From the assistant editor

Wormfest is a Wiscasset destiny

Wed, 04/10/2024 - 8:45am

    Worms and Wiscasset, they just go together.

    Both start with “w,” neither was created by artificial intelligence, and both are a long held part of the Midcoast earth. So, to the upcoming Wormfest we reported on last week, I say: Welcome, and it’s about time Wiscasset had such an event.

    Wiscasset’s Scarecrowfest, July 4 and other traditions, Nightmare on Federal Street and, as we just saw again, Easter egg hunt, hold their own alongside similar traditions in like-sized towns. But just as Schoonerfest stems from Wiscasset’s boatbuilding heritage, this new entry stems from a piece of Wiscasset heritage as well – one so notable National Geographic called Wiscasset the worm capital of the world.

    And it doesn’t get much cooler than National Geographic. So for that alone, and for the name Wormfest, and of course especially for the heritage, bring on Wormfest. It is a Wiscasset destiny, whose time has come.

    Will that destiny translate to making Wiscasset more of the destination so many have wanted the town to be, and have worked for it to be? Not by itself – even with the name Wormfest that has to make you smile – but added to the aforementioned and other events and the town’s beauty, it can only help. And even if the turnout is largely local, isn’t it still a great thing for people to have the kind of fun organizers are working on for the June 8 event?

    Wiscasset was not dubbed scarecrow capital of the world, nor the Halloween or Easter one. Great events, all. But Wormfest? This has potential to someday take Wiscasset celebrations to another level, like Boothbay Harbor’s Windjammer Days, but with worms.

    Week’s positive parting thought: The eclipse delivered on all the buildup. For some reason, i.e., not paying enough attention to the pre-eclipse coverage, I thought it would get briefly darker out than it did. But it did get colder, and I heard an owl.