Lovers of Maine’s weird soda unite, and the curious, too! The Moxie Festival is returning to Lisbon this weekend.
The 41st annual celebration of the gentian root-flavored beverage and its distinct orange label will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, July 11-13, with a luau-inspired, “Hang Loose, Drink Moxie!” theme, according to organizers.
Originally called Moxie Nerve Medicine, the soft drink that now ranks high on lists of iconic Maine products was formulated in the late 19th century to be, as the inventor’s son described in one account “neither a medicine nor a mere soda fountain drink, but something between the two.”
The resulting flavor is often described as a pairing of a familiar soda, like root beer or Dr. Pepper, with cough syrup, licorice or shampoo. People tend to love it or hate it.
The Moxie Festival dates to 1982. Growing crowds in recent years prompted organizers to move the majority of this year’s events to the Lisbon High School fields at 2 Sugg Drive.
The festival will feature what organizers say is the largest parade in the state of Maine, a Moxie 5K road race, a Moxie chugging contest, a whoopee pie eating contest, a Moxie recipe contest, a fireworks display, Moxie car show with hundreds of classic cars, hula dance lessons and a kids corner with bounce houses, slides and more.
Each day’s program will include free public concerts, including performances by tributes to The Eagles, Jimmy Buffett and Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on a full-sized stage with shade tents for audience members.
Dozens of vendors, crafters, and food trucks will be on hand.
For more information, visit the festival’s website, or call the Lisbon Parks and Recreation office at 207-353-2289.
