City: Camden, ME

Category: Annual Events & Festivals

Telephone: (207) 236-1034

Address: P.O. Box 882

Description: Unusual though it may sound for a town of 5,000 far away from any major metropolis to host an influential conference on foreign affairs, that’s just what happens every February in Camden. The Camden Conference got its start in 1987, drawing on the experience of retirees from the CIA and the Foreign Service, and it has evolved over the years into a real draw. High-ranking mucky-mucks turn out every year for two days of seminars and discussions on such topics as: Islam, the global environment, the world’s population, and issues related to the countries of Latin America as well as Russia, China, and Japan. The whole town gets involved—area restaurants serve food, art galleries have shows, there are book discussions and concerts, and schoolchildren do research, all on the year’s theme. Definitely unique, undeniably informative, the program is worth exploring. Call or check the Web site for the current year’s topic.