Down East Magazine, September 2026

Features Best of Maine Our annual round-up of Down East readers’ favorite things spans from bakers to cheese makers, theater groups to boat trips, and saunas to antiques stores. 50 Years of Common Ground As the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association’s annual country fair hits a major milestone, we look back at a half century’s worth of history, with archival photography, familiar faces, and, of course, iconic poster art. By Will Grunewald Old Sports Rustic sporting camps have drawn generation after generation to hunt and fish in the Maine woods, but their numbers have been dwindling for years. What does it take to keep these classic backcountry outposts going? By Ethan Daly Photographed by Mat Trogner Where in Maine Dooryard North by East Wild Ride A trippy amusement-park attraction turns 50. Maine Moment Fertile Ground For a novelist, the time was ripe for a love story set in an apple orchard. Lucky Break A chance encounter landed a couple in their dream spot. Earthy Delights The fleeting pleasure of a wild-mushroom patch. Maine Dispatches Inn Crowd A historic lodging establishment welcomes a host of visiting chefs. Wide Net A new exhibit considers a broad range of island portraits. Room With a View A memory of summer’s end. Special Section: Explore Biddeford The historic mill town embraces a new era. My Favorite Place Chef Jose Garces, on Biddeford’s Middle Beach. ON THE COVER Breezing by the Rockland Breakwater. Photo by Dave Waddell.