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The Maine Artisan Bread Fair

July 26, 2025

The Skowhegan State Fairgrounds

9:00am – 3:00pm

The Maine Artisan Bread Fair is one of a kind. It is a fair dedicated solely to real bread and everything associated with this most ancient and central staple. The Maine Grain Alliance has sponsored the Bread Fair for fifteen years and the offerings have grown each year.  While you will be captivated by the wares in each booth, you will also be able tantalize your taste buds as you sample foods ranging from pizzas cooked in wood-fired ovens, fresh sourdough loaves, sweet pastries, and a variety of other locally produced delicious food.

Come for the artisan halvah, maple syrup, jams, butter, cheese, the best books and equipment for baking at home, professional bakers to answer your questions, live music, beautiful kitchen linens, demos, and superb Maine-made foods!

The Details:

DATE: Saturday, July 26, 2025

HOURS: 9:00am to 3:00pm

PLACE: Skowhegan State Fairgrounds

COST: $5 per person; Free entry for children and Maine Grain Alliance members

PARKING: Free

Vendors: Over 60 vendors await you at the Artisan Bread Fair. Please see the list below, continually updated.

From 95 North, take exit 133 (Waterville/Skowhegan) onto Rt. 201 North and head to Skowhegan. At the light in Skowhegan, take a right and go into town. Go around the rotary of buildings and take a right. About 1 mile on left is the entrance to the fairgrounds. Next to Wal-Mart.
From 95 South, Take exit 157 (Newport/Skowhegan), turn slight right onto ME-100/ME-11 north, take a sharp left onto Main Street/Route 2 south. Follow Route 2 into Skowhegan, go through the rotary, turn right onto Madison Avenue About 1 mile on left is the entrance to the fairgrounds. Next to Wal-Mart.

2025 Bread Fair Made Possible Through Generous Sponorships From:

Contributor Sponsor ($10000+)

Contributor Sponsor ($5000+)

Leader Sponsor ($2500+)

Benefactor Sponsor ($1000+)

Benefactor Sponsor ($1000+)

Benefactor Sponsor ($1000+)

Patron Sponsor ($200+)

General Guidelines for the Artisan Bread Fair:

1. The ABF does not permit pets on the fairgrounds or in the parking area. Animals left in cars or tied up may be removed by the local animal control officer.

2. ABF enforces Maine laws prohibiting public drinking of alcohol and use of illegal drugs on the fairgrounds.

3. Audio and video devices are prohibited unless they are part of an approved demonstration or display.

4. Littering is prohibited. Please control all waste and convey it to the receptacles provided throughout the fair and police your area at the end of the day.

5. ABF assumes no liability for damage to or loss of personal property.

Our 2025 Workshops will be annouced soon. Check back soon for updates!

Last Year’s Workshops

New York Style Bagels

9:30-11:30am

$20 (Space is limited, pre registration required)

Join Jeff Mao for a workshop focused on baking New York-style bagels. We will explore the what makes bagel baking different than most breads, and what really matters when creating this iconic New York bake — it’s not the water. We will learn to hand-roll bagels including how to achieve a smooth shiny crust and creating the signature hole. You’ll gain practical skills to bake bagels in a home kitchen. The bagels made during the workshop will feature locally produced Maine Grains flour. Experience the unique flavor and quality of our regional grains!

Meet Your Instructor:

Jeff Mao

Jeff operates Knead & Nosh, a micro-bakery in Brunswick, Maine. Knead & Nosh produces hand-crafted bagels as well as offers baking and cooking classes with a focus on things made with dough. He is the author of Essential Chinese Hot Pot Cookbook, and is currently working on a bagel cookbook.

Introduction to Sourdough Baking

12pm-1:30pm

$20 (Space is limited, pre registration required)

Ready to elevate your baking skills? Join our class to master the art of sourdough! Learn to maintain your starter, choose the right flour, and perfect shaping and scoring techniques.

Meet Your Instructor: Michael Hicks

Michael Hicks, owner of Expanding Circles Bakery in Tallahassee, Florida, specializes in naturally leavened breads and pastries made with local, organic ingredients. Inspired by European baking traditions, Michael is passionate about raising the standard of American bread.

 

Free Tempeh Workshop with Tootie’s Tempeh

Join Sarah Speare, Co-Founder and CEO of Tootie’s Tempeh, for a free, fun, and informative workshop all about tempeh! Sarah will explain what tempeh is, show different ways to prepare it, and end with a delicious treat – tempeh bacon for everyone to enjoy!

Come learn, taste, and have fun with tempeh!

 

2025 Vendors:

Sunflour Designs
Alice’s Fresh Squeezed & Energy Tea’s
Tara-bly Good Catering
Crepe Elizabeth
North Pond Woodworking
Dogpatch Farm, LLC
Barters Island Bees, Inc
Gryffon Ridge Spice Merchants
Willows Highlands Farm
Dreamer Food
Olde Haven Farm
ChiGoBee Farm
Blue Earth Bags
Old Glory Bees and Honey
Sunflour Designs
Fresh Harvest in a Jar
The Bankery & Skowhegan Fleuriste
Rose’s Sourdough
The Good Crust
Kimchi Beyond Compare
Marston Country Crafts
Sonshine Meadows Goat Milk Soap
Alora Wood
Maine Sauce and Provisions
Ancestral French Soaps
Whitehill Farm
Just Crackers
Maine Grains
The Miller’s Table
Spark Bagel
Maine Farmland Trust
Wholly Crow
Sawyer’s Maple Farm
Farm House Coffee Roasters
Grey Goose Gourmet

Sunrise Bagel
Sprig Woodwork

Sweet Monkey Business
Jones Limited
Rusted Rooster Farm
Vertical Harvest Farms
Midsummer Night’s Meadow Farm
Dragon’s Breath Pottery
The Maine Meal
The Potter’s House
Eat Neon LLC
Concepta’s Studio
Kittylamb
Triple D Craftsmanship/The Beavers Lodge
The Sweet Life Kettle Corn Company
B+T Baked Goods
Yo Momma’s Apron Strings
Springdale Farm Creamery
FIORE Artisan Olive Oils and Vinegars
Savagesse
Greenheart Exchange
What the Actual Fudge
Crust to Crumbs
Sips
Hootenanny Bread
Stitched With Love
Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association
Tupperware by Charlin
Colonn’s Sauces
AllerGeena Gluten Free Baked Goods
Tootie’s Tempeh
Tipped Trailer Co LLC
Blissful Brew Coffee
Mobile Cone / Stone Fox Farm Creamery

 

2025 Vendor Guidelines

Click Here to Read Vendor Guidelines

Appropriate Applicants and Criteria:
Food Vendors:
Bakers of artisan breads of all kinds. Bakers must produce their wares in the State of Maine, with
at least a portion of the process done by hand. There is no restriction on the type of flour used,
but if possible, use of locally grown grains where possible would be appreciated. Local grain
production is part of the overall mission of the Maine Grain Alliance which sponsors the
Kneading Conference and the Fair.
If you are going to be selling food, you MUST produce your wares in a State Certified manner
and this is your responsibility.
Bread Fair Guidelines
Setup time: The grounds will be open at 7:00 A.M. and the fair will start promptly at 9:00, July 26th.
Fair Director: Dusty Dowse, dustydowse@aol.com
Vendor Coordinator: Patti Dowse Docqs@aol.com

  • Vendors are not permitted to change booth space as assigned by the fair committee.
  • Vendors must restrict their activities to the booth space assigned, and hawking of wares is prohibited.
  • The Bread Fair does not provide tables, chairs, or display hardware or racks. The vendors are responsible for furnishing the space assigned.
  • Signs and banners can be attached to tent poles, walls etc. only by string or tape.
  • No holes may be dug.
  • Fires may be built only in approved ovens or other devices.
  • Any vendor using cooking equipment must have a 40 BC-minimum fire extinguisher.
  • The Fire Marshal requires that propane tanks be secured firmly on a hard, non-combustible surface such as cement blocks.
  • Vendors should prepare for inclement weather.
  • Vendors must be set up and ready by the start of the fair at 9:00 AM, Saturday, July 26th.
  • Booths must be staffed for the duration of the fair.
  • Vendors should bring adequate wares, etc. to last for the duration of the fair.
  • Vendors should not begin to break down displays, booths, etc. until the fair is over at 3:00 and the Director or Vendor Coordinator gives notice.
  • All booth materials brought must be removed completely.
  • Vendors must report earnings and worker’s pay to the IRS and the State of Maine.
  • The State of Maine requires that commercial vendors be listed and their tax ID numbers be reported to
    the State Tax Office.
  • Vendors must obtain any necessary liability and general insurance coverage for their activities and must adhere to all local and state ordinances. The Fair maintains no vendor coverage.

2025 Vendor Application

Please complete the online vendor application, or:
Download and mail your application to:

Maine Grain Alliance, Attn: Patti Dowse, 946 Dexter Rd, Cambridge, 04923

We will assess applications upon receipt and quickly alert everyone with the results as soon after April 24th as practicable. Space allowing, we may accept applications after that date.

Vendor Details & Pricing
We cannot supply tables, chairs, or other equipment.

Booth Space:  $75