FARMINGTON — Maine Fiddlehead Festival returns Saturday with old favorites and expanded offerings at the University of Maine at Farmington.

Amy Fisher from Maine Farmland Trust will kick things off at 10 a.m. in the amphitheater near Roberts Hall with a talk about the importance of local food and agriculture.

Greater Franklin Food Council is sponsoring the tent talks this year. Coordinator Ellie Sloane-Barton said Dave Fuller will conduct the fiddlehead walk again. Cynthia Stancioff will give a talk on mushroom foraging, Will Bonsall will discuss soil fertility, Paul Stancioff will demonstrate bread-making and Kate Wallace will offer a fermentation talk/demonstration.

“This year, the kids activities are all going to be located in one place, so it will be a pretty fun little corner of the festival,” organizer Amber Stone of with Backroad Books wrote in an email. Cooperative Extension will be leading a few activities all focused on science, technology, engineering, art and math, or STEAM, practices with a sustainable/agricultural twist. “They will be helping kids make solar ovens, launch off some bottle rockets, and lots of other hands on activities!” she wrote.

Stone indicated there will be free books and book-related activities, bookmarks and mini magazines to make and animals to see at Martin Woods Farm petting zoo. Sunrise Movement will offer a festivalwide scavenger hunt, UMF students will lead some pansy planting at the on-campus greenhouse, Western Maine Play Museum will offer free face painting and Everyone’s Resource Depot will make crowns and instruments for a new Produce Parade, she said.

According to Maine Fiddlehead Festival’s Facebook page, the parades will take place at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Children may bring their own costumes.

UMF Sustainable Campus Coalition is also involved with festival planning.

Farmington Farmers’ Market vendors will be among those at the festival.

Local entertainment will be offered from 10:15 a.m. to 3 p.m. with new performers taking the stage every half hour. The line-up includes Clef Notes, Stan Davis, Jonboy Nemo, Sagittarius Rising, Coleman Martin, Well Belly Dancers, Invite the Wild, Deep Treble ad Nuclear Salad.

Healthy Community Coalition of Greater Franklin County will have its Mobile Health Unit with Healthy Living programs, activities and prizes.

Many activities will be taking place in Roberts Courtyard, the amphitheater and in the High Street parking lot.

Best parking for festival attendees will be in the lower Roberts parking lot, accessible via Main Street, or along High Street. Handicap parking is available in the High Street lot.

Vendor listings and more information are available on the Facebook page.

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