Adult Beverages at Maine Festivals and Fairs. (Lewiston, Saco: school, live)

[Maineah]

I like a beer once in a while at a Fair or Festival. Many Fairs and Festivals frown on beer gardens or wine bars. Some readily embrace them. The Yarmouth Clam Festival went "family" in the 80's and stopped the beer garden. Freeport's 4th of July celebration recently allowed a beer tent for the first time sponsored by a local brewery. The Cumberland Fair has a little beer bar at the horse track but Windsor Fair is bone dry as is the Common Ground Fair (unless you're a homebrew judge!!). There doesn't seem to be a real rhyme nor reason as to whether adult beverages are available at Maine Fairs and Festivals.
On a recent trip to California I was amazed (and happy) to see that every little Festival had a number of beer and wine tents. Folks mentioned Maine favorably as a place they wanted to go though when I told them most Maine Fairs and Festivals do not have adult beverages available they thought we lived in the dark ages around here.
What have your experiences been in Maine??? Perhaps I need to look elsewhere in the state for a "better" fair!!

[Newdaawn]

Not sure about any of the others but the American Folk Festival has a beer tent.

[teachertype]

In CA, one could probably smoke a joint along with that glass of beer.

Personally, I don't drink alcohol; I'm just not into the taste. However, I'm getting a little tired of the morality police always looking in our bedroom windows or telling us what we can't eat, drink, smoke, drive, shoot, read, think, say.

As long as you don't throw up on my boots you can drink whatever you want, you have my permission, WTF maybe I'll join you for a couple by then.

[flycessna]

"Morality police" I have to admit, even though I am a former smoker, I found it frustrating to see people light up at the 4th of July festivals in Bridgton a few weeks ago.. there were only two of them out of thousands but they were sitting 3 feet in front of me and my 4 year old running around kept staring at them... And it was on School property so I know they were not allowed to do it.. I never smoked around children even when i would have been allowed too..

So here I sit getting ready to say something that some may find offensive.. At the end of the day "some" people need morality checks... or should I say some areas need morality police...

For the same prejudices people have had against Lewiston because of their overwhelming population of less then desirable characters and how that can overshadow the many positive things about that City which I have tried to bring to light... there may be similar issue's with certain events that some might be concerned about their own less then desirable taking advantage and or going to far..

Most of us can police ourselves and its a shame we have to have these laws/rules ect.. but time and time again I see situation where people are just not responsible.. tubing down the Saco a few weeks ago i saw folks drinking and not causing a problem.. but then I saw beer cans floating down the river and honestly I felt like knocking them over their head with an or.. ok not really.. But I was not pleased! do we need officers standing at the put in checking bags and such..

As a former police officer I always felt like the last thing we need is MORE laws.. but again its the few who ruin it for the majority!

[IrishMom76]

some good points flycessna, however I personally feel that there really needs to be, not only personal responsibility but also responsibility in the community, we used to be a place where neighbor would know neighbor, people would help people, and yes the community would police themselves. That being said I know sadly the world has changed, however I still believe in the fundimental thought that government should not rule the world (or the people) but the people should tell the government there place and take care of the rest themselves.

[Submariner]

I am not sure exactly why Maine is generally against alcohol in public.

[Northern Maine Land Man]

A generation or more ago there was a tradition of settling scores at the fair. Saturday night was fight night and it got pretty rough. Even the women had knock down drag outs. I used to stand by in the ambulance to put steri-strips on the cuts before the next round started.

Then they outlawed beer at most fairs and cooler heads again prevailed. Just my personal experience and your experience may vary.

[dmyankee]

We used to have a beer tent up here on Independence Day. Haven't had one in years. Where I grew up, the vendors sold beer out of ice filled trash cans on every street corner of the parade route. Now, its a dry affair. Bummer!

[MRVphotog]

Coffee isn't even allowed at the Common Ground Fair but everyone goes outside the boundary where a coffee stand sells really good coffee. It's been a couple of years, maybe they changed the policy?

[Submariner]

Originally Posted by MRVphotog

Coffee isn't even allowed at the Common Ground Fair but everyone goes outside the boundary where a coffee stand sells really good coffee. It's been a couple of years, maybe they changed the policy?

They reversed that policy last year.

The Common Ground Fair now has coffee.