“Eating with the Alewives” Dinner

Benton Dam, Benton, Maine on the Sebasticook River north of Waterville. Alewife fishermen hauling crates of alewives to be used as bait up to shore. The fish are caught with dip nets during the annual alewife run upstream to spawn in lakes and ponds. © Photo by Sam Murfitt

Ever want to eat an Alewife? Ever want to learn more about this amazing fish? Come to the Eating With The Alewives dinner on Friday, May 15th at the Benton Grange Hall for a truly unique experience.

The dinner will feature Alewives fresh from the Sebasticook River (smoked, chowder, and fried!!!) and lobster “from the dock”. Cost for the dinner is $15. This includes: 1 Lobster, Alewives cooked various ways, 1 baked potato, 1 vegetable, drinks and dessert.

After the dinner, attendees will have the opportunity to watch the Maine premiere of the documentary Film: Alewife Journey by director: Shirvan Arya. This film chronichles the trials and tribulations of “river herring” as they make their way from sea to river. Mr. Arya will be on hand to discuss his work.

The dinner will take place at the Benton Grange Hall (29 River Road, Benton) on Friday, May 15th. The dinner will go from 5-6:30 pm followed by the film. Cost for the dinner is $15. Tickets for the dinner can be purchased in advance at the Benton Town Office or by calling the Benton Town Office at: 207-453-7191. Credit cards are accepted and Will Call is available.

The Benton Alewife Festival (BAF) will take place the following day on Saturday, May 16th. The BAF will feature, Free Batting Cages and Mini-Golf at the Benton Family Fun Park, Free Tours of the Benton Dam Fish Lift, and much more. Check out the BAF on Facebook at: 2015 Benton Alewife Festival.