With Friday the 13th upon us, we can’t help but be a bit  superstitious this week. Ladders? No thanks. Sidewalk cracks? No way. And, despite all the intermittent rain, umbrellas are a huge no-no. However, any hardy Mainer or Maine enthusiast won’t let ominous signs keep them from experiencing summer in Vacationland! Go pick a four-leaf clover and throw that salt over your shoulder, here’s our round up for this weekend in Maine:

Somewhere to Go: 

While it may not be the first thing to come to mind when you think about summer in Maine, anyone familiar with Aroostook County knows and loves the annual Ploye Festival in Fort Kent. (What is a ploye, you ask? Imagine a hybrid between a pancake and a crepe, made from buckwheat flour.) Running from Friday to Sunday, the festival features a ploye eating contest, a ploye batter wrestling contest (which will dye your white garments yellow, so be warned!), and a crowd favorite, making the world’s largest ploye! Pack up the car—it’s time to celebrate the best thing buckwheat ever produced. 

Something to Watch:  

Grab your foam fingers and Frisbees, Maine’s newest professional sports team, Portland Rising, has begun its first official season. Previously set to start in 2020, the Ultimate Frisbee team weathered the challenges of the past year and is ready to redefine professional sports in Maine. This weekend head to Fitzpatrick Stadium in Portland to watch them host and compete in the 2021 Championship Series International Tournament. Buy your tickets and plan out your viewing schedule now!

Something to Do:  

This is an event for those among us who have declared that they could never give up cheese: In celebration of 10 years of business, Lakin’s Gorges Cheese in Waldoboro is hosting two anniversary cheese tastings on Sunday. Head cheesemaker Alison Larkin will guide attendees through the tasting , provide samples of her original recipes, and teach the basics of the cheesemaking process. Tickets for the tastings are $15. There will only be two tastings, each limited to 20 spots apiece, so act fast!. In the spirit of a summer celebration, Larkin encourages all attendees to wear their favorite Hawaiian shirts. 

Something to See: 

Making waves in more ways than one, the Maine Attraction Water Ski Show Team has been performing on bodies of water across the state this summer. The state’s only water ski show team, Maine Attraction’s resume spans from barefoot water skiing to jump stunts to human pyramids. This Saturday catch the show at the Oquossoc Day Festival on Rangeley Lake! Check the schedule and make your plans soon because the team’s season ends in early September. 

Something to Eat: 

Opa! Emilitsa reopened in Portland on Tuesday, finally filling the void in our stomachs with delicious Greek dishes. With items like spanakopita, moussaka, and baklava, in addition to a full drinks menu of Greek spirits, it’s hard to go wrong. The restaurant is open Tuesday through Saturday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and reservations can be made by calling (207) 221-0245. Lean into the positively meditterranean weather this weekend, and be sure to stop by the dining room.

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