KENNBUNKPORT — The Kennebunkport Festival Committee has announced that its six-day, 20 event festival raised more than $157,000 for local charities.

The Kennebunkport Festival, held June 4 to June 9, included nine major events and 11 Art of Dining dinners at local residences. Participation throughout the week exceeded expectations, and the fundraising effort nearly doubled last year’s $81,000 raised for local charities.

Charities that benefited from this year’s Kennebunkport Festival include: Good Shepherd Food Bank ($36,150), Kennebunk Rotary ($28,172), Full Plates Full Potential ($23,215), Foundation4Love ($27,000), Maine Art Hill Scholarship for Arts at Kennebunk High School ($9,000), Stop Trafficking US ($3,100), COS of the Kennebunks ($2,122), Safe Haven Humane Society ($2,800), Animal Welfare Society ($2,300), Portland Outright ($3,850.00), Graves Memorial Library ($2,000), Barbra Bush Foundation for Family Literacy ($3,400), The Dempsey Center ($2,600), Habitat for Humanity ($2,200), Salvation Army Portland ($2,050), Community of Caring ($2,898), and Vinegar Hill Youth Theater ( $5,000).

The Kennebunkport Festival Committee worked with local businesses and community members to coordinate the 15th annual festival. The Festival’s charitable giving component that directly benefits local non-profits has expanded rapidly under local management in the past two years.

It produces several  events and helps area businesses promote their own events under the festival flag during the six-day early June celebration.

The committee would like to thank all hosts and venues including The Burleigh at The Kennebunkport Inn, Stripers Waterfront Restaurant at The Breakwater Inn & Spa, Spirit of Massachusetts, Old Vines Wine Bar, Maine Art Hill, Nonantum Resort, Vinegar Hill Music Theater and The Colony Hotel.

Committee members want to thank the many local chefs who donated their culinary talent, time, and food for Art of Dining dinners and Taste the Kennebunks and to area residents who opened up their private homes to neighbors to raise funds.

The Kennebunkport Festival would like to thank its numerous sponsors for making this week possible including Kennebunk Savings Bank, Jim Godbout Plumbing & Heating, Hurlbutt Designs, Kennebunk Beach Realty, Thomas & Lord, Meserve Builders Inc., Douston Construction, VisitMaine.NET, Tourist & Town, Kennebunkport Resort Collection, The Nonantum Resort, The Breakwater Inn & Spa/Stripers Waterside Restaurant, Batson River Brewing and Distilling, Piscataqua Landscaping, Pack Maynard, Spang Builders, Frosch Travel, NVest Financial Group, Barrio Queen, Mutasia, CIRE Travel, Associated Eyecare, and Weir’s Buick GMC.

“Wow, what a great week. The venues all pulled off some truly stellar events and we are so proud of how much money we raised for local charities,” said Louise Hurlbutt of Hurlbutt Designs. “Our community really knows how to come together. I couldn’t be happier to be a part of such a great community.”

The Committee als would like to thank all participants, ticket purchasers, and attendees of The Kennebunkport Festival.

Mark your calendars for the 16th annual The Kennebunkport Festival to be held June 2 to June 7, 2020. Sponsors interested in supporting next year’s event, please contact kptfestival@gmail.com.

Details of the 2020 Kennebunkport Festival will be posted to:  www.thekennebunkportfestival.com

Stay informed all year on Facebook and Instagram @ “TheKennebunkportFestival.”

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