Schoodic National Scenic Byway Receives National Scenic Byway Association Award for Outstanding Leveraging of Resources
Media Advisory contributed by Sharon Strouse, Executive Director, National Scenic Byway Association, Sharon.Strouse@NSBAssociation.com
MILLERSBURG, OH (April 3, 2026) – The National Scenic Byway Association is proud to recognize the Schoodic National Scenic Byway with a 2026 Byway Award for Outstanding Leveraging of Resources, celebrating a 25th anniversary festival that turned a milestone into a meaningful community investment along Maine’s working coast.
On June 14, 2025, the Schoodic National Scenic Byway Committee organized a milestone festival at the Sorrento-Sullivan Recreation Center to mark the byway’s 25th anniversary. The event brought together local artisans, food trucks, and regional musicians — and did something remarkable: all proceeds were donated directly back to the recreation center that hosted the event.
The festival also offered hands-on, authentic experiences that reflect the byway’s distinctive character. Attendees learned to split native Maine granite using traditional hand tools, sampled freshly harvested kelp from Maine Coast Sea Vegetables, explored handmade goods from a dozen local crafters, and engaged with Healthy Acadia’s programs. The byway’s “Kids Quest” educational program kept younger visitors engaged, while Friends of Taunton Bay hosted a water quality exhibit and local lobstermen shared the lifecycle of their trade. The result was an event that was both a celebration and a practical demonstration of the byway’s role as an economic engine for its communities.
“Twenty-five years ago, volunteers created this byway to pull tourism away from the crowded roads around Bar Harbor and into our working fishing villages,” said Allen Colebank of the Schoodic National Byway Committee. “This festival proved that strategy still works — and that we can use a byway milestone to put real dollars back into the neighborhood.”
“The Schoodic National Scenic Byway’s anniversary celebration is a masterclass in community-centered stewardship,” said Sharon Strouse, Executive Director of the National Scenic Byway Association. “They didn’t just throw a party — they turned a byway milestone into a funding mechanism, a visitor experience, and a demonstration of what it means to truly invest in the places and people along your route.”
Learn more about the Schoodic National Scenic Byway at schoodicnationalbyway.org.
The National Scenic Byway Association is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization serving as The National Voice of Scenic Byways and Roads, dedicated to strengthening Byways through education, training and shared expertise. It is the vision of the National Scenic Byway Association that our nation’s designated Byways will be recognized and valued worldwide for their distinctive experiences, stories, and treasured places.
For more information visit www.nsbfoundation.com; www.travelbyways.com; or email: info@nsbassociation.com.
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P.O. Box 212 Millersburg, OH 44654 330.231.3468