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year of the zabal day 267
9 days until ZAOstock. Here is everything you need to know to decide whether to come.
What it is
One street, one stage, eight independent acts back to back, and nothing to pay. ZAOstock runs from noon to 6 pm Eastern on Saturday, October 3, on the Franklin Street Parklet in downtown Ellsworth, Maine. It is free, it is all ages, and it is part of the 9th Annual Art of Ellsworth during Maine Craft Weekend.
The lineup in running order: The Crown Vics, OPEN X, Grass Rug, Acadia Rising, Michael Anderson, DCoop, LyonsDen, Tom Fellenz. Every one of them is a regional act, and each has their own page on the site.
Getting there, and parking
Ellsworth is the crossroads of Downeast Maine and the gateway to Acadia, about 25 miles from Bar Harbor and the park. There is a public parking lot plus free street parking right near the parklet, and no shuttle to work out. You park, you walk, you are there.
If you are making a weekend of it, early October is foliage season here and rooms go quickly. The Ellsworth guide has where to stay, where to eat, and how to do Acadia around the festival.
What the day looks like
Music starts at noon and runs straight through to 6, with the acts back to back rather than spread across a long afternoon of waiting. At 6 the street clears, and Black Moon Public House next door hosts its own evening, which is the official after-party.
Rain or shine, under tent cover. This is coastal Maine in October: roughly a 1-in-3 chance of rain on any given fall day, so a packable rain layer is a smart thing to have in the car either way.
Tickets
Nothing is checked at the parklet. There is no gate, no wristband and no ticket to show, so the only thing worth doing is the free RSVP. It tells us how much water, seating and shelter to plan for, and it takes a moment. RSVP for free.
If you want to help pay for the day, there are two optional tiers. Neither one buys access, an earlier entry or a better spot, because there is no better spot.
Supporter is $20, with 50 spots. It covers artist fees, materials and production, and credits you as a supporter on the festival page.
Pro Ticket is $50, with 20 spots. The same, plus a 1:1 with someone on the ZAO team before the event. Email info@thezao.com once you have taken it and we will schedule that.
The first goal is $1,000, counting every supporter at either tier. The festival runs at break-even. Both tiers are here.
Why this one is worth the drive
A free, independent, one-day festival with a regional lineup does not happen by itself in a small Maine town. This one exists because a group of people decided it should, inside a craft weekend, on a street that closes for it. That is the whole pitch. Nine days.
RSVP for free. See the running order.
- BetterCallZaal on behalf of the ZABAL Team