FARMINGTON, ME (April 8, 2025)—Mark your calendars for the annual Maine Fiddlehead Festival on Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., on the University of Maine at Farmington campus. This year’s festival is the 12th celebration of local food organized cooperatively by UMF faculty, students, staff and local community members, with the generous support of local area businesses. Attendance is free and open to the public.
In the spirit of the festival and to support local area food pantries, festival attendees are invited to drop off donations of non-perishable, shelf-stable food items at the Sustainable Campus Coalition table throughout the day.
Festival attendees should come hungry to the event as farmers and food producers will once again offer up many edible delights. Expect to find spring greens, fresh dug parsnips, seedlings, the last of the overwintered root crops, farm raised herbs and teas and specialty food products galore from farmers and artisan food vendors.
Farmers, crafters and artisan food vendors offer a wide variety of natural food and arts items at the festival.
Fiddleheads in many creative dishes will be available for sampling at the cooking demonstration spearheaded by local chef Ashley Montgomery. Food trucks on site will include The Ugly Dumpling and Fresh Eatz. With more than 65 vendors attending to represent farmers, artisan food producers, crafters, area nonprofits and more there will be lots to see, do and eat at the festival.
Festival organizers have been hard at work creating a kid’s zone complete with hands-on activities, farm animals and exhibits. Back again this year is a line-up of Tent Talks throughout the day. Topics include sustainable fiddlehead harvesting, growing great tomatoes for home gardeners, the art of food preservation and the screening with discussion of the short film “Local Food Matters!” by area filmmaker Isabelle Rogers.
The Franklin County Fiddlers are a festival favorite.
In addition this year, the UMF Community Garden, run by Professor Gretchen Legler and her team of student assistants, plan to have events throughout the day, including onion planting at 10 a.m., tours of the greenhouse and pollinator bed at noon, and a “seed in a cup – plant your own tomato to take home” activity at 2 p.m.
The outside amphitheater on campus will once again host a great lineup of musicians to entertain everyone throughout the day, including a performance by the Franklin County Fiddlers and the return of Neveah Dance Circus.
This free, family friendly festival occurs rain or shine in the High Street parking lot, the courtyard between the UMF Olsen Student Center and Roberts Learning Center buildings at the southern end of the UMF campus and in the UMF amphitheater.
If inclement weather occurs, the festival will move inside to the Student Center. Parking is available in nearby university lots located on High Street and on lower Main Street near Abbott Park.
For more information and a complete schedule of events, visit https://www.umf.maine.edu/sustainability/maine-fiddlehead-festival/ or the Maine Fiddlehead Festival page on Facebook. For questions about the event, contact Mark Pires, UMF Campus Sustainability Coordinator, at 207-778-7015, edward.pires@maine.edu.
More on University of Maine at Farmington
A nationally recognized public liberal arts college known for its commitment to the creative arts, teacher preparation, the health arts and sciences, the environment, business and public service, UMF provides a challenging yet supportive environment to prepare students for both careers and further study. Located in the heart of Maine’s four-season outdoor recreational region, UMF is a welcoming, close-knit academic community that prepares students for enriching professional careers, engaged citizenship and an enduring love of learning.
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EDITOR’S NOTE:
Image: https://www.umf.maine.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1/2025/04/RP245-033A.jpg
Photo Caption: Fiddlehead Festival Logo
Photo Credit: UMF Image
Image: https://www.umf.maine.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1/2025/04/RP245-033B.jpg
Photo Caption: Farmers, crafters and artisan food vendors offer a wide variety of natural food and arts items at the festival.
Photo Credit: UMF Image
Image: https://www.umf.maine.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/1/2025/04/RP245-033D.jpg
Photo Caption: The Franklin County Fiddlers are a festival favorite.
Photo Credit: UMF Image
