Maine Annual "Can't Miss" Festivals & Events (click on your favorite season, below)
Winter (December, January, February)
===== Early December Annual Christmas By The Sea Throughout the towns of Camden/Rockport/Lincolnville, Maine
Throughout the entire weekend Christmas festivities are the order of the day in this beautifully decorated community in Midcoast Maine, from sleigh rides and visits with Santa to Craft Fairs and special shopping discounts with local merchants. Santa arrives on a lobster boat! More more info: (207) 236-4404 or 1-800-223-5459 (toll free)
An entire day of fun for the whole family as Santa, Mrs. Claus and friends arrive by boat. Horse drawn wagon rides, holiday craft fair, lap time with Santa and Mrs. Clause. Lighting of the Town Tree, holiday carols, live nativity at the Catholic Church, followed by a spectacular lighted boat parade. For more info: (207) 633-2353 or (800) 266-8422 (toll free)
Shaker Christmas Fair is a traditional holiday fair that fills nine rooms of the 1816 Trustee's Office and the holiday red garage with many holiday offerings highlighted by Shaker homemade baked goods. Gifts for all ages. "Come one, come all"! For more info: (207) 926-4597.
An annual celebration of Farmington's favorite son, Chester Greenwood, the inventor of the earmuff! There will be a parade (celebrating everything earmuff) at 11:00am through Downtown Farmington. Following the raising of the Chester Greenwood flag at the Superior Court building, the Chamber will be serving Cake and Chili in the Gazebo at Meetinghouse Park. The public will vote for the best chili entry, and a cash prize will be awarded. The Historical Society will be selling wreaths at the Titcomb House, and there will be a "Festival of Trees" display at the Granary Restaurant. The area Polar Bear Club will also be making their annual dip into frigid Clearwater Lake at 3:00pm, always a crowd pleaser!
This weekend includes snowmobile activities including snowmobile drag racing, exhibits and trophies awarded by spectator voting. The Snowfest is sponsored by the Norway Trackers Snowmobile Club and features homemade soups, chowder, chili, breads, beverages and desserts. For more info: 207-527-2175
This a family oriented fun filled weekend featuring dog sledding, skijoring races, snowmobile parade, horse drawn sled rides, polar bear dunk, ice fishing, ice skating and many more outdoor activities. You will also find a crafts fair and tasty food! Sponsored by the Greater Bridgton Lakes Region Chamber of Commerce and Downeast Sled Dog Club.
===== Early February U.S. National Toboggan Championships Camden, Maine
Over 300 teams compete in various divisions for the title of the fastest toboggan on ice. The event starts on Friday with final runs concluding Sunday afternoon. This event is sure to break up the cabin fever! Pre-registration is required. For more info visit: www.camdensnowbowl.com
===== Mid February Caribou Winter Carnival/Snowmobile Festival Caribou,Maine
Where are you going to be this February? You won't want to miss Caribou Winter Carnival & Snowmobile Festival! Ski-ing, shows, dinners, dances, snowmobile drag racing, parades, bonfires, family events, fireworks and more!! For more information visit: Caribou, Maine Free Admission.
===== Late February Annual DerbyFest and Annual WinterFest Casco, Maine
This is interesting weekend featuring all sorts of winter activities including car racing on ice, ice racing for motorcycles, ice fishing derby, skating, snowshoeing, sliding, snowmobile events and a polar bear dunk. There is also ice and snow carving by professional and amateur carvers as well. This weekend is packed with exciting activities sponsored by the Sebago Lake Rotary Club and the Maine Snow and Ice Sculpting Foundation.
We invite you to a rare place where you can witness the most challenging sled dog race in the eastern United States. For twelve years Can-Am Crown has organized high quality racing events designed for the enjoyment of mushers, spectators, and dog teams. For more info: Dog Sled Races
===== Mid to late March New England Products Trade Show Portland Sports Complex Portland, Maine
The New England Products Trade Show is the only wholesale buyers show in the country dedicated to presenting hand-crafted giftware, home & garden furnishings, and specialty foods exclusively created within New England. With more than 300 companies represented, this juried event blends the best selection of products manufactured in New England with a friendly, unhurried atmosphere. For more info visit: New England Products Trade Show.
Enjoy the first sweet taste of spring in Maine! Join Maine's maple Producers each spring as they celebrate Maine Maple Sunday - the day when sugar makers around the State open the doors of their sugarhouses for the public to join them in their rites of spring - making maple syrup. Most sugarhouses offer free tasting and a live demonstration of how syrup is produced, from tap to table. Many offer a variety of other treats and activities, including syrup on pancakes or ice cream, sugarbush tours, sleigh or wagon rides, and lots more. Many sugarhouses will arrange special tours and demonstrations for groups on other days as well.
The Annual Bangor Garden Show is a true harbinger of Spring. The Show features life sized garden displays in full bloom, gardening and plant related vendors,a Standard Flower Show,Container Garden and Window Box competitions, a three day lecture/demonstration series, a Saturday Night Auction geared to the gardening enthusiast, a Gala Preview Night.
The Moosehead Lake Region hosts a month long celebration of the Moose each year. There are several activities throughout the month including a canoe race, mountain bike race, biking tour, rowing regatta, craft fair, kid's day and moose tales.
For three days each May, a wide variety of birds enter the Maine area for spring migration and the breeding season. There are several species that arrive including geese, ducks, teal mergansers, flycatchers, thrushes, sparrows, warblers, American bitterns, owls and more. There is a 100 registrant limit and registrants receive guided hikes as well as formal presentations. You also have the option of taking a boat trip for an additional fee.
Join us for a look back into time as Windsor Fairgrounds comes alive with a agricultural tradition, a farm and fiber festival. Along with 75 vendors displaying their fiber related products and demonstrations throughout the weekend, you’ll find yourself engaged in the farm & fiber community of Maine. The Fiber Frolic offers sheep dog trials and demos, sheep shearing, fleece show & sale, used equipment marketplace,llama fun show,judged fiber goat show, 4-H demonstrations, educational workshops & lectures (on spinning, felting, knitting, weaving, rug hooking, animal health and rearing), a kid’s area and the Maine llama Drill Team.
The kick-off to the festival season in Maine, this family festival is sure to be fun for all. A parade featuring Portland's own Shoestring Theater Puppet Company, music, entertainment, cuisine from around the world, and children's activities.
Celebrate the Acadian Heritage with Madawaska. This event features traditional food, a parade, music and crafts. There are also fireworks, family reunions and a bed race.
The twenty-fourth anniversary of the La Kermesse featuring the celebration of all customs and traditions with continuous entertainment, fireworks, parade, block party, food and more.
Full rigged windjammers sail into the harbor. Two fun-filled days of harbor side concerts, fireworks, an antique boat parade, a street parade, games and activities for the children, and plenty of food.
This is one of the largest events that happens each year and dates back to 1975. The event attracts tens of thousands of people and features strawberries galore. Ample portions of strawberry shortcake complete with shipped cream and biscuits will be available as well as a variety of other activities including homemade wares, photos, paintings, jewelry, furniture, candles, clothing, jams, dips, pottery, wooden items and more. There will also be a live band and fireworks. Shuttles are available from various parking areas in town. For more info: 207-384-4436
Come and celebrate the beauty of this land in this historic port city on the Atlantic Ocean. Four days full of celebration and revelry, music, largest 4th of July parade in Maine, food, crafts, contests, fireworks, and more.
In honor of the world famous soft drink, Moxie, a beverage of distinctive taste. Music, entertainment, food, fireworks, bed race and carnival games.
===== Mid July Greek Heritage Festival Saco, Maine
Hosted by the St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church, the Greek Heritage Festival features Greek music, food, kid's activities, church tours and more. More info call: 207-284-5651
This annual festival features a potato picking contest, Potato Blossom Queen Pageants and Maine's longest parade. You'll also enjoy live music, fireworks and more. For more info: 207-472-3802
A three-day event including a parade, free performances, a juried craft show, an art show, sports contests, a carnival and a variety of free family-oriented activities. As always, clams are the feature menu item in the locally run food court.
Along with tons of Maine lobsters, this world famous New England summer event features maritime displays and demonstrations, Maine arts and crafts, harbor cruises, contests, lots of wonderful entertainment, a giant parade, and much more. Times: 11:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
A celebration of the blueberry harvest that lasts all weekend long and offers a real old fashioned good time. A children's parade, a fish fry, a homemade blueberry pancake breakfast, arts & craft show and more. For more info:
One of the largest hot air balloon festivals in northern New England with balloons filling the skies of Lewiston and Auburn, plus food, entertainment, vendors, carnival rides, and balloon rides. Fees: Free admission.
This event features bagpipe bands, Highland and Scottish dancing, Scottish vendors and crafts, folk singing and much more. Fees: Adults $10; children ages 6- 12 $5; under 5 free.
Experience again the American Folk Festival with traditional performers from across the country who will continue to celebrate the richness and variety of American culture in this free, 3-day, multi-stage event.
A seaside festival celebrating the Atlantic Salmon industry on the Maine coast. Free parking and free admission. Music, two day arts and craft show. Saturday Chowder dinners, Sunday great Salmon dinners, boat tours of the salmon pens, industry information, and a slide show on salmon aquaculture. Lots of fun in a stunning setting. Other activities included Maine wine tent, architectural tour, motorcycle show, dances and ice cream social.
Come to the Fair and see why Downeast Magazine calls Common Ground "Maine's most authentic country fair, uniting, as it does, old-time folkways with progressive ideas about living the good life on a fragile planet. The Fair allows fair-goers to make connections with a rapidly expanding base of organic farms in the state of Maine. Share knowledge about sustainable living; eat delicious, organic, Maine-grown food; buy and sell beautiful Maine crafts and useful agricultural products; compete in various activities; dance; sing and have a great time.
Come, Relax and enjoy the great sounds of bluegrass. Local artists and "from away." All day event so bring a picnic or enjoy our great feasts. Fresh apples and Cider, Great pies and fudge. A family friendly event of fun and relaxation!
Join the best chefs in Freeport for the 14th Annual Freeport Chowdah Challenge! This year the attending audience will judge entries and crown the chowdah champ. All proceeds benefit Freeport Community Services. For more info visit:
We have about 3000 animals on the grounds for eight days - dairy, beef, draft show horses and ponies, pulling horses and oxen, a forestry research center, an agricultural exhibition center, a flower show, a llama show and fiber demonstration, sheep dog trials and a huge parade on Saturday. Of course there is a midway with local and commercial food vendors, as well as amusement rides.
This colonial themed festival includes a variety of activities: live bands, an ox roast, bean hole beans and crafters from all over the country. Harvestfest also includes a SeniorFest, KidsFest, Antique Car Show, a POW-WOW, hayrides and more. For more info call: 207-363-4422.
Weekend-long festivities including scarecrow contest, pumpkin decorating, scavenger hunt, ghost stories, marketplace and much more. Sponsored by the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce.
Cookies, hot chocolate, music and Santa Claus. Countdown to the lighting at Cape Neddick Lighthouse for the holiday season. Shuttle service from Ellis Park at Short Sands Beach.
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Do you have an annual event in Maine that is unique and fun? Send an email to: editor@theheartofnewengland.com in the following format: