Father’s Day weekend and you don’t know what to do for dad? Well here’s an idea: how about taking him to the 8th annual Maine Blues Festival held in Naples and always on Father’s Day weekend.

There will be 40 live acts and bands performing at 12 venues. How easy is that? The festival runs from Friday, June 14, through Sunday, June 16. Come for one day or for all three.

You will need to buy a ticket. The cost per day is $12 in advance or $16 on the day of the festival for ages 13 and older; children under 12 are free.

There is a “Cruise-in” on Saturday at Naples Town Beach, so bring your antique or classic cars and show off a bit. The Cruise-in is from noon to 6 p.m. and everyone in your car can get a MBF ticket for the reduced price of $10. There is also going to be a guitar raffle — but not just any guitar — this one is a cigar box guitar.

Yes, you read that right. It’s made by artisan Jim Savage from a Federal Cigar box. To see how it was made, go to: www.mainebluesfestival.com/guitarraffle.cfm

So go for a few hours or a few days, but go.

You’ll love it, and so will dad.

For more information about festival events go to:  www.mainebluesfestival.com

For more ideas while you are in Naples, read on.

Causeway Dairy Bar

894 Roosevelt Trail

Naples

561-0982

www.facebook.com/ourdairybar

It’s right on the causeway and I can vouch for the wonderful ice cream they serve, but they also have sandwiches so stop in. If you’re there on Saturday between 2 and 4:30 p.m., you can enjoy listening to Dave Mello, a one man blues band. Mello will also perform from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Saturday at Sandy’s on Long Lake.

Captain Jack’s

34 Naples Marina Lane

Naples

693-5225

www.facebook.com/CaptainJacksNaples

You can either drive your car or your boat to Captain Jack’s at the Naples Marina. Stop in there on Friday night between 6 and 9 p.m. and sit on the deck and listen to the blues sounds of The Pat Pepin Duo. To hear a sample of the music, go to: www.youtube.com/user/patipep

Singletrack Cycle Shop

15 Kilton Drive

Naples

318-2387

Other than your feet, a bike is the easiest way to get around during the festival. Check out this shop, they have rentals and can fill all your biking needs.

Maine Antique Bottle and Glass Museum

23 Naples Green

Naples

939-0205

Walt Bannon is the owner of this unusual shop showcasing antique bottles and glass and he can give you a tour of the shop and tell you the story of most of the pieces he has. And, on Saturday from noon to 7 p.m., there will be various blues artists performing on the Village Green just outside the shop. There will also be vendors and children’s activities from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Songo River Queen II

Route 302 “The Causeway”

841 Roosevelt Trail

Naples

693-6861

www.songoriverqueen.net

What could be better than live music while aboard this historic Mississippi River-style paddle wheeler? Blues cruises will be offered on Friday, from 7 to 9 p.m., featuring the Delta Knights, and on Saturday The Blues Hounds will be aboard from noon to 2 p.m.; Mark Miller & Friends from 3 to 5 p.m.; and Denny Breau from 6 to 8 p.m.

Cruises will continue Sunday, with the Bellamy Jazz Band performing from noon to 2 p.m. and Downeast Soul Coalition from 3 to 5 p.m.

And, performing dockside from 9:30 to 11:30 p.m. on Friday, will be the Ann Marie Smith Blues Band, and from 9 p.m. to close on Saturday, the Blue Willow Band.  

For ticket information, go to: www.songoriverqueen.net/blues

The Galley Restaurant & Pub

327 Roosevelt Trail

Naples

693-1002

www.thegalleyseafoodpub.com

There won’t be any blues artists performing here, but you will find award-winning lobster sandwiches and other great food to satisfy your hunger. So, stop off here on your way to or from the festival and see what’s cookin’.

Maine Blues Festival 2013

Friday, June 14

(wristbands required; cover charge possible)

• Bray’s Brewpub & Eatery

Routes 302 and 35 (at the light), Naples

6-9 p.m., biergarten, Blues Steel Express

9:30 p.m. to close, inside stage, Jimmy & The Soulcats

• The Freedom Café and Pub

923 Roosevelt Trail, Naples

9 p.m. to close, Mark Miller & Friends

• Rick’s Café and Restaurant

Route 302, Naples

9 p.m. to close, The Bad Daddys

• Sandy’s on Long Lake Restaurant and Bar

907 Roosevelt Trail, Naples

7-9 p.m., Denny Breau

• Songo River Queen II

Route 302 “The Causeway,” Naples

7-9 p.m., onboard, Delta Knights

9:30-11:30 p.m., dockside, Annmarie Smith Blues Band

• Point Sebago

261 Point Sebago Road, Casco

7-9 p.m., Matt & the Barnburners

• The Lost Lobstah

828 Roosevelt Trail, Naples

6-9 p.m., Brookside Blues Band

• Captain Jack’s at Naples Marina

34 Naples Marina Lane, Naples

6-9 p.m., The Pat Pepin Duo

• Village Side Restaurant

377 Roosevelt Trail Trail, Naples

9 p.m. to close, Dr. Dann and the Off Mission Blues Band

Saturday, June 15

(wristbands required; shuttle buses provided)

• Village Green

15 Village Green Lane, Naples

Noon to 1 p.m., Luther James

1 to 2:20 p.m., The Bad Daddys

2:20-3:40 p.m., Blues In The Works

3:40-5 p.m., Lake Region High School Skazz Kats

• Naples Pizza & Dugout

1124 Roosevelt Trail, Naples

5 to 7 p.m., Brad Hooper

• U.F.O. Ice Cream Parlor & Wine Shop

2-4 p.m., Trailer Trash (beer tasting from 1 to 3 p.m. and wine tasting from 3 to 5 p.m.)

• The Freedom Café and Pub

923 Roosevelt Trail, Naples

1:30-3 p.m., Black Cat Road

3-4:30 p.m., Preservation Blues Band

4-6 p.m., Forest City Drifters

6-7:30 p.m., Poke Chop & the Other White Meat

7:30-9 p.m., D.W. Gill & the Blues Prophets

9 p.m. to close, Juke Joint Devils

• Sandy’s on Long Lake Restaurant and Bar

907 Roosevelt Trail, Naples

10:30 a.m. to noon, Brad Hooper

1:30-3 p.m., Dave McKelway

3-4:30 p.m., Samuels, Midgley & Trippe

4:30-6 p.m., Mary Murphy

6-7:30 p.m., Dave Mello

7:30-9 p.m., Trailer Trash

• Causeway Dairy Bar

894 Roosevelt Trail, Naples

2-4:30 p.m., Dave Mello

• Village Side Restaurant

377 Roosevelt Trail Trail, Naples

6 to 7:30 p.m., Bad King Bosko

8 to 10 p.m., Samuels, Midgley & Trippe

• Rick’s Café and Restaurant

Route 302, Naples

2-4 p.m., upstairs, The Blues Dogz Duo

9 p.m. to close, downstairs, Bonnie Edwards & the Practical Cats

• Captain Jack’s at Naples Marina

34 Naples Marina Lane, Naples

4 to 6 p.m., Poor Howard & Bullfrog

6 to 9 p.m., Annmarie Smith Blues Band

• Songo River Queen II

Route 302 “The Causeway,” Naples

Noon to 2 p.m., onboard, The Blues Hounds

3-5 p.m., onboard, Mark Miller & Friends

6-8 p.m., onboard, Denny Breau

9 p.m. to close, dockside, Blue Willow Band

• The Lost Lobstah

828 Roosevelt Trail, Naples

3-4:30 p.m., Roy-Hudson Band

4:30-6:30 p.m., Wicked Blues Band

6:30-9 p.m., Ragged Jack

• Merced’s on Brandy Pond

On “The Causeway,” Naples

1-2 p.m., JC & the Aces

2-3:25 p.m., The Sensations

3:25-4:50 p.m., Jimmy & the Soulcats

4:50-6:15 p.m., Pam Baker & the SG’s

6:15-7:35 p.m., Blue Steel Express

7:35-9 p.m., The Blind Lemons

9 p.m. to close, Johnny & the Blues Dogz

• Bray’s Brewpub & Eatery

Routes 302 and 35 (at the light), Naples

1-2 p.m., Rick Miller & his Band

2-3:25 p.m., Matt & the Barnburners

3:25-4:50 p.m., The Colwell Brothers

4:50-6:15 p.m., The Tone Kings

6:15-7:35 p.m., Memphis Lightning

7:35-9 p.m., Pat Pepin Project

9 p.m. to close, 8th annual All-Star Blues Jam, hosted by New Blues Review with special guest Justin Lindsay

Sunday, June 16

(no wristbands required; cover charge may apply)

• The Freedom Café and Pub

923 Roosevelt Trail, Naples

1 p.m., Mark Miller

• Songo River Queen II

Route 302 “The Causeway,” Naples

Noon to 2 p.m., onboard, Bellamy Jazz Band

3-5 p.m., onboard, Downeast Soul Coalition

• Captain Jack’s at Naples Marina

34 Naples Marina Lane, Naples

1-4 p.m., Colwell Brothers Duo

4-7 p.m., Black Cat Duo

• Bray’s Brewpub & Eatery

Routes 302 and 35 (at the light), Naples

1:30-4:30 p.m., biergarten, The Lazy Susans

5:30-8:30 p.m., biergarten, The Maine Blues Mafia

8:30 p.m. to close, inside stage, Bray’s Sunday Blues Jam

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