Things to do / Travel Guide
January
Winter Trails Day (Newry) - The Sunday River Ski Resort touts the winter ski season with free lessons in cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and ice skating - all with free equipment. A real bargain! There's also lots of fun entertainment for the kids, including puppet shows, face painting, and a guided snowshoe trek through the frosty forest.
February
Annual U.S. National Toboggan Championships (Camden) - Come see more than 250 teams from around the U.S. congregate at the Camden Snow Bowl. Teams compete in two-, three-, and four-person toboggan races down Ragged Mountain. Awards are given for such categories as the Spirit Award, Oldest Team, Best Team Uniform, Fastest Family, Fastest Children's Team, and Fastest Women's Team. It's free to watch!
March
Annual Dog Sledding Races (Fort Kent) - Highly competitive 30-, 60-, and 250-mile races bring in mushers from all over the world to Fort Kent to try their hand at winning large cash prizes during this premium sled-racing event. The 250-mile race happens to be a qualifier for the famous Iditarod and Yukon Quest competitions. Fort Kent is hopping as around 600 dogs interact with about 7,000 human visitors. The Can-Am Crown 250 race starting point is on Main Street, and there are numerous spectator viewing points found in the towns of Portage Lake, Eagle Lake, St. John, St Francis, and Allagash. There are breakfast parties and even a musher's banquet that make this event a ton of fun for the whole gang. Dates vary from year to year, and it's free for spectators.
April
Fisherman's Festival (Boothbay Harbor) - The last weekend every April brings the Fishermen's Festival to Boothbay Harbor. This quirky, but fun, event offers trap hauling, a cod fish relay, a fish fry, a lobster crate race, a boat parade, and a competition for the highly-prized title of Miss Shrimp Princess (we hear that last year's winner has really come out of her shell). It's free!
June
The Old Port Festival - The Old Port Festival is held every June in the downtown Old Port District of Portland. The event is a gateway to all the other events happening during the “Festival Season.” The highlight of the event is the parade, which features the city's own Shoestring Theatre Puppet Company. Entertainment continues all day with jazz, country music, rock ‘n roll, and comedy covering more than 10 stages. There is also an international food area, along with fun stuff for kids such as a children's stage, jugglers, and arts and crafts.
Maine International Film Festival - Waterville plays host to the annual Maine International Film Festival every June. Traditional film festival events like competitions, screenings, and talks continue throughout the 10-day program. The festival screens close to 50 independent American and international movies. The festival also hosts the Maine Student Film and Video Festival concurrently.
July
The Yarmouth Clamfest - This three-day event is hailed for its tribute to this little shellfish. Visitors can sample other tasty treats while they're at it, like strawberry shortcakes and blueberry pancakes. Also watch artists ply their trade and crafters crafting, a parade, clowns, and classic cars, sporting events, and even a carnival. There's also lots of live music. This annual event is free to attend, and takes place on various dates in July. One year, the mayor tried to make a speech, but he was told to clam up. Honest.
August
Maine Lobster Festival (Rockland) - A must for any visitor to the Maine Coast is the Maine Lobster Festival! Held annually in the first part of August, the “Maine” focus is, of course, on steaming hot Maine Lobster, served in the Maine Eating Tent while enjoying a view of Penobscot Bay. What could be better? Just watching them cook tons of lobster is worth seeing. There are other events as well, with music, craft booths, and much more. Bring your claw-crackers and a bib for this one!
Machias Wild Blueberry Festival (Machias) - Maine is famous for its blueberry crop, and this festival highlights the delicious little berry in all its glory! There are pie eating contests, food booths, crafts, music, and tons of fun. This is a great family event, held in mid-August annually.
September
Annual Windjammer Weekend (Camden) - This is the biggest gathering of the Maine Windjammer fleets (two- or three-mast hauling sail boats that used to carry granite, ice, logs, lime, and other heavy cargo) and it takes place annually every Labor Day weekend. The free event holds forth in Camden Harbor and fetes the Windjammer industry. There's live music and performances, various nautical activities and demonstrations, a boat parade, fireworks, lobster crate races, and a big talent show.
The Annual Scarecrow Festival (Fort Kent) - The Annual Scarecrow Festival is put on in Fort Kent every fall. This free-to-attend family event offers tons of outdoor fun. Participate in a scarecrow-building contest, tent festival, kids day, a parade, pumpkin hunts, various races, games, family entertainment, and, of course, enjoy the mountains of great food.
October
The Fryeburg Fair - This is Maine's largest annual fair and it takes place in the town of Fryeburg. The fair shows off all the top local produce and livestock. The locals have been putting on this fair for nearly a century and the events cover everything from various animal competitions such as largest bull, baby beef auction, and a horse-pulling contest, to the produce wars, like who has the heaviest pumpkin, the best blueberry pie, and more. There is a ton of food fun and frivolity waiting for you at this one! Admission costs $6-$8 per person.
November
Christmas By The Sea (Camden) - This fun, free, and festive event runs the first week of November annually and brings people from all over to see Santa show up for the holiday season - by way of a lobster boat. You may hear row, row, row instead of ho, ho, ho, but we make no promises! Start the holiday season off with music, horse-drawn wagon rides, a tree-lighting ceremony on the village green, and a holiday house tour of private residences and inns. A real honest-to-goodness old-fashioned Christmas event!
Festival of Lights (Rockland) - At the end of November, Rockland celebrates the start of the holiday season with its annual and free Festival of Lights. Santa Claus arrives by lobster boat before manning his post in Santa's workshop. See Rockland totally decked out in lights, and take part in a great tree lighting ceremony. Then check out the parade of lights and many other related events taking place around Rockland.
December
Victorian Holiday (Portland) - The Old Portland Arts District offers a full month of festive family fun each December. The event starts off with the traditional lighting of the tree in Monument Square. Then, take advantage of free rides in horse-drawn carriages, Victorian-costumed carolers, fantastic lighted windows, an appearance or two from the jolly man himself, and plenty of other special events.
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