Carnaval Maine returned this yr with all of its winter enjoyable and good eats however was held at its new location at DiMillo’s on Industrial Avenue, shifting from final yr’s location of the Japanese Promenade.
The prior location of Japanese Promenade had a great deal of attraction, however it was distant, mentioned Brian Corcoran, CEO of Carnaval Maine and the owner-operator of Shamrock Sports activities and Leisure, a Portland advertising and marketing company. With the brand new location, “we love nonetheless being on the ocean. We’re getting nice suggestions from followers who’re right here with the general vitality. It’s nice having Carnaval Maine built-in into the material of our award-winning culinary and the appreciated bar scene right here. It’s been helpful for us and them.”
Paisley Cole 4, of Waterboro, watches bubbles from her bubble wand whereas at Carnaval Maine on Saturday. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Employees Photographer
The pageant nonetheless featured exterior winter enjoyable, like artists carving ice sculptures and kids taking part in out of doors video games, however this yr’s pageant depended extra closely on leisure plus brews and meals, which the foodie metropolis does so properly.
This yr’s new system is working, mentioned Corcoran. He mentioned the opening day for the general public, Thursday, was slower than anticipated. Attendance picked up on the weekend. “Friday evening was phenomenal. We’re more than happy.”
The surface stage was positioned at one finish of DiMillo’s parking zone and the opposite finish of the parking zone stood an enormous, blown-up igloo. A whole lot of individuals have been contained in the heated igloo at a “Bites & Brews” session, the place ticket consumers are served six, appetizer-sized meals and alcoholic drinks.
On Saturday Marilyn Martell and Debbie Carpenter of New Hampshire have been bundled in winter jackets, listening to a rock band acting on the surface, Norway Financial savings Financial institution Snow Stage.
“These girls have been wonderful,” Martell mentioned of the band. “We heard them and needed to come over right here and hear.” Certainly one of Portland’s Maine Academy of Fashionable Music youth bands, “The Shadows,” carried out songs by Adele.
The 2 buddies had heard of Portland’s winter carnival and determined to test it out on Saturday this yr. “It’s superior,” Martell mentioned.
Andrew Murdoch of Windham, who was watching his daughter, Isla, carry out in “The Shadows,” mentioned he was having fun with the carnival and getting exterior.
“Any kind of gathering is great for town. It’s good that they’ve this,” Murdoch mentioned, including he attended final yr’s winter pageant on the Japanese Promenade. “I’d have appreciated it to remain on the Japanese Promenade, it’s sort of a particular place. Just a little greater than a parking zone” of this yr’s location.
Robert Flannery 10, of Gorham, tries curling as a part of Carnaval Maine on Saturday. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Employees Photographer
Close by folks watched artists create ice carvings, and performed curling on an artificial floor with some gamers successful prizes after they landed the disc within the bullseye. Others performed cornhole.
By the point the winter pageant wrapped up Sunday evening, Corcoran estimated that attendance will quantity between 15,000 to twenty,000 over the 5 days. He mentioned the Bites & Brews classes have been offered out or practically offered out.
Contained in the igloo, the odor of engaging meals hung within the air. Teams of buddies chattered at small tables whereas traces fashioned to pattern meals and drinks.
Kristine Bernier of Waterboro and her good friend Amanda Whittier of Sanford got here with Bernier’s daughter, Paisley, 4. The lady was making bubbles together with her new bubble wand. Bernier mentioned she approves of Carnaval Maine and the brand new location. “I’m a fan of 12/OC. They’re the opener for Michael Ray” Saturday evening, which was one of many nationwide, touring teams.
Her favourite, 12/OC, performs nation music, Bernier mentioned. “We go to see them loads. So we got here right here as a result of I’m a fan.” The 2 buddies mentioned they appreciated the ambiance, the meals, drinks, video games, and music, “and that the children can are available with us,” Bernier mentioned. Attending helped with cabin fever, Whittier mentioned. “It’s winter, so it’s arduous to seek out issues to do.”
Oysters from Damariscotta are plated at a desk arrange by Rising Tide throughout Bites & Brews at Carnaval Maine on Saturday. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Employees Photographer
Betsy Roberts of Mt. Desert mentioned this was the primary time she attended Carnaval Maine. “It’s very enjoyable,” she mentioned. She loved clam chowder, donuts, and scallops and gave a thumbs as much as the Dunkin Irish espresso served with alcohol and paired with a chocolate croissant. “This can be a good deal with.”
Dunkin spokesman Kevin Mitchell mentioned their beverage was a enjoyable twist on Irish espresso made with do-it-yourself Irish cream, espresso bitters, and alcohol. “It’s going over properly,” he mentioned. “Folks maintain coming again and having extra.”
Close by folks lined up for an oyster on a shell. In one other line, folks have been handed a style of Luke’s Lobster lobster bisque.
This yr the nightly performances of headliner acts began and ended earlier. When the acts ended at 10 p.m. final yr, “lots of people went residence.” With this yr the acts ending at 8 p.m., folks streamed into native companies, Corcoran mentioned. “We’re giving folks an excuse to remain within the Previous Port and assist native companies.”
This yr’s pageant will present classes on what to do subsequent yr, he mentioned.
There’ll be extra, larger, and higher leisure, preserving the Bites & Brews, plus meals vehicles, nightly hearth pits, fireworks on the opening day, ice carvings, and extra issues to do. Corcoran plans to discover pleasant competitions to tie within the waterfront, snow, and ice.
“We nonetheless need it to be a celebration of winter,” he mentioned, including with a chuckle that they most likely can’t pull off canine sleds on Industrial Avenue. “We’ll be some issues we might do to allow us to embrace winter.”
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