FREE Admission at the Maine Wildlife Park this Saturday, June 21 4pm-8pm ONLY!

If you’ve wanted to visit the Maine Wildlife Park on Route 26 in Gray, but haven’t had the time to do so, you’ll have a great opportunity to visit for FREE on Saturday June 21st from 4:00pm-8:00pm.

A SUMMER SOLSTICE FARMERS MARKET will be offered within the boundaries of the wildlife park from 4pm-8pm; and a variety of local farmers & food vendors will be at the wildlife park to celebrate the Summer Solstice – the longest day of the year — and sell their local foods, crafts, flowers & products.

Admission to the wildlife park will be FREE from 4pm to 8pm only on this day, so visitors can stroll around the park on the longest day of the year viewing our wildlife, enjoying our grounds and gardens while supporting our local farmers.

Area vendors include the Village Bakehouse & Co. with breads, cookies and stuffed breads; Poland Spring Water distributing free bottled water, McLaughlin Garden, Cyndi’s Dockside/Poland Spring Hotel with a variety of snacks; Friends of the Maine Wildlife Park with a variety of beautiful annual flower seedlings, pots, baskets and vegetable seedlings, Shaker Village with a full selection of culinary herbs, herbal teas and herbal products from their historic gardens, along with preserves, herbal vinegars and olive oils and more!

Meadow Ridge Perennials will offer beautiful cut flowers, solid granite lazy susans and cheese boards; and Mainely Soap sells handmade soap, lip balms, laundry soap, incense and wax candles. Clelie’s Kitchen will offer baked goods, jams, relishes, pickles, honey, maple syrup and spice seasonings; Pearl’s Fresh Produce will have salad greens, lettuce, tomatoes and seasonal veggies, and Weedy Tavern Farm will have goat’s milk soap, lotion bars, dog toys and wool products for sale. Tripp’s Primal Farm and Kitchen specializes in Grain/Gluten free BBQ sauces, muffins, ‘Krunch’ & ‘Krunch Bars’ – like granola but instead of oats it contains nuts, seeds, coconut and local honey, non GMO pork, Honey, and Maine Maple Syrup. The Maine Wildlife Park Nature Store will be having a 10% off everything in the store sale too!

This is a great opportunity to meet your local food producers and become ‘fans’ of their products, as well as find out what other regular markets at which they can be found. This event will go on rain or shine!

2:00pm June 21st David Wilbur Memorial Dedication

At 2:00PM today, Saturday, June 21st, there will be a short memorial and dedication service to remember former Maine Wildlife Park Superintendent David Wilbur. A sugar maple tree has been planted in front of the farmhouse that was his home for 35 years, with a large boulder and plaque installed on the lawn.

The original farmhouse, now Park office building, will be dedicated to the memory of David. Dave, his wife Sheryl and three children resided in the house for 35 years. Superintendent of the facility for 27 years, Dave’s vision transformed a humble pheasant farm into today’s Wildlife Education Center. Dave was a devoted husband, father and friend to the park and its animals. The Wildlife Park will forever bear his legacy.

General Park Information

The Maine Wildlife Park is owned and operated by the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife. The park exists to promote an understanding and awareness of the wildlife, conservation and habitat protection programs and projects of MDIFW.

The Maine Wildlife Park has over 30 species of native wildlife on display, plus wildlife gardens, nature trails, a fish hatchery and other interactive exhibits and displays. The park is open daily from April 19th through November 11th from 9:30am-4:30pm; visitors must leave the premises by 6:00pm.

The final Summer Wildlife Days event for June will include Meeting Donn Fendler from “Lost on a Mountain in Maine” fame, along with IFW Safety Instructors for Outdoor Safety and Survival Skills.

Admission to the park is free for ages 3 and under; $5.00 ages 4-12; $7.00 for adults, and $5.00 for seniors. Groups of 15 or more are $3.50 per person. Bring a picnic and spend the day! Family and Community Season Passes are available, and are an incredible bargain for families and groups that visit the park several times over the course of the summer.

Remember that Family Passes make a great gift; and are available for purchase in the Department of Fish & Wildlife’s online store @ www.mefishwildlife.com.

For more information about any of these programs, please call the Maine Wildlife Park at

207-657-4977; or visit us online at www.mainewildlifepark.com , www.mefishwildlife.com or on Facebook!

GEMS OF ROUTE 26: Rich in culture, ecology and history, the Maine Wildlife Park, Shaker Village, Poland Spring Inn and Resort, Poland Spring Preservation Society, Poland Spring Preservation Park, Harvest Hill Farm and the grounds of McLaughlin Garden truly are “The Gems of 26.”

Visitors are encouraged to go and experience the park, as well as five other unique sites — all less than an hour from each other on the picturesque Route 26 in Western Maine. Route 26 connects Western Maine to the rest of the State via Maine Turnpike’s exit 63 in Gray; meandering through gorgeous countryside and boasting culturally, historically, and ecologically significant attractions. Just thirty minutes north of Portland, a family can spend a day or several days visiting all five important and interesting destinations for very little money – a true value. www.gemsof26.com