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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Best Place to Stay and Experience Events and Festivals in Boothbay Harbor
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.
Best of all, we like to offer special deals when you book direct.