Third Annual Art Show & Sale showcases painters, photographers, sculptors, textiles at Hawthorne House

A very special showcase of local artists and artisans is coming to one of southern Maine’s most beloved and cherished venues, the newly refurbished boyhood home of Nathaniel Hawthorne, located at 40 Hawthorne Road in Raymond.

The Third Annual Art Show & Sale will be heled at the
Hawthorne House in Raymond from Friday, Aug. 7 to
Sunday, Aug. 9 and showcases paintings, photos,
sculptures and textiles with all art available for viewing
and sale. SUBMITTED PHOYTYO  

The show will begin with an Opening Reception from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, which will offer a chance to meet the artists. Thereafter, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Boyhood Home will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, and from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 9, with all art available for viewing and sale.

The three-day event is free, with donations for the continuing maintenance of Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Boyhood Home gratefully accepted.

“We’re excited to have the opportunity to open up the newly restored Hawthorne House and give local artists an opportunity to show and sell their work there,” said Sylvia Sullivan, a long-time member of the Hawthorne Community Association who is coordinating the event. “We’re especially pleased to be showcasing such a wide range of local artistic talent, including painters, photographers, sculptors, and more.”

Among the artists showing their work at the event will be Kathleen Gerdes (nature watercolors); Monica White (watercolors and acrylics); Kalee Charette (landscape and creatures in pen and ink); Cole Phillips (wet-plate photography); Trish Kohler (bird and wildlife watercolors); Marylyn Clegg (oil and acrylics framed); Bruce Small (photographer, landscapes and wildlife); Traci Loftus (Watercolors); Laura Kouba (colorful art using complex, ultra-saturated Birmingham inks); Don Willard (“Found Objects” assemblage metal sculpture, influenced by Steampunk artistic aesthetics); Steven Brook (fish and other playful wooden art using recycled materials); Holly Russell (animal drawings in graphite, colored pencil, pastels and watercolors); Sue Snell (free-standing embroidered lace); and Kitty Delano (Watercolors and acrylics).

A portion of some of the sales from the Third Annual Art Show & Sale will be donated for the preservation of Hawthorne’s boyhood home in Raymond.

The Hawthorne House is the boyhood home in Raymond of Nathaniel Hawthorne, the legendary author of The Scarlet Letter and The House of the Seven Gables. It has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places since 1969.

Author Nathaniel Hawthorne was born on July 4, 1804, in Salem, Massachusetts, a descendant of William Hathorne, a Puritan who emigrated with his family from England to the Massachusetts Bay Colony. Hawthorne’s grandfather, John Hathorne, was a judge who presided over some of the Salem Witch Trials.

Hawthorne’s mother was widowed when her son was just 4 years old and after living for 10 years with relatives in Salem, the family moved to a home near Sebago Lake in Raymond built for them by Hawthorne’s uncles Richard and Robert Manning in 1816. He lived there with his family for three years until being sent to boarding school in 1819, but later in life, Hawthorne was quoted as saying that the time he spent at his home in Raymond, Maine was the happiest period of his entire life.

For further details about the Third Annual Art Show & Sale, contact Sylvia Sullivan at [email protected] or 207-239-6010. <

Primo Cubano band to perform at Hawthorne House

Enjoy Maine-made Cuban music as presented by the popular Maine-based group, Primo Cubano, at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1 in Raymond. This musical event will be held at Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Boyhood Home, 40 Hawthorne Road in Raymond, Maine.

Maine-based band Primo Cubano will perform a concert of
traditional Cuban dance music at the Hawthorne House, 
40 Hawthorne Road in Raymond at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1.
Tickets are available online at www.hawthorneassoc.com
COURTESY PHOTO

Primo Cubano, which means Cuban cousins in Spanish, plays traditional Cuban dance music dating back to the turn of the 20th century. The “Son” style of music is the most popular style to come out of Cuba and is the primary contributor to the blend of Latin styles today known as Salsa. It was first a music of the country people of Cuba and eventually migrated to Havana, where it was urbanized and began to draw a wider audience.

Cuban music is a collection of many cultures including Spanish, European, African, and from the indigenous people of Cuba such as the Arawak, Taíno, and the Ciboney. These unique influences helped to create various musical styles such as Son, Bolero, Danzón and Cha Cha Chá.

Danzón music originated in 1879 and became popular in Cuban dance halls. The style combines classical rondo form, an orchestra-like instrumentation known as Orquesta Típica, and the cinquillo rhythm to add an African element. Cha Cha Chá musical attributes feature simple melodies with an easy-to-remember chorus, simple and repetitive harmonic progressions, and repeated rhythm section parts.

Son music developed in eastern Cuba during the late 1800s and arrived in Havana in the early part of the 20th century as a sextet featuring voice, tres, bass, maracas, clave, and the bongo. Son groups traveled to New York City in the 1920s to perform and record and in the 1940s and 1950s, the smaller Son groups grew into Banda Gigantes (Big Bands) and Conjuntos, which eventually helped influence Salsa and Latin Jazz in America and beyond.

The Primo Cubano band has been practicing and performing traditional Cuban music since 2009 in Maine. Their music is well-received wherever they play and earlier this year, they performed in Cuba at the 40th Annual 2025 Havana Jazz Festival. The experience performing at that prestigious event has inspired the group to keep learning and practicing this music they love and to share it with salsa dancers and those who appreciate Cuban dance music in New England, including at the Hawthorne House.

Admission to the Primo Cubano concert is $25. Reservations and payment are required prior to the event.

Space is limited. Tickets are non-refundable.

To order your tickets, please go to www.hawthorneassoc.com events page, scroll down and follow the links to Primo Cubano Concert.

You may also send a check to Hawthorne Community Association, P.O. Box 185, South Casco, ME 04077.

For questions about the concert, call Rebecca Tracy at 207-329-0537 or by sending an email to [email protected] <

Rockin’ Raft-Up concert returns to benefit Camp Sunshine

By Ed Pierce

To help a cause worthy of support, the 2nd Annual Rockin’ Raft-Up for Camp Sunshine is returning with a one-of-a-kind raft-up benefit concert on Sunday, July 26 on Sebago Lake.

Doin Campbell, right, of the Don Campell Band, and Andi
Fawcett of the After Dark band will perform during the 2nd
Annual Rockin' Raft Up benefit concert for Camp Sunshine
at Boaters Beach, also known as Rich Memorial Beach, in
Standish at noon on Sunday, Aug. 10.
COURTESY PHOTO 

The event brings hundreds of boaters together on the water to enjoy live music while also raising funds to support Camp Sunshine in Casco and its mission to provide hope, joy and community through unique experiences for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. More than 60,000 children, siblings, parents and caregivers from all 50 states and 27 different countries have attended fun-filled, year-round sessions at Camp Sunshine with other families just like theirs and thanks to the generous support of donors and fundraisers such as the Rockin’ Raft-Up concert, its program remains 100 percent free for participants.

According to organizer Kristen DeQuattro, during this year’s Rockin’ Raft-Up, the Don Campbell Band and the After Dark band with popular singer Andi Fawcett will perform.

Assisted by members of the Sebago Boating Club, the 2nd Annual Rockin’ Raft-up concert will be held at noon at Boaters Beach, also known as Rich Memorial Beach in Standish with donations welcomed to benefit Camp Sunshine.

This family friendly, and entertaining concert asks boaters to raft up, float, and enjoy an afternoon of live music, lake vibes, and giving back all to support Camp Sunshine.

“It’s a chance for the Sebago boating community to come together for a great cause while enjoying what they love most which is being on the water, connecting with friends, and great live music,” said DeQuattro.

Camp Sunshine programs are 100 percent free for participants. Camp Sunshine is where families can focus on recharging, together, in a safe space with medical support available and a place where families discover a community who understand, and families find family, DeQuattro said.

With decades of dedication and expertise, Camp Sunshine staff and volunteers at each session put families at ease. Families can set their worries aside knowing that there is a physician on site. Camp Sunshine is a place where families can really relax and let staff and volunteers take care of every member of the family.

​Meeting with other families who face the same issues, large and small, is a unique benefit of the Camp Sunshine experience. While attending one of the year-round sessions offered at Camp Sunshine, families can enjoy a wide range of activities with up to 40 other families. Whether it’s reaching the top of the climbing wall, swimming in the lake, or enjoying a horse-drawn wagon ride during a winter session, there is fun for every member of the family.

As a musician, Don Campbell’s mandate is to “Always perform for the audience, never at them.” He pleases listeners, venue buyers and event organizers with well-attended and memorable concerts and shows continued strength in music sales.

Campbell is a highly talented multi-instrumentalist and plays acoustic guitar, piano, B3 organ, bass, electric guitar, nylon string guitar, mandolin and harmonica in recordings. His music has been described as feeling like a friend, a natural extension of the singer-songwriter.

He performs nearly 200 shows per year and resides in Portland but says he is grateful to be able to give back to others through the Rockin’ Raft Up concert.

Fawcett is a seasoned performer and powerhouse vocalist who has been captivating audiences for over two decades.

Known for her dynamic stage presence and versatile vocal styling, she has fronted a number of beloved acts, including funk-soul favorite Sly Chi, indie-pop outfit Doubting Gravity, and her latest venture, After Dark – a premier party band that blends cover tunes and soulful originals with a modern edge.

While Fawcett has a deep passion for writing original music, the foundation of her long-standing career lies in her live performances. Her solo act features a wide-ranging set of popular covers—from current hits to timeless classics. Whether it’s an intimate venue or a lively festival, Andi brings fresh energy and connection to every stage.

The Rockin’ Raft-Up concert on Sebago Lake is free to attend by boat and donations are encouraged and will be collected that day or by pledging an amount in advance at www.campsunshine.org. Every dollar raised goes directly to Camp Sunshine’s programs, providing hope and healing to families when they need it most.

To make a donation, for specific event details, and concert updates, go to https://charity.pledgeit.org/rockin-raftup or visit www.doncampbellmusic.com. <

Sebago Days returns with full weekend of family fun

A beloved summer tradition will return later this month as Sebago Days celebrates its 47th year with three days of family activities, live entertainment and community events while also helping commemorate the Town of Sebago's bicentennial.

The 47th Sebago Days weekend of fun will run
from Friday, July 17 to Sunday, July 19 at
Sebago Elementary School in Sebago and will 
feature a carnival midway, car show, road races,
food vendors, children's activities and fireworks.
COURTESY PHOTO

Scheduled for July 17 to July 19 at Sebago Elementary School, the annual festival is organized entirely by volunteers and has become one of the Lakes Region's largest community celebrations. This year's event will take on added significance as Sebago marks 200 years since the town's incorporation in 1826. Festival organizers have planned several special features to recognize the milestone, including an expanded fireworks display and presentations highlighting Sebago's rich history.

Residents and visitors can expect a weekend filled with carnival rides, live music, a parade, a classic car show, road races, children's activities and local food vendors, along with opportunities to reflect on the town's two centuries of history and community spirit.

The festivities begin on Friday afternoon July 17 when the midway opens with rides provided by Cushing Amusements. Organizers said the carnival offers attractions for both younger children and thrill-seekers, making it a popular destination throughout the weekend.

Friday evening's entertainment will feature Motor Booty Affair, a nationally touring tribute band that performs music from the disco era. The concert has become one of the weekend's marquee events and is expected to draw a large crowd.

Saturday's activities begin with one of Sebago Days' longest-running traditions – the Grand Parade. Starting at 10 a.m. July 18, the parade will feature floats, antique vehicles, local businesses, civic organizations, first responders and community groups traveling through town. Parade organizers will present awards in several categories, including best themed float, best antique vehicle, best commercial vehicle and most unique Jeep.

Children are also invited to participate in the Kiddie Parade, decorating bicycles, wagons, strollers and other nonmotorized rides before joining the festivities.

The annual Sebago Days Car Show is also scheduled for Saturday, July 18 and is expected to attract dozens of antique, classic and custom vehicles from across Maine. Awards will recognize entries in categories such as Best Paint, Best Rat Rod, Best Pickup, Best Muscle Car and Best of Show.

In recognition of Sebago's bicentennial, organizers are planning one of the largest fireworks displays in the festival's history. The enhanced show is intended to honor the community's 200-year legacy while providing a memorable finale for the weekend's celebration. Historical displays and presentations will also offer attendees a chance to learn more about the people, places and events that have shaped Sebago over the past two centuries.

Sunday's schedule shifts its focus to families and community activities. The day begins with the Sebago Days 5K, which welcomes runners and walkers of all ages. Young children will also have the opportunity to participate in a free toddler dash.

One of Sunday's most popular attractions is the Touch-a-Truck event, where children can climb aboard and explore construction equipment, emergency vehicles and other specialty trucks while learning about the jobs they perform.

Families can also enjoy a petting farm, bingo, children's activities, community exhibits and a variety of local vendors throughout the day.

Food vendors will serve a wide selection of fair favorites throughout the weekend, while local

organizations and businesses will have booths showcasing products, services and community programs.

What began nearly five decades ago has grown into one of the town's signature events, bringing together residents, seasonal visitors and families for a weekend celebrating community spirit. This year, the festival also serves as an opportunity to honor Sebago's past while celebrating its future. Despite its growth, organizers have maintained the festival's hometown atmosphere by relying on volunteers who spend months planning the annual event.

Last year, the Sebago Days Committee received the Spirit of America Award in recognition of its volunteer service and dedication to the community.

For many families, Sebago Days has become a summer tradition, offering an opportunity to reconnect with neighbors, support local organizations and enjoy a weekend of entertainment in the heart of town. This year's bicentennial celebration promises to make the annual festival even more memorable as the community celebrates 200 years of Sebago's history.

Admission to the festival grounds is free, although carnival rides and some activities require tickets or separate registration. A complete schedule of events and additional information is available at SebagoDays.com. <

Loon Echo Land Trust to host Summer Concert Series

Loon Echo Land Trust (LELT)’s annual sunset concert series at Hacker’s Hill is set to begin on Wednesday, July 8.

Loon Echo Land Trust's annual sunset concert series at
Hacker's Hill is set to begin at 6 p.m. on Wednesday,
July 8. Three sunset concerts featuring local musicians 
will take place outdoors at LELT's Hacker's Hill Preserve
in Casco this summer. SUBMITTED PHOTO

Three sunset concerts featuring local musicians will take place outdoors at LELT’s Hacker’s Hill Nature Preserve on Quaker Ridge Road in Casco.

From 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, July 8, Sigrid Sibley & Friends will appear in concert at Hacker’s Hill.

Sigrid Sibley is an emerging singer-songwriter in New England from Poland Spring. Her music draws on common folk themes, as well as her love for nature, agriculture, and simple living. She has musical roots in bluegrass, folk, and traditional Americana, and continues to explore acoustic music genres.

Sibley performs as a solo musician and with several bands in Maine. Her debut album “Old Faithful Dreams” was released in May 2025.

For advance tickets to Sibley’s show, go to SigridSibleyHH.eventbrite.com.

On Wednesday, July 22 from 6 to 8 p.m., North River Music will appear in concert at Hacker’s Hill.

North River Music has an Americana sound with strong harmonies and expressive musicianship. Playing Americana rock/bluegrass, a North River musical set is fun to listen to with something familiar to everyone. Their tunes run the gamut from Crosby Stills and Nash, The Eagles and Bob Dylan to traditional American standards, and you'll like what you hear.

For advance tickets to the North River Music show, go to northrivermusicHH.eventbrite.com.

Bold Riley will appear in concert at Hacker’s Hill from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 5.

The Bold Riley band is a folk quintet hailing from Western Maine and it is known for full vocal harmonies and uplifting originals. Fiddle, guitar, banjo, accordion, bass, and percussion provide a wide range for listeners. Members of the band take turns singing lead vocals, and a strong sense of community drives the energy of their music.

For advance tickets to the Bold Riley show, go to BoldRileyHH.eventbrite.com/.

Hacker’s Hill concerts require tickets and can always be reserved online at LELT.org/events.

All concerts at Hacker’s Hill are family friendly and those attending are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets. Outside food is welcome.

For the concerts, a suggested donation of $10 per adult, or an amount that is meaningful to you, can be made online before the event or with cash, check or Venmo at the event. Please do not let the suggested donation prevent you from attending as all are welcome.

Proceeds from the annual Summer Concert Series at Hacker’s Hill Nature Preserve are used to support Lonn Echo Land Trust’s conservation work in the Lakes Region of Maine and for the stewardship of Hacker’s Hill.

Hacker’s Hill Nature Preserve provides great views of Pleasant Mountain, Sebago Lake, and the Presidential Mountain range. The property is owned by the land trust and features open fields with a mowed walking path. There is also a restroom available.

The gate to the top of the hill is open to vehicles on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays from sunrise to sunset. There is no entry fee.

Loon Echo Land Trust (LELT) was founded in 1987 and is a nonprofit organization that protects land, ensures public access to the outdoors, and builds and maintains recreational trails in Raymond, Casco, Naples, Harrison, Sebago, Bridgton, and Denmark. It currently conserves more than 9,300 acres of land and manages a 35-mile trail network across the Lakes Region. LELT protects many important local landmarks like Pleasant Mountain, Bald Pate Mountain, and Hacker’s Hill.

For more details about LELT properties, upcoming events, or how to get involved, go to LELT.org or visit its Facebook page. <