BELFAST — More than 50 vendors set up shop July 12 and 13 on Belfast's waterfront as the city's 18th annual Arts in the Park festival took over the seaside with an impressive array of unique wares.

Midcoast residents and visitors alike spent the weekend wandering the different booths, kept company by a constant stream of live music performed by local groups, including the Belfast Bay Fiddlers.

One booth set up a stone's throw from the musician's tent was run by volunteers for the Game Loft, who handed out free hand-muddled mint water and popcorn to visitors.

"There have been more than 20 different volunteers [at the booth] over the last two days," said Stephen Colby, long-time Game Loft enthusiast and current employee.

The Game Loft, which opened Feb. 1, 1998, began its existence as All About Games - a retail store. It wasn't until after the shop was regularly inundated with "youth of all ages," who wanted to play nonelectronic games that the owners began to reevaluate their venture. At first they tried to create a hybrid that functioned as both a store and a teen hangout, but before long the retail portion was removed, and what remained was the Game Loft — a volunteer-run community center on a mission: promoting positive youth development through gaming and community involvement.

Colby, a student at USM and frequenter of the Game Loft during his youth, said this is the Game Loft's sixth or seventh time setting up a booth at Arts in the Park. Beyond receiving a small donation for assistance with the set-up and take-down of the many booths, the event provides a chance to reach out to the community.

"We handed out more than 150 [mint-waters] yesterday," Colby said, "and made about $800 selling hotdogs and hamburgers."

Generous visitors donated an additional $200 Saturday — generosity is not a virtue in short-demand by community volunteers, who ensure the organization stays open and accessible during the long summer days.

During the school year, "we have more than 120 kids regularly enrolled," Colby said, "and about 200 drop-ins."

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com