Meet the Marsh Activities and Schedule
Meet the Marsh is a community festival celebrating the ongoing restoration of the Cousins River Fields & Marsh Preserve in Yarmouth. The festival runs from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. Activities run for the entirety of the event unless noted otherwise.
Gather family, friends, and neighbors, and let’s celebrate fall in Maine together! At Meet the Marsh, MCHT’s preserve at Cousins River is nature’s classroom with family-friendly activities, trails and marsh to explore, fall-themed ambience, and plentiful tasty treats, all amid a beautiful seasonal landscape. There’s plenty to do and something for everyone!
Interactive Printmaking with Local Artist Erin Coughlin
Local artist Erin Coughlin (and MCHT Seasonal Steward) makes art naturally through the process of cyanotype. Erin will show attendees how to use items such as marsh grasses, leaves, and even acorns and the power of the sun to make their very own one-of-a-kind art print to take home as a souvenir!
Marsh Walking Tours with MCHT Staff : Noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m.
Learn how and why marshes are so important to the local community and the role they play in the larger estuary ecosystem and saltwater ecology. Tour guides will point out local flora and fauna that make marshes unique and showcase how MCHT and the Cousins River Marsh Collaborative’s marsh restoration work protects species and their habitats, increases coastal conservation efforts, and supports climate change resiliency.
Cozy Community Campfire
Any cool fall day is enhanced by the warm glow of a campfire, and Meet the Marsh is no exception. Gather around and enjoy the classic campfire treat — s’mores! Bring a camp chair or blanket to enjoy the warmth and camaraderie.
Live Music from Rockville the Band: Noon – 2:00 p.m.
Rockville the Band comes to us from just up the road in Midcoast Maine. They blend folk, country, blues, and reggae music into a unique and eclectic mix. Their original tunes speak to the elements, the natural world, and the human experience. We’re pleased to have Rockville, including MCHT’s own Aaron Englander, Rockville’s vocalist and guitarist, at Meet the Marsh performing live from Noon – 2 p.m.
Free Raffle Prizes
Attendees are encouraged to participate in the free raffle! The raffle offers prize packages that connect visitors to MCHT’s mission, the importance of outdoor accessibility, and the value of marsh restoration and conservation.
Programming from Community Vendors
Meet and interact with the members of the Cousins River Marsh Collaborative where you’ll be immersed in fascinating facts about marshes! You’ll learn how the various organizations, including MCHT, work together to support the marsh’s health and resiliency and why this work is important. Exhibits include interactive Maine maps, kids’ crafts and games, and even a marsh discovery touch table for people of all ages! Other vendors will offer exhibits on Maine’s native flora and fauna, local community resources for outdoor recreation, and there will be adaptive sporting equipment to try out, including bicycles, off-road wheelchairs, and hiking carts.
Food & Drink
Two local food trucks will be offering lunch for sale for the duration of the festival. Bowlicious hails from Midcoast Maine. Their menu is entirely gluten free and they also offer dairy-free items. They use clean ingredients and source many menu items locally. Black Salt serves Midcoast and Southern Maine. They bring their famous chicken sandwiches and other seasonal fare to Meet the Marsh.
And no fall festival is complete without Maine apples. You’ll find a sampling of yummy local apples for snacking throughout the event. And remember a reusable water bottle. Stay hydrated at potable water stations located throughout the preserve during the event.
Family-Friendly Fun & Games
Popular yard games such as cornhole will bring the community together for friendly competition and low-impact outdoor recreation. Meet your neighbors, make new friends, and have fun!
Animal Demonstrations with Chewonki: Noon – 2 p.m.
Chewonki brings their Predators: Nature in Balance traveling natural history program to Cousins River. Visitors will be able to meet and interact with several real predators, including some that thrive in marshes! It’s a great opportunity for children to learn about the natural food chain and the important role wildlife plays in the ecosystem.
Preserve Exploration
While at Meet the Marsh, spend time exploring the preserve. Try out the trails, explore the woods, visit the marsh, and stroll the fields looking for wildlife and native plants. Attendees will discover why Cousins River Fields & Marsh Preserve is the local community’s destination for recreation, exploration, learning, and connection.
Free Celebratory Cake : 1:30 p.m.
Celebrate community with a free slice of cake! Cake cutting is at 1:30 p.m. Cousins River Fields & Marsh Preserve wouldn’t be the preserve it is without the incredible generosity of many local and regional individuals and organizations who support conservation. Cousins River is welcoming, open and accessible, and this deserves to be celebrated! While additional work is needed for Cousins River to be truly accessible for all, at Meet the Marsh, we honor the work that has been done so far and look forward to the next steps toward universal accessibility.