2012 Harvestfest Entertainment Information coming soon!


Entertainment at Harvestfest 2011


Saturday, October 15:

Stage One at Ballfield

10:00am – 4:00pm: Don Campbell Band

Stage Two & Esplanade at Railroad Ave

10:00am – 11:00pm: The Substance
11:15am – 11:45am: York Strings
11:45am – 1:00pm: Skyler
1:00pm – 2:00pm: Maine-ly Balloons
2:00pm – 4:00pm: Dan Blakeslee
5:30pm – 7:00pm: Dr. Gasp (aka Dan Blakeslee)

Maine-ly Balloons roving 2:00pm – 4:00pm


Sunday, October 16:

Under Big Tent / Ballfield

11:00am – 4:00pm Annual POW-WOW

Stage Two at Railroad Ave

10:00am – 11:00am: Dance Street Studio
11:00am – 12:00pm: Park’s Tae Kwon Do
12:00pm – 12:30pm: Storytelling by Shawn Middleton
12:45pm – 1:15pm: Storytelling by Shawn Middleton
1:30pm – 2:00pm: Storytelling by Shawn Middleton
2:00pm – 4:00pm: Extreme Air of New Hampshire

Schedule subject to change without notice. Times are approximate.






The Don Campbell Band

They’re back again this year!! Singer-songwriter Don Campbell, a national winner of the Colgate Country Showdown at the Grand Ole Opry, wrote and recorded a new song, "Won't Wash Away" in response to the historic rainfall and flooding events that hit Middle Tennessee in May.  "Witnessing first hand how quickly people joined together to help one another was the inspiration behind this song, which in effect, wrote itself," said Campbell from his home in Murfreesboro, TN.

Last year, Campbell performed in the Chris Young & Friends Tornado Relief Concert to benefit victims of the Good Friday tornadoes in Murfreesboro, and in 2005, his song, "Say Goodbye to Heartache" was part of the Gulf Coast Healing: Independent Artists Band Together for Hurricane Katrina Relief CD.

In his native State of Maine, he has been a musical part of the "Wreaths Across America" escorts to Arlington Cemetery,  Jeff Gordon & Kyle Petty Foundation fundraising events, and many other annual benefits for a wide variety of organizations.  Campbell also penned "A Friend Right Here" which the Visiting Nurse Associations of America adopted as their theme song in 2002.

Don Campbell performs over 150 shows per year and has opened for Carrie Underwood, Toby Keith, Randy Travis, and many other country, folk and rock greats.
He is also a past national winner of the Jim Beam Country Band Search.

The Substance

The Substance is a five-piece rock band from York Beach, Maine. The band plays danceable covers and fun, crowd-pleasing original music. The band features strong musicianship and an entertaining stage presentation. All five members sing, covering a wide variety of musical styles including blues, jazz, R&B, and rock 'n roll, with many songs featuring the impressive trumpet playing of front man Chris Elliott.

Skyler

Third grade. Recess. As most kids wait anxiously for their turn on the slide, ride on the zip line, or shot at the four square court, another group forms around a solitary raised platform. At any other time of day, this spot would be unremarkable. But after lunch, at this elementary school, it is transformed into a stage… where Skyler would perform. And from nearby this makeshift venue, educators can witness a mini “Hard Day’s Night” moment.

From these unusual beginnings, it should be no surprise that by 6th grade, Skyler was a multi-instrumentalist (guitar, drums, piano); by 7th grade, he was sleeping on the couch, so as not disturb the sanctity of the recording studio that his bedroom had become; or that by 9th grade, he had released his first full-length, all original CD. There have been many other stops: four more original CDs before high school graduation, 20 professional and repertory theatre productions, over 250 gigs (festivals, fairs, concerts, showcases), and a year at Berklee College of Music.

With the release of his latest EP, Take You Away, -- recorded and produced by Jonathan Wyman (Halo Studios) and mastered by Adam Ayan (Gateway Mastering) – and his live band behind him, Skyler and the Band of the Thieves (named after a Taylor Swift lyric) are currently looking for their spot on the playground. Come out to a show and be ready to have a “Hard Day’s Night” moment of your own.

Dance Street Studio offers Ballet, Pre-Pointe, Pointe, Tap, Creative Dance, Jazz, Acro-Jazz, Lyrical/Contemporary, Hip-Hop & Musical Theatre for all ages. They also offer Ballet, Jazz, Choreography/Performance, Middle Eastern, Masala Bhangra, Video Dance, Zumba & Pilates for Teens & Adults. They are located in Kittery, Maine.

Extreme Air
Founded in 2003, the award-winning Extreme Air Competition Jump Rope Team performs nationally competitive single-rope, pairs, and double-dutch freestyle routines, original long-rope routines, and group choreographed routines, all to high-energy music!  For more information visit www.extremeairnh.com.



Story Telling with Shawn
With experience in early childhood education, hip-hop dance, sign language and mime, Shawn Middleton combines dramatic flair and great passion to create his unique style of storytelling. A professional storyteller for 10 years, Shawn has brought his genius for spinning yarns to communities from New England to Florida always with the goal of fostering a deep appreciation for storytelling, reading and writing. Shawn has delivered over 2,500 stories at schools, libraries, early learning centers and festivals. He has served as artist in residence at several elementary schools throughout the Northeast and led storytelling workshops across the region. Shawn is the author of the children’s book, “Sam and The Peanut Butter Crackers”. He was previously the site director for the Live and Learn After School program in Lee, NH and is a member of the National Association for the Education of Young Children and the National Association for Storytelling. Shawn graduated from the University of New Hampshire with an associate’s degree in business and bachelor’s degree in Social Work.

Pony Rides
It’s every kids dream to ride a pony, so stop by and visit with our friends from Pony Parties for Kids. Cost is $7 per ride and $2 of every ride will be donated to York Hospital’s “For Every Patient” Campaign. Jud Knox, Hospital President says: “The expanded center and renovation of current hospital space will offer patients the best, most advanced care, while helping York Hospital meet the increasing demand for surgeries and surgical procedures that has more than doubled in the past 10 years." Look for the pony rides near the big tent on Sunday. (We may also squeeze them on Saturday, so check the signs!)

Maine-ly Balloons
Maine balloon twisters Carroll & Ezekiel Chapman are a father & son team of balloon artists serving Maine and New England with their balloon zoo and entertaining antics. They will be on the main stage for an hour (see schedule), and then move into the crowd, where they will twist balloons for all ages!

The Park's Taekwondo School Junior Demonstration Team is happy to be back at Kidsfest again to share the Korean Martial Art of Taekwondo.  The team will be demonstrating many different aspects of Taekwondo including board breaking, self-defense, Olympic style sparring, hand technique and kicking drills.   Many of the past and present members of this team live in York and are excited to be performing in their hometown. The students train under Grand Master Park who is celebrating over 25 years of instruction in the seacoast area.

Dan Blakeslee
The last great American Renaissance man is gone, but his likeness lives on the shores of Massachusetts. Equal parts musician and artist, Dan Blakeslee's soul core is woven from the fabric of his surroundings. More specifically, the tangled fields and forests from the town where he was raised, South Berwick, Maine. Are you the kind of ghoul who is intrigued by tales of mystery, and ghostly superstition? Does the thought of the unknown make you shiver with fright? Then you are in for a scare! There is no spook more daunting than DOCTOR GASP! Behind the mask of this hideous creature is none other than the folk troubadour Dan Blakeslee and his bag of twisted tales. On the last breath of August when beasts and monsters wake from sleep he begins mixing the potion for his haunted creepshow.  So dust off that costume and put on those wax lips… oh yes, don't forget the fake blood. Photo credit to Rich Beauchesne.

Kidsfest 2011 Style