Baxter Brewing Co. is partnering with mill neighbors, DaVinci’s Eatery and Maine’s premier folk duo, The Squid Jiggers, in bringing Lewiston-Auburn an entertaining and tasty way to experience the first night of the annual Great Falls Balloon Festival, while raising money for another mill neighbor, Museum L-A.

On Friday night, August 19, a $30 ticket provides: a BBQ feast provided by DaVinci’s; two beers from Baxter (additional beer and wine available); a private tour of the Baxter facilities; free parking; and a concert under the night sky from the Squid Jiggers. A portion of proceeds from the event will benefit Museum L/A, which will also be hosting a benefit raffle during the evening.

Tickets are limited to the first 200 reservations only—when they’re gone, they’re gone!—and are available in the Tasting Room at Baxter Brewing (now open Thursday through Sunday from noon to 6 p.m); by calling the brewery at 333-6769; or at the gate, if there are any left.

Free parking for ticket holders is provided in the Museum L-A parking lot on Canal Street by the old DaVinci’s. Dinner and the show itself will take place in the Fountain Courtyard adjacent to DaVinci’s on Mill Street. Gates will open at 6 p.m.; dinner is served beginning at 6:30 p.m.; and the Squid Jiggers start at 7:30 p.m. Please note: This event is for those 21 and over only!

Baxter Brewing Co. is a Maine-based micro craft brewery, which is the first brewery of its kind in the state to can all of its beer.

Museum L-A is a private, non-profit organization founded in 1996 by local attorney Elliott Epstein at the close of the City of Lewiston’s Bicentennial celebration, in order to fulfill the Bicentennial’s goal of creating a permanent memorial to local history. Primarily run and driven by volunteers during the first decade, early work consisted largely of salvaging and preserving industrial artifacts from closing businesses.

The first paid staff joined in 2004 and Museum L-A has gradually increased over the years in both staffing and services offered; it now sustains a variety of full-time positions supporting growing numbers of programs and events.

The Squid Jiggers are Maine-based folk duo comprised of inveterate musician-entertainers Dave Rowe and Troy R. Bennett. They took their name from the A.R. Scammell song, “The Squid Jigging Ground,” which relates the good-natured—and inky—story of fishing for squid in the North Atlantic.

They accompany their vocal harmonies on guitar, bass, bodhran, harmonica, concertina and tin whistles. They sing traditional and original songs of the Old Sod, Atlantic Canada and their own granite-bound coast.

Dave was brought up on the Maine music scene, learning the music trade literally at the feet of his late father, Tom, while the elder Rowe was traveling the country playing bass guitar with Schooner Fare. Starting out as a young roadie and coffee gofer for his dad, Dave began playing out professionally as a bassist at the age of 15, and hasn’t had a real job since!

In 1993 the Rowe men got together and formed a duo, which eventually became known as Turkey Hollow when Denny Breau joined. With Tom’s passing in 2004, Dave formed the critically acclaimed Dave Rowe Trio, with which he continues to tour as lead vocalist, and guitarist. With the formation of The Squid Jiggers, Dave comes full circle, picking up his dad’s trademark Steinberger bass guitar and playing many of the songs he used to hear Schooner Fare perform so many years ago.

Troy grew up collecting Schooner Fare ticket stubs and albums. He started his professional career touring with the Portland, Maine Irish band, Rakish Paddy. Upon leaving Rakish Paddy he adopted the gypsy life, traveling Europe with his guitar, collecting stories and busking on street corners. He eventually buckled down, studying Anglo-Irish literature at University College Galway and the University of Southern Maine.

On his return to the states, he started a Celtic duo called Bailey’s Mistake, as well as the Half Moon Jug Band, a high-octane folk group specializing in new uses for kazoos and banjos. The Half Moon Jug Band continues to tour extensively across New England. When not playing with Jug Band or The Squid Jiggers, Troy travels southern Maine with his trusty co-pilot, “Hook the Wonder Dog,” making tintypes and collecting rare phonograph records.