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Tens of thousands of visitors are expected to flock to Unity this weekend for the Common Ground Country Fair, the three-day showcase of organic farming and sustainable living that features speeches, livestock demonstrations, musical performances, vendors hawking food and crafts, and plenty more.
One downside of the event’s popularity, however, is the long lines of traffic headed to the fairgrounds, especially when the weather is nice on Saturdays and Sundays
The good news is that the fair’s organizer, the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, has arranged some alternative means of transportation that may help you avoid some of the gridlock and, at the same time, lessen the carbon footprint of your trip.
By train
The most stress-free way to make the last leg of the trip is by rail, though it will cost you extra.
Throughout the three days of the fair, Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad offers round-trip rides to the fairgrounds from free parking lots in Unity and Thorndike.
“The train creates a great way to skip the traffic line,” said fair manager Meg Gammon.
Trains will run from the Auction Hall in Thorndike every half hour, and from Envirem Organics in Unity every 45 minutes. The rides take 10 to 15 minutes. They start at 8:40 a.m., and the last trains of the day leave the fairgrounds at 6:40 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 5:15 p.m. on Sunday.
A round-trip train ticket can be purchased online or in-person, with prices ranging from $5 for kids to $17 for adults. Train passes for the full weekend are $30.
Train passengers must separately purchase their tickets to enter the Common Ground fair.
Roughly 1 percent of the fair’s attendees, or 775 people, rode the train there in 2023.
By bike
The Bicycle Coalition of Maine has several “Park and Pedal” routes for attendees who wish to drive part of the way to the fair, then bike the remainder.
The recommended routes range from 2.1 to 14.8 miles, with starting points in the towns of Troy, Brooks, Dixmont, Knox, Albion, Thorndike and Unity. The routes include some options for cyclists who would prefer quieter, off-road trips, and valet service is available when they reach the north parking lot of the fairgrounds.
“With biking, you get to bike past all of the traffic, a great and convenient option if it’s viable,” Gammon said. “It’s something we’ve really tried to get the word out about more as traffic is an issue. With helping people figure out ways to beat the traffic, I’m really hopeful that the number of cyclists will be higher this year.”
Biking has become an increasingly popular choice, with more than 600 people now using that option annually.
If you need to go by car …
For those who do drive, fair organizers recommend arriving early to avoid peak traffic, and parking nose-in, so as not to hold up other drivers when backing in. MOFGA has suggested the best routes from different parts of the state on its website.
The best times to arrive on Saturday and Sunday are before 10 a.m. and after 2 p.m.. Traffic has historically been lightest on Sunday. Shuttles are available to help attendees get from parking lots to the gates of the fairgrounds.
MOFGA encourages drivers to carpool when possible and recommends the GO Maine ride-sharing app as a way to connect with fellow attendees.
Organizers will view the total number of GO Maine users after the festival to track its impact, according to Gammon.
