2013 Moxie Festival Chairman's Message‏

When summer finally arrives, Mainers get their Moxie on to enjoy every warm, sunny day.  We gather family from near and far and go to quintessential Maine events like The Moxie Festival in Lisbon.  There we meet those from away who equate Moxie with Maine vacations and help us celebrate summer in a small, Maine town.

The theme of the 31^st Annual Moxie Festival is Moxie, A Maine Tradition.  And I bet your family has a Moxie tradition.  Did your grandparents introduce you to Moxie and milk?  How many of you recall Frank telling you how to savor your first Moxie at Kennebec’s (the Moxie Store)?  This year, Kennebec’s (not Frank) celebrates 100 years of anchoring the corner of Main Street in Lisbon Falls.

So what’s your Moxie Festival tradition?   Never been.  No worries.  The Festival’s traditional events and new attractions will delight young and old in a weekend of Moxie events.  So what’s happening this year?

The Moxie Recipe Contest moves to Friday Night at Chummy’s Midtown Diner where celebrity judges will decide the winner.  We’re even giving contestants Moxie Swag bags.

Friday night’s free concerts in Midtown will include The Bath Municipal Band (small town Maine meets Boston Pops) as well as the JLD Project.  Walk across the street to Lisbon High School for family activities, listen to the Native drummers at the Spirit of the Wolf Pow Wow, and settle in for the most Moxie fireworks display.

On Saturday, over 500 runners will be in Lisbon at the crack of dawn for the Moxie Day 5K Race.  Like to sleep a little later?  Set the snooze button once and then get to Lisbon well before 10 am for a front row seat for the Moxie Day parade led by Grand Marshall Senator Olympia Snowe.  After Maine’s longest summer parade, enjoy Moxie ice cream, Maine Made products, Moxie Congress historic vehicles, and for the brave, a Moxie Chugging contest. 

There will be awesome family events and free concerts after you walk up Main Street to the MTM Center.  Kids can pet an alpaca or a tortoise at a free petting zoo, ride a pony, or take a photo with a snake.  Then get in line for a free huge, inflatable slide or donation-only games of chance that will benefit the Maine Children’s Cancer Program.  Plan to stay for hours and enjoy music from alternative super group Paranoid Social Club at 3 pm followed by 80s rock band Twice Shy at 6 pm.

Get some rest and then join us again on Sunday for the 15^th Annual Chief Worumbo Androscoggin River Race.  Watch the winners come in around 11:30 am at the Miller Boat Launch in Lisbon and get a Moxie pulled pork sandwich.   Or check out over 100 vintage cars at the Moxie Car Show behind the Spirit of the Wolf Pow Wow at Lisbon High School.

On Sunday evening as you all gather back home, open another can of Moxie, and share a Moxie Festival memory.  That’s what Maine summers are all about—family and tradition.

Deb Wagner

2013 Moxie Festival Committee Chairman