BAR HARBOR, ME — Rainy weather didn’t deter 291 volunteers from turning out for the 34th annual Take Pride in Acadia Day on Saturday, Nov. 7, to help care for Acadia National Park’s historic carriage road system.

Organized by Friends of Acadia in partnership with Acadia National Park, the longstanding fall tradition brings together community members of all ages to help prepare the park’s 45 miles of carriage roads for winter.

Armed with rakes and raincoats, volunteers cleared leaves and debris from drainage ditches along 23 different segments of carriage roads located around the park.

The annual maintenance is essential to protecting Acadia’s historic carriage road system. Keeping drainage ditches clear allows rainwater and snowmelt to flow away from the road surfaces, helping prevent erosion, washouts, and costly damage during winter storms and spring thaws.

“It was incredible to see so many people willing to spend a rainy Saturday morning raking ditches and getting their hands dirty to help Acadia,” said Brian Sale, Friends of Acadia’s Stewardship Manager. “The one upside of the rain was that we could see exactly where drainage was blocked and water was pooling. All the work people accomplished, raking the leaves to unclog the drainage, will make a real difference in keeping the carriage roads in good shape through the winter. We’re so grateful to everyone who came out.”

Volunteers came from Mount Desert Island, across Maine, and even farther afield. Marlene Cosner, who spent the morning raking leaves along the Witch Hole Carriage Road Connector, drove 700 miles from Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, to join the event. “I knew [the rain] was coming, but I prepared,” she said. “I’m loving being up here and doing my part for beautiful Acadia National Park, because I love this place so much.”

After a morning of hard work, volunteers gathered under tents in the Hulls Cove Visitor Center parking area to enjoy the event’s famous four “Cs”: chili, cornbread, cider, and cake.

“One of my favorite things about Take Pride in Acadia Day is seeing so many familiar faces, along with new ones, come together around our shared love for the park,” said Stephanie Clement, Friends of Acadia’s Vice President of Conservation. “Even with the rain, there was such a wonderful spirit of camaraderie. We’re incredibly fortunate to have a community that cares so deeply about this park and is willing to pitch in to protect it.”

Friends of Acadia extends its thanks to all the volunteers who participated, Acadia National Park staff, and lead sponsor Chilton Trust for helping make the day possible.

We are also grateful to our event sponsors: Acadia Bike & Coastal Kayaking Tours, Bar Harbor Bank & Trust, Bar Harbor Savings & Loan, Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company, Beal’s Lobster Pier, The Bluenose Inn – Lafayette Hotels, Burdick & Associates Landscape Design, Debbahs, Galyn’s Restaurant, Geddy’s, Gideon Asen, John Williams Boat Company, Jordan Pond House/ExplorUS, MDI Grows Landscape Services, Mount Desert Island Hospital, Nor’Easter Pound & Market, Peruvian Link Bar Harbor, Riverside Group, and Wright-Ryan Homes.