28 Best Events and Festivals in Boothbay Harbor, Maine in 2023

Boothbay Harbor is a great place to visit anytime during the year. The town’s calendar of events is full of festivals that locals and visitors alike can enjoy. When you stay in town for Boothbay Harbor events, you also have the opportunity to visit nearby towns and cities for more festivities. Below is a list of upcoming events and festivals in Boothbay Harbor and other parts of Maine in 2023.

Spring Events and Festivals in Boothbay Harbor

March Events and Festivals in Boothbay Harbor and its Neighboring Towns

Maple Festival

The Maple Festival in Skowhegan, will celebrate the status of Somerset County as the leading maple producer in the country. It leads up to Maine Maple Sunday, when sugarhouses across the state offer free samples of maple syrup. Festival events include a pancake breakfast, maple leaf hunt, and maple-marshmallow roasting.

Maple Fest in Maine - one of the best events and festivals in Boothbay Harbor Maine and its surrounding area
photo from Maple Festival on Facebook

Maine Brew Fest

In nearby Newry, Maine Brew Fest will bring together the best craft breweries in the nation. You can enjoy a sampling of about 100 craft ciders and beers.

April Festivals and Events

Reggae Fest

Carrabassett Valley, Reggae Fest offers four days of music and parties at the bottom of Sugarloaf Mountain. It will feature headliners on Friday and Saturday nights on the beach and in the King Pine room. A DJ and others will perform nightly as well.

Urban Runoff 5K Race & Walk

In Portland, Urban Runoff 5K Race & Walk participants will take to the trails and streets to raise awareness about water pollution. Also, the event raises money to provide education in the area about clean water. The event is followed by Green Neighbor Family Fest, which features live entertainment and hands-on activities about water.

May Events and Festivals

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens Maine Days

For Memorial Day weekend, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay will host Maine Days. Maine residents will receive free admission into the gardens when they show state identification. They can explore the 270-acre grounds and its woodland trails, waterfront, and thousands of blooming plants.

Damariscotta Alewife Festival

On the Saturday during Memorial Day weekend, Damariscotta Mills will host the Alewife Festival in Nobleboro. The festivities celebrate the natural event of the alewives (fish) climbing the restored stone fish ladder to reproduce in Damariscotta Lake. Event activities will be held around Damariscotta Mills, including live music.

 

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Boothbay Harbor Area Summer Festivals & Events

June Festivals and Events

Damariscotta Oyster Celebration

The Damariscotta Oyster Celebration will span three days in mid-June. Every year, it brings together the communities along the Damariscotta River Region to celebrate an oyster culture that dates back to 200 B.C. You can expect open houses, a competition between top U.S. and Canadian restaurants, oyster tastings, and live music.

Windjammer Days Festival

One of the most popular events and festivals in Boothbay Harbor, the Windjammer Days Festival will kick off the summer in downtown Boothbay Harbor in late June. This festival honors maritime history and its vital role in the town’s economy. Some of the activities and events include a street parade, stage concerts, a codfish relay, and fireworks over the harbor.

July Events and Festivals

Fourth of July

Every July 4, the Town of Boothbay Harbor celebrates Independence Day with a range of activities, such as children’s games, crafts, and food. There’s also live music and fireworks over the harbor.

North Atlantic Blues Festival

You can enjoy even more live music at the North Atlantic Blues Festival in Rockland. The two-day annual festival features national blues performers and is one of the most famous events on the East Coast. Along with music, there will be a variety of crafts, food, and drinks.

Home & Garden Tour

The Home & Garden Tour will feature a tour of homes and gardens throughout the Boothbay Peninsula. Hosted by the Boothbay Region Garden Club each year, it offers a look at different architecture and garden furnishings. Proceeds from the tour fund the club’s many community projects.

Maine Lobster Festival

The Maine Lobster Festival will offer five days of eating lobster in Rockland. It’s an annual celebration of the seafood crop that the local marine industry produces and is well known for. There’s also a big parade, live music, cooking contests, crafts and fine art, and an international crate race.

Maine Lobster Festival - one of the best events and festivals in Boothbay Harbor Maine and its surrounding area
photo from Maine Lobster Festival photo gallery

August Festivals and Events

Great Falls Balloon Festival

The Great Falls Balloon Festival usually occurs around mid-August in Auburn. Balloon rides are available in the mornings and evenings. Some other festival events include food, a carnival, a parade, and Family Fun Day.

Belfast Harbor Fest and Classic Boat Show

The annual Belfast Harbor Fest and Classic Boat Show celebrates the city’s 200 years of nautical history and thriving business and culinary communities. The festival also raises money for local food pantries, scholarships, and other charitable efforts. Some of the events include a cardboard boat challenge, charity auction, pancake breakfast, a boatbuilding challenge, boat tours, food, and live music.

Fall Events and Festivals in Boothbay Harbor

September Events and Festivals

Boothbay Harbor Fest

Boothbay Harbor Fest will offer a variety of events and activities over Labor Day weekend. It will start with food tastings, cocktails and live music at local restaurants during A Taste of Local Flavor event. The East Side Vibe event will showcase and support small businesses, celebrate the Coastal Maine lifestyle and provide entertainment for locals and visitors. There will be a 5K and half marathon. The Fishin’ for Fashion Show, featuring original designs inspired by the sea, will close the festival in Boothbay Harbor.

Boothbay Harbor Fest - one of the best events and festivals in Boothbay Harbor Maine and its surrounding area
photo from Boothbay Harbor Fest on Facebook

Clam Down

Since 2012, the Clam Down in Boothbay Harbor has been a sophisticated lobster event held in mid-September. In fact, you should wear cocktail attire. It brings together top chefs from across Maine in a competition for the best lobster dish. You get to sample their creations, a selection of wines and beers, and desserts.

October Festivals and Events

Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta

For ten days through Columbus Day weekend the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta will be in full swing. This unique event promotes horticultural education for all ages and creatively showcases the results of pumpkin growers. There’s a pumpkin boat regatta, a giant pumpkin display, a pumpkin derby, dessert and pie-eating contests, the infamous pumpkin drop and a giant pumpkin parade.

Fall Foliage Festival

Every Columbus Day weekend, Boothbay Railway Village hosts the Fall Foliage Festival on the Village Green. It features delicious foods handmade crafts, live music and entertainment, steam train rides, and colorful leaves.

November Events and Festivals

Gardens Aglow

From mid-November through New Year’s Eve, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens hosts Gardens Aglow in its central garden every year. The botanical gardens are the largest in New England and put on the biggest display of over 650,000 Christmas lights. It also sells holiday gifts in the Gardenshop.

Garden's Aglow - one of the best events and festivals in Boothbay Harbor Maine and its surrounding areas
Photo from MaineToday.com

Holiday Sparkle Fireworks

Near the end of every November, the Town of Boothbay Harbor celebrates the holiday season with the Holiday Sparkle Fireworks display over the harbor. The best viewing spots are along Atlantic Avenue, at Fishermen’s Memorial Park, on the Boothbay Harbor Footbridge and anywhere else along the waterfront.

Boothbay Harbor Area Winter Festivals & Events

December Festivals and Events

North Pole Express

Every Saturday and Sunday in December until Christmas Eve, Boothbay Railway Village runs the North Pole Express. The steam train chugs through the historic village to the North Pole where Santa Claus awaits. Other parts of the village are transformed into festive destinations for grabbing holiday treats and other activities.

Harbor Lights Festival

In early December, the Harbor Lights Festival will ring in the Christmas holiday. There’s stage entertainment with live music, caroling, a lighted boat parade, carriage rides and a ceremonial tree lighting every year. Santa and Mrs. Claus arrive on a boat with other Christmas and nautical characters. In addition, gift and food vendors ensure that you have everything you need for the festive season.

Festival of Trees

Also in early December, the Boothbay Region Garden Club organizes the Festival of Trees, which is held at the Pythian Opera House. The interior of the opera house is filled with holiday shops that sell baked goods and homemade candy. There’s also a silent auction whose the proceeds support local projects.

Gingerbread Spectacular

In mid-December, the Pythian Opera House will host the Gingerbread Spectacular. This annual event features a competition of gingerbread houses of all sizes as well as gingerbread lighthouses, cabins, castles, and mythical buildings. There will be hot cocoa, a bake sale, and entertainment, too.

January Events and Festivals

Welcome to Winter Festival

The City of Portland will host the annual Welcome to Winter Festival. It’s a celebration of winter with free activities at Payson Park. Some of the activities include ice skating, sledding, and snowshoeing.


Biddeford WinterFest

Biddeford WinterFest will be packed with indoor and outdoor activities for all ages. Some of the annual events include snow-person building, pony and wagon rides, men’s hockey, live music, and stage performances.

February Festivals and Events

U.S. National Toboggan Championships

Every second weekend of February, the Camden Snow Bowl hosts the U.S. National Toboggan Championships. Since 1991, this event is the only organized race of wooden toboggans in the nation. The tobogganers ride down a 400-foot chute and onto the frozen Hosmer Pond below.

Somerset SnowFest

Somerset SnowFest will celebrate everything related to winter in Canaan, Madison, and Skowhegan. The annual festival features the only equestrian skijoring competition in the Northeast. Other activities include dog sled rides, ice skating, snow tubing, and box sled racing.

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Best Place to Stay and Experience Events and Festivals in Boothbay Harbor

best place to stay near events and festivals in boothbay harbor and surrounding midcoast maine areas

Flagship Inn & Suites has the best location for enjoying events and festivals in Boothbay Harbor and nearby towns. It’s also just a short walk or drive to Boothbay Harbor restaurants and many other things to do.

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