"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," said  Astrig Koltookian Tanguay, in a news release.

The annual Garden Picnic will take place Sunday, July 27, at Searsport Shores Ocean Campground. Gates open at 11 a.m., with food served from 12 - 3 p.m.  

"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," said Tanguay. "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."

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," said Tanguay. "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 27, 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.

Free parking and free admission, but please leave pets at home.

Tickets can be pre-purchased at https://makersguildmaine.org/armenian-picnic/dinner-menu/ or purchased on-site until the food runs out. 

All picnic profits and donations benefit art projects and library purchases for war-affected children in Armenia.