We enjoyed a fantastic 26th crafts festival. Take a look at these stats:

• 2nd largest attendance this century (~3,500)
• most crafters ever (109)
• largest gross profit ever (maybe net profit too? we're still counting)
• oodles of member renewals, new members, and rejoining-after-many-years members
• 219 high-fiving volunteers
• 30 businesses donating goods
• 104 raffle items donated, valued at $8,324

We tried something new this year  awarding three People's Choice awards based on the number of raffle tickets entered into each donated piece's box.

Congratulations to these inaugural winners:

• People's Choice Festival Favorite  Garden Guardians (Valerie McCaffrey)
• People's Choice Best New Artist  Scrapwood Renaissance (Eric Graffam)
• People's Choice Specialty Vendor  Sugar Hill Maple Products (Ashley & Leah Gerry)

And just in case you don't see it in the York County Coast Star or Journal Tribune, here's our public expression of appreciation&

To the Editor,

For the past 26 years, the weekend after Labor Day has been eagerly awaited by discerning shoppers from across the northeast. Each year, the Laudholm Nature Crafts Festival brings many of New Englands finest artisans to the main campus of the Wells Reserve at Laudholm. This years festival was among the biggest and best weve ever held and we are grateful to everyone involved.

On a fabulous weekend, 109 juried artisans and well over 200 volunteers welcomed nearly 3,500 attendees to the festival. Thirty local businesses generously donated goods, as well.

The crafts festivals raffle, with prizes donated by most exhibiting artisans, drew thousands of entries. Three new Peoples Choice awards, based on popularity of items in the raffle, went to Scrapwood Renaissance (Best New Artist), Sugar Hill Maple Products (Best Specialty Vendor), and Garden Guardians (Festival Favorite).

This annual event is the largest fund raiser for the Laudholm Trust, nonprofit partner of the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve. The member-supported Trust provides local support for the Reserves coastal research, education, stewardship, and preservation programs.

We wish to thank every volunteer, artisan, and attendee for filling the event with charm and prestige; our lead sponsors, Kennebunk Savings and Maine magazine, and dozens of other local businesses for their continuing support; and the good people of Wells and our neighboring communities for making this years Laudholm Nature Crafts Festival a record-breaker. Thanks again, and please come back soon. After all, its your Reserve.

?

Nik Charov
President
Laudholm Trust

For more event photos, click here.

Many thanks again to our lead sponsors  Kennebunk Savings and Maine magazine? and to all who made this year's festival one of the best ever:

Contributors

The Bull & Claw House * Jakes Seafood * Lyons Coffee Service * Michaud Distributors * Mikes Clam Shack * Shields Meat & Produce * Sub Builders, Portland

Supporters

Alfredos Pizzeria * Beach Pea Baking Co. * Borealis Breads * Bread & Roses * Bel Cibo de Cherie * Congdons * Dunkin Donuts, Wells * Getchell Bros. Ice * Hannaford, Kennebunk * Hannaford, Wells * Harbor Candy * Greg Maling * Perfectos Caffe * Salmon Falls Nursery * Scoop Deck * Sea Vu Campground * Shains of Maine * Shaws Supermarket, Sanford * Southern Maine Spring Water * Wells IGA * When Pigs Fly * Laudholm Volunteer Dessert Chefs

Assistance

Chief Noda, guitar * Volunteers For Peace * Wells Fire & Police Departments * Wells Rescue Squad * More than 200 Volunteers * Laudholm Trust & Wells Reserve staff

Oversight Committee

Joanne Conrad * Pat Frost * Diana Joyner * Pam LeBlanc * Sue Rioux * Michele Stivaletta

Hands-on Committee

Cynthia Doolittle * Rhoda Frederick * Rick Frost * Dot Henwood * Alice Hritz * Judy King * Wendy & Jim Magner * Ellen & Quincy Moy * Rebecca Niebling * Helene & Bob Rutledge * Betsy Smith * Liz Walsh

We couldn't do it without you.