Maine's First Ship invites you to a Maypole Celebration, rain or shine! Free and open to the public

Right along with having the first English ship built in the Americas, the 1607 pinnace Virginia, the Midcoast Region of Maine can claim America’s first maypole dance. Over 400 years ago, in 1622, Thomas Weston’s fishing ship Sparrow of London, was headed to the Plymouth Colony. They made landfall too far north and came ashore to the established fishing station at Damariscove Island. Phinehas Pratt, a member of Sparrow’s crew, recorded in his journal “The men that belong to the ship, there fishing, had newly set up a maypole and were very merry.”

Join members and friends of Maine’s First Ship on Saturday, May 10, 2025 in the boatyard outside the Bath Freight Shed for our second annual Maypole Celebration. We are also celebrating the return of Virginia to Bath. In the case of rain, the dancing will be inside the freight shed.

11am: Musicians Sharon Pyne and Kaity Newell and friends will arrive and potential fairies (the public) will gather at the freight shed. For those without festive garb, volunteers will help to create costumes from provided components.

Noon: The wild rumpus will begin with a procession around the yard ending up at the maypole. Fairy wranglers will help get the little ones going in the right direction.

1pm: Lemonade and cookies will be provided to refresh the dancers and entourage.