The annual United Methodist Church (UMC) Country Fair and Lobster Roll Luncheon and Cookie Walk returned to its original in-person format this year. Held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., the event drew a steady stream of people to Southport Town Hall July 17. For those coming to the luncheon with friends or family who didn’t think lobster was “all that,” a hot dog lunch was served with a bag of potato chips and homemade cupcake with ice tea or lemonade.

Helping out with the dessert and chips in the kitchen was former Southport Memorial Library Librarian Linda Brewer, a lifetime church member. “My mother walked me to Sunday School,” she said, showing off a cupcake decorated with a leaf and blueberry. Indeed, all of the cupcakes looked delicious, some with tall, airy white frosting to others topped with chocolate icing and a chunk of chocolate. 

Elaine Fearnside and Becky Poulin made the lobster rolls and a plan for 100. Poulin said each sandwich has a 1/4 pound of lobster. “We only use the claws and knuckles in the sandwiches,” said Fearnside. “The tails can be a little chewy.”

The “Drink Ladies,” as they’re known, are Karen Curtis and Miriam Wade. They have been serving the beverages for many years. Why? “It’s fun to meet everybody,” Wade said. 

After lunch was the cookie walk. People walked along the tables laden with sweet, crunchy and soft cookies thanks to the women of Southport United Methodist Church. The star bakers were Liz Furber, Deb Tukey, Barbara Widmayer, Claudia Perra, Sue McLeod and Nancy Harriman. Ted Widmayer was at the cookie table handing out the boxes for those ready to take the walk.

What temptations did walkers find? Oatmeal chocolate coconut, peanut butter, coconut white chocolate chip and walnut, a.k.a. the Island Cookie; gluten-free lime peanut butter, World’s Best Cookie, snickerdoodles with and without nuts; chocolate and coffee; and Argo cookies the bakers likened to the hermit cookie. 

If any cookies remain, they are sold at Southport Memorial Library, according to Harriman. “It’s an informal arrangement and they are very sweet to be doing it,” she said. 

By noon, 50 lobster roll lunches had been enjoyed and a few hot dogs. At that time, it appeared the number of people coming to the luncheon wasn’t up to pre-COVID 19 years. “This is the first year since COVID that we’ve returned to the original format. It will take a while for people to know things are like they were before,’ said Harriman.

This event benefits local agencies such as Rebuilding Together, Set for Success, Camp Mechuwana, Lincoln County’s New Hope, Boothbay Region Food Pantry, and Community Fridge.