LINCOLN, Maine — The call of the loon is a familiar sound to Lincoln residents. Just as familiar are the sights and sounds of the annual Loon Festival.
The Lincoln Loon Festival, the town's biggest event of the year, kicked off this week with a four-day event featuring live music, local food, artisans, and competitions.
"It’s a tradition that this town takes seriously," Shawn Rogers, Lincoln events and communications director, said.
Thousands of people from near and far flocked to Lincoln to celebrate and honor the loon.
"Loons are actually one of my favorite animals. I like how they're black and white and they have red in their eyes, which is really cool," Liam, who attended the festival, said.
The third day of the festival kicked off with a parade.
"It was so good, and we even got carnival rides and prizes," Leyla, Liam's sister, said.
This year's theme was the Loon Olympics, with parade participants donning Olympic rings and American flags.
"It was my first time being here, so I thought it was kind of exciting because there was more than I expected there to be," Gus, a parade attendee said.
The weekend's highlights included a vendor market, music, games, the Redneck Regatta, a calling contest, and more.
Rogers said an estimated 12,000 people come to the town of only 4,000 for the festival, boosting Lincoln's economy.
"Loon Fest is all about the community. It's all about people coming out and just seeing each other just hanging out, eating some good food at the food trucks, shopping at the vendors, and really just supporting the local economy, and coming out and having a good time as a community," Rogers said.
The festival has been going on for over 50 years, and people keep coming out.
Lincoln residents Martha and Al Yarmer have been coming to the Loon Festival for the past eight years. This year, their daughter and granddaughter came up from Virginia.
"It's a fun time for everybody," she said. "We're a small town and there's a lot of people. It's really nice to see the turnout this weekend."
For people who couldn't make it this year, organizers are already preparing for next year. The 2025 Loon Festival will run from July 17 to 20 and the theme is "Party Like it's 1999."