CAMDEN — The talent was diverse and entertaining, and the fireworks were stupendous Friday evening, Aug. 29, as Camden’s Windjammer Festival got fully underway at the harbor. Throughout the day, the sun was bright and the streets filled with visitors and locals, who filtered to the waterfront to celebrate the region’s nautical heritage.

The start of the 2014 Windjammer Festival was marked by occasional cannon fire bursting over the water, and as dusk settled in, the guitars, ukeleles, and other musical instruments were carried to the green grass at Harbor Park. Novices and professionals took turns on the stage, against a backdrop of masts, to serenade and amuse those who spread chairs and blankets on the grass.

Guests aboard the various schooners stood before the microphones, singing odes to sea and their vessels, the Victory Chimes, J.E. Riggin, (this year’s winner) Heritage, Lewis R. French, Stephen Taber, while daughters who grew up on those boats also took to the stage with strong, confident voices.

Other participants in the Talent Show included Annabelle and Neal Parker, and Pirate John. Keeping the show moving were Dan Bookham and Capt. Jim Sharp.

Later, at 9 p.m., it was time for fireworks, and this year, everything went off like a charm. The skies over Camden Harbor exploded with perfectly coordinated designs, and 20 minutes later, when all went dark again, the stars against a brightly lit Milky Way shone over the water.

The annual Camden Windjammer Festival is three days of events on and around the harbor. Boats big and small, including schooners (the star of the show) made their way into Camden via the outer harbor and wind their way down the western channel, seeking out their pre-planned tie-up spots at the head of the harbor.

The Festival continues through until Sunday night, when Harbormaster Steve Pixley is hosting a DJ Dance Party on the public landing, under the big tent.

For highlights of the weekend's activities, and a complete schedule of events, with links to sign up for any and all of the weekend's competitions, visit our Windjammer Weekend promotion page. The 2014 Camden Windjammer Festival website includes information about the windjammer fleet, day sailers and harbor tour boats that will be around and links to the visiting boats currently on the docket.

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