BELFAST — Celebrants of Belfast’s fourth annual Ukulele Festival took to the waterfront to enjoy a day of food, music and fun on June 2.  (Listen to it live here: http://belfastcommunityradio.org/listen/wbfy-stream/)

At a cost of $5 per person, enthusiasts had two venues to choose from, including a main tent and the gazebo. Nine musical acts performed under the main tent for 30 minutes each, while five bands played for 15 minutes each at the gazebo.

One of those groups, Dexter Middle School and High School Ukulele Group, featured teens of various ages, along with a smattering of adults that group founder Susan Abel said they’d “picked up along the way.”

Abel, who is recently retired, was formerly a librarian at Dexter High School, and founded the group last year. Practices for the group take place before school, with Abel estimating they had roughly 10 kids join initially.

“Some had never played before and some were a bit more experienced,” Abel said.

One member of the group with experience is Dexter High sophomore Emily Albair, who said she began playing the ukulele in eighth-grade.

The group has performed in a variety of settings, including grange halls, a hot dog festival and a Kiwanis talent show.

Though members of the group attended the event last year as visitors, this marked their first performance at the Belfast Ukulele Festival.

“It was really fun,” Albair said after the group’s performance.

In addition to the variety of musical acts, there were also ukuleles for sale and workshops available for those whose “uke” fascination had taken a turn for the serious.

For those who worked up an appetite, Delvino’s offered a number of lunch options, while Stone Fox Creamery was on hand for those looking for something sweeter.

With the sound of music filling the air, along with food, fun, and the always spectacular view, the day was a partially sunny success.

The ukulele group responsible for the annual event, the Midcoast Ukes, brought the festival to a close with their concert under the main tent.

Isabel Hollins, a volunteer at the festival and member of the Midcoast Ukes, estimated the visitors at around 100 halfway through the event.

“It’s just gotten better and better every year,” she said.

All the proceeds from this year’s festival will go toward next year’s event.

Erica Thoms can be reached at news@penbaypilot.com