In Buñol, Spain they throw tomatoes; in Loxton, Australia they stomp on grapes; and in Damariscotta, Maine they paddle around the harbor in giant, hollowed-out pumpkins. In a new take on the traditional New England harvest festival, Damariscotta’s annual Great Pumpkin Fest and Regatta draws thousands to the downtown harbor.

The blend of comical sports, local food and community activities reinforces Damariscotta’s spirit and economy at an otherwise slow time of year. But the festival also represents something larger: the need for communities to come together; use creative solutions to build local economies; and reinvent themselves in challenging times.

In 2005 a Wal-Mart proposal forced many Damariscotta residents to realize that their locally owned stores and small-town identity were threatened by the sprawl and cookie-cutter development that had infiltrated other communities. Despite some disagreement, the Town reacted quickly to head off the proposal and turn their attention to comprehensive, long-term planning issues: integrating new commercial development with old; managing the historic downtown; and adapting to growth without losing local character and traditions. The wildly successful Pumpkin Fest emerged from the shadow of the big box proposal, bringing people together. The Town has resolved to start proactively building community and planning for Damariscotta’s future before another controversy erupts.

A Heart & Soul Community Planning process, led by the Damariscotta Planning Advisory Committee (DPAC) and Friends of Midcoast Maine (FMM), will use a variety of methods and tools to engage new voices and develop a shared community vision. Then they’ll translate that vision into plans and actions that reinforce the qualities that make Damariscotta a great place to live. The process will strengthen public engagement and investment in the future of the Town, increase trust among diverse segments of the population, address land use issues, lead to economic development opportunities consistent with community values and serve as a model for development practices in rural Maine.

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