Maine, United States Jul 18, 2025 (Issuewire.com) - Silk Road to Searsport: Armenian Picnic – July 27, 2025, 11:00 AM - 4:00 PM
The rich and ancient culture of Armenia thrives in Maine on the last Sunday of July each year in the form of a Garden Picnic. The Armenian Picnic is a traditional celebration filled with food, music, and community in the summer air—an event that has been part of our history for centuries.
This traditional meal is like stepping into a time machine. We’ll roast skewers of local Maine beef and vegetables over open flames, pull Lahmajoun (Armenian flatbread) and pita bread from the wood-fired pizza oven, and savor a trio of vegetable and nut pâtés with feta cheese. We'll satisfy our sweet tooth with homemade baklava, filled with pistachios and walnuts and dripping in honey syrup. On July 27th, come revel in the award-winning gardens of Searsport Shores Ocean Campground.
There will be music and dancing to the tunes of the Eric LaPerna Middle Eastern Ensemble. Thanks to the support of Belfast Flying Shoes, Carolyn Okoomian Rapkievian will teach traditional village dances, accompanied by the carefully curated dance music of the Kotwica Band from Mount Desert Island.
Armenia is a country where ancient traditions still thrive alongside modernity. Unlike many countries, where traditional crafts and customs have faded into museums or tourist attractions, Armenia is home to many places where these traditions remain part of daily life. In partnership with Belfast Clay Studio, we are celebrating the tradition of pottery making with cultural exchanges between our two countries. On Sunday, July 27th, potters from the Belfast Clay Studio will host a sale of local and Armenian pottery and demonstrate the pottery-making process. Alongside the pottery tables, there will be other local crafts for sale, along with demonstrations of crafts common to both Armenia and our local artists.
Tickets can be pre-purchased at https://makersguildmaine.org/armenian-picnic/dinner-menu/ or purchased on-site until the food runs out. Gates open at 11:00 AM, with food served from 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM. Free parking and free admission, but please leave pets at home.
All picnic profits and donations benefit art projects and library purchases for war-affected children in Armenia.
Media Contact
Makers Guild of Maine astrig@makersguildmaine.org http://www.makersguildmaine.org
