Martinis & Mad Men at the Seashore Trolley Museum in Kennebunkport featured midcentury fashion, food, cocktails, music and, of course, train cars.

“We spend all summer planning our getups,” said Traci Heyland of Wells, who pulled up in a red 1965 Mustang wearing a red go-go dress. “Where else can you go back in time?”

Guests at the Aug. 19 event took an antique train car – the beautifully restored Wheeling Traction Co. 629, built in 1924 – to the Highwood Barn event area.

At the barn, Flash & Tina sang hits from the ’60s while party-goers sipped martinis, ate deviled eggs and posed for photos while pretending to smoke. Guests meandered from the ’60s barbecue dinner tent to the bar and to several midcentury railroad cars that once provided transit around Boston, Washington, D.C., and Quebec.

“Our collection is vast, so a way of calling attention to its scope is to have themes that call attention to different cars,” said Sally Bates, the museum’s executive director, who was handing out “Mad Men” trivia questions.

“It’s exciting doing something nostalgic,” said Gary LaPerriere of Sanford, who was wearing a surf-style shirt with pinup models on it.

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“We came two years ago for the speakeasy, and we had so much fun,” said Anne Loughlin of Wells, out for a date night with her husband, Hugh. “We get to be kids,” he added.

“I love a good dress-up event,” said Heather Clark, representing Saco & Biddeford Savings.

“I’m calling it the adult prom,” said Elizabeth Cooney of Wells. “You get to dress up and faux smoke.”

“Forty years ago we were trying on prom dresses together,” said Chris Baker of Kennebunk, with friends Jan Kelly and Patti McCormack.

“And today we’re stepping back,” McCormack said, modeling a retro pink gown she found at a thrift store. “They didn’t have any tiaras.”

Amy Paradysz is a freelance writer and photographer from Scarborough. She can be reached at:

amyparadysz@gmail.com


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