The Rhubarb Festival at Kendall Farm
In 2022, Georgie Kendall started the Rhubarb Festival. Now celebrated annually on the first Saturday in June, the festival offers demos on planting and caring for rhubarb and explores rhubarb’s versatility in food and drink. Local vendors, music, kids’ games, a rhubarb tasting table, crust making, and all things “rhubarb” are celebrated at this unique event in Downeast Maine.
Georgie Kendall grew up in Perry, Maine, attending church suppers as a child with her grandmother, Leona, who was an amazing baker. Leona made doughnuts and pie crust with lard. The only pies that weren’t devoured at those suppers were the rhubarb pies. Georgie has loved rhubarb since she was a kid so she could not understand why rhubarb pies were always the last to be finished. As a grownup, Georgie dreamed of hosting a rhubarb festival at her family’s farmstead to educate the community about rhubarb.
Join us for Rhubarb Festival 2026
Saturday, June 6, 2026 from 12-6pm
Join us for the 5th Annual Rhubarb Festival on the first Saturday of June at Kendall Farm in Perry. This year’s theme, Rhubarb is Sexy, celebrates this bold, beautiful vegetable in all its glory—so come dressed in your favorite shades of pink and green!
Enjoy delectable rhubarb edibles, local music, delicious food and artisan vendors, live demonstrations on growing, cooking, and preserving rhubarb, plus nutritional education, clever cocktails, and homemade rhubarb wine. Festivities include a rhubarb stalk–eating contest, a fashion show, the return of our beloved rhubarbuterie boards, and the famous tasting table.
Admission is free; donations are warmly welcomed. Bring a lawn chair, cash, an appetite, bug repellent and/or sunscreen—and get ready to have fun. Even rhubarb skeptics leave as fans. This is a pet-free and smoke-free event.
2026 Rhubarb Festival Schedule
Saturday, June 6, 12 – 6PM
Rain, sleet, or shine. Cash and carry. Admission by donation.
Dress for the weather! Bring a wad of cash, sunscreen, bug dope, walking shoes, water bottle, and a tote to carry out your treasures.
No pets. No smoking. No vaping.
|
Time |
Activities |
Location |
Details |
|
12 -6 |
Food, craft, & farm vendors |
Inside and outside barn and lawn |
$ |
|
12-6 |
Self-guided Obstacle Course |
Front lawn of farmhouse |
Free |
|
12:30-4:30 |
Rhubarb Garb at Bingville Shop with Amy Ray |
Front deck of farmhouse |
Free (Tips welcome) |
|
12:30-5:30 |
Face painting with Marissa Stokes |
Front deck of farmhouse |
Free (Tips welcome) |
|
12:30-5:30 |
Art project with Sarah Duff |
Front deck of farmhouse |
Free (Tips welcome) |
|
1:30 and 3:30 |
Eleanor’s Tea Eleanor’s favorite tea and a short talk on her life and legacy by Roosevelt Campobello International Park |
Blue cottage down the hill |
Free |
|
2:30 and 4:30 |
FDR Happy Hour Mocktini and short talk on the life and legacy of Franklin Delano Roosevelt by Roosevelt Campobello International Park |
Blue cottage down the hill |
Free |
|
|
|||
|
Demonstrations |
|||
|
1:00 – 5:00 |
Rhubarb plant instruction and care with Ellen Johnson of Lamb Cove Farm |
To the right of the barn |
Free |
|
12 – 12:45 |
A Year of Rhubarb, canning and preservation with Laurie Bowen of University of Maine Coop Extension |
Blacksmith shop |
Free |
|
1-1:45 |
Rhubarb Delight Desserts! Ronie Strout returns with wicked good, quick and easy desserts |
Blacksmith shop |
Free |
|
2-2:45 |
Royalty and Rhubarb, lighthearted, practical etiquette for any occasion with Lorraine Gilmore Peters |
Blacksmith shop |
Free |
|
3-3:45 |
Ginger Rhubarb Crumble! A baking demo and tasting with baker extraordinaire, Richard Fulghum |
Blacksmith shop |
Free |
|
4-4:45 |
Rhubarb wine making with master winemaker, Mike Look |
Blacksmith shop |
Free |
|
5-5:45 |
Rhubarb infused cocktails with expert mixologist, Chase Nelson |
Blacksmith shop |
Free |
|
|
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|
MUSIC and SUCH |
|||
|
12-6 |
Hosted by EMCEE Joan K. |
Garage |
|
|
12-1:45 |
Rhubarb Ramblers Celtic Tunes with Andy and Adam |
Garage |
Tips welcome |
|
2 – 3:45 |
Patrick Cormier |
Garage |
Tips welcome |
|
4 – 5 |
The Crows (background music) |
Garage |
Tips welcome |
|
4:00 – 4:20 |
Rhubarb Stalk Eating Competition |
Garage |
Free and Prizes |
|
4:20 – 4:30 |
Raffle Winners Announced |
Garage |
Free |
|
4:30 – 5:00 |
Rhubarb Garb Fashion Show |
Garage |
Free and Prizes |
|
5:00 – 6:00 |
The Crows |
Garage |
Tips welcome |
Thank You to Our 2026 Sponsors!
Read More about the 2026 Rhubarb Festival
Rhubarb Festival Set for June 6th in Perry
Rhubarb Festival Returns June 6 With Music, Food, Demonstrations, and Family Fun
Rhubarb Poster Student Art Competition
Congratulations to the 2026 Poster Competition Winner, Exie Crowe!
Each year, festival organizers plaster the state with Rhubarb Festival posters featuring artwork by a Washington County student.
Winning images have included a truck with rhubarb out the back and a wheelbarrow with a rhubarb plant in it. Our student winner’s art is featured on posters and t-shirts. There are prizes for the winner and several prize drawings for participants. We hope to expand this prize package in the future!
This year, first place was awarded to Exie Crowe for a whimsical rhubarb stalk in a chaise longue. Second place went to Madeline DelMonaco for a “rhubarb roadster,” and third place to Khloe Milburn for a bold, Japanese-inspired rhubarb anime warrior.
Our past winners include:
2022: Katie McPhee of Calais Middle/High School
2023: Sarah Wentworth of Calais Middle/High School
2024: Hayden Sabattus of Calais Middle/High School
2025: Jaylah Lewey of Calais Middle/High School
2026 Poster, featuring artwork by Exie Crowe of Calais Middle/High School
The student art winners chose to receive prizes from local small businesses they wanted to support. Crowe received a $100 gift certificate to Paynted in Woodland. DelMonaco received a $50 gift certificate to Crumbs’ Cafe in Calais, and Milburn received a $25 gift certificate to My Favorite Things 2 in Calais.
All student participants also received two festival wristbands and a pink handkerchief.
View Past Posters
2025 Gallery
2022 Gallery
2023 Gallery
2024 Gallery
More from Past Rhubarb Festivals
The 2025 Rhubarb Festival, with the theme of Pies, Pies and More Pies! was a great success, drawing hundreds of attendees from many states and several countries as well!
Congratulations to Tasting Table prize winners Lydia Neddeau of Alexander – Rhubarb kielbasa (Crowd Favorite), Dani Beal of Eastport – Rhubarb kimchi (Favorite Savory), and Philipp Player of Phoenix Fine Wines, Eastport – German rhubarb cheesecake (Favorite Sweet).
Cheyenne Robinston-Bauiman of Machias took away 1st place in the Rhubarb Stalk Eating Competition.
