 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., the festival featured musical performances from five Maine artists, as well as a performance from the local belly dance troupe Sirumem. Refreshments were available for purchase throughout the day, as was HVNC apparel. All proceeds from the event went to the Midcoast Conservancy, which operates the nature center.
Jody Jones, executive director of the Midcoast Conservancy, said this year’s festival had a record number of attendees, at approximately 600. She said the venue was “hopping” from 3-5 p.m., but even the beginning and end saw a large number of guests.
“There were a lot of first-time visitors as well as people who have been here before,” Jones said. “It was great to see people coming in and experiencing all this for the first time.”
Visitors of all ages could be seen wandering around HVNC’s 1,000 acres, picnicking, and singing and dancing along with the music.
Kenny Solorzano, co-owner of the Alna General Store, could be seen nodding his head to the music as he prepared food for guests. He was loving the energy of the event, and pronounced the first two performers, Dominic Lavoie and Chris Ross and the North, as “epic.” Looking out at the people gathered for Live Edge, he said, “Everyone is really happy.”
Primo Cubano, Zulu Leprechauns, and 32 North rounded out the lineup.
The event was run by volunteers. “We could never do it without them,” Jones said.
Four Maine breweries, including Whitefield’s own Sheepscot Valley Brewing Co., donated beer to the event, meaning 100 percent of beer sales went to Midcoast Conservancy. Live Edge was also sponsored by Cribstone Capital Management, Mexicali Blues, and Ames Supply.
Jones said, of all the companies who helped make this year’s festival such a success, “Basically, these people care about clean water and so do we.”
