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 twelve 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 29th 2023
HOURS: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m
PLACE: Skowhegan State Fairgrounds
COST: Free! Everyone is invited, and we encourage you to bring your family and friends to enjoy
PARKING: $5
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.
2023 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.
2023 Bread Fair Workshops
Start your morning off with Mick Hicks and learning the tricks and techniques of naturally leavened donuts. Through out this two hour class you can expect to learn about topics ranging from sourdough maintenance and building — to donut shaping and donut variations to go with seasonal produce availability. As well as demonstrating dough mixing from start to finish, followed by shaping and finally frying the end product. We will discuss choosing the right flour, incorporating whole grains into our sweets, and any questions that may arise during the process.
Time: 10am – 12pm
Location: Bingo Hall at Skowhegan State Fairgrounds
Cost: $30
Join Heather Kerner and The Good Crust Team for a hands-on workshop and demonstration of dough scoring techniques to make your own fougasse made from Maine’s own grain. Impressive and easy, fougasse is a type of crusty hearth bread typically associated with Provence, France and sculpted or slashed into a pattern resembling a head of wheat. Perfect to dip in your favorite hummus, soup, or herbed oils, come try your hand at dusting a peel and creating a fougasse shape of your own to bake and take away!
This workshop will be held at The Good Crust booth.
Time: 12pm-1pm
Location: The Good Crust booth
Cost: $20
Music at the 2023 Bread Fair:
9-11am
Some Reel People
Some Reel People is a joyous and ever-evolving traditional country dance
band from the Dexter area, playing jigs, reels, waltzes and polkas.
Their combined sound of fiddles, guitars, mandolin, banjo, bass, cello,
accordions, and recorder will make you want to dance! We are the house
band for the Central Hall Commons Contradances in Dover-Foxcroft, and
play other dances and concerts at various venues around the area.
Members include Sue Abel, Valerie Albertini, Sam Brown, Donna Burt, Ruth
Fogg, Toby Hall, Beth McEvoy, Stuart Moore, Dave Pearson, Jody Richmond,
Allison Aldrich Smith, and Hunt Smith
11am-1pm
Penquis Ukulele Players
The Penquis Ukulele Players enthusiastically embrace the idea of a Sing Along and Ukulele jam at the Bread Fair. Come sing and or bring a ukulele to play along with our 8 member group. The PUPs have an extensive repertoire of traditional and contemporary tunes. Sing, uke, and be happy!
1pm-3pm
Sagittarius Rising
We are twin sister artists, musicians and filmmakers. We create award winning short films, animations and original music in our band together.
2023 Vendors Include:
Sweet Monkey Business
Grey Goose Gourmet
The Potters House
Anchor ME Farm
Hayward Forge
Dragon’s Breath Pottery
Stone Fox Farm Creamery
Gryffon Ridge Spice Merchants
FIORE Artisan Olive Oils And Vinegars
Maine Crisp Company
Just Crackers
Wholly Crow
Maine Grains & The Miller’s Table
Sprig Woodwork
Ancestral French Soaps
Whitehill Farm
The Bankery & Skowhegan Fleuriste
PaperPie ( formerly Usborne Books)
go-en fermented foods
Sonshine Meadows Goat Milk Soap
Marston Country Crafts
B&T Baked Goods
BreadPots
Sunrise Bagel
Midsummer Night’s Meadow Farm
Hootenanny Bread
Yo Momma’s Apron Strings
Kittylamb
Old Glory Bees and Honey
Springdale Farm Creamery
Maine Somerset Beekeepers
Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association
Spark Bagel
FREEDOM’S FORAGE
Maine Gravy
Jones Limited
Little Red Cup Tea
Sawyer’s Maple Farm
Coastal Maine Popcorn
Croft
Farm House Coffee Roasters
The Good Crust, LLC
The Place Bakery
Maine Farmland Trust
The Beavers Lodge
Fresh Harvest in a jar
Tupperware by Charlin
Maine Granite Gifts
Tootie’s Tempeh
Harvest Maine
Mount Desert Island Girl Pasta Company
Crooked Face Creamery
The Scone Goddess Rockland
The Gluten Free Kitchen
North Star Orchards
USDA – Farm Service Agency
The Cabin Bakery & Apothecary
The Maine Meal
2023 Vendor Guidlines
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 29th.
Fair Director: Dusty Dowse, [email protected]
Vendor Coordinator: Patti Dowse [email protected]
- 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 29th.
- 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.
2023 Vendor Application
Please complete the online vendor application, or:
Download and mail your application to:
Maine Grain Alliance, Attn: Kayla Starr, 146 Cleveland Rd Embden, ME 04958
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
