Summer Sailing Festivals in the MidCoast!

There are few better sailing destinations in the world than the coast of Maine. With a maritime history dating to the early 1600s, the love and adventure of sailing is celebrated all summer long. Here are some of the popular festivals to look forward to.

 

 

Windjammer Days – Boothbay Harbor

June 23-29
Summer unofficially begins with a lively week-long celebration of Boothbay’s maritime history. The parade of windjammers under full sail is a majestic event. You can also enjoy the ‘Harbor Aglow’ boat parade at night and another parade of beautiful vintage boats. A colorful street parade, tug of war, fireworks on the water, and a truly fishy codfish relay race are part of the action along the harbor.

 

 

Friendship Sloop Days – Rockland

July 21-23
For over a century, classic gaff-rigged Friendship sloops have sailed the coast of Maine. Today several hundred of these beautiful sloops are still sailing, including the oldest original boat built in 1899. For three days you can watch racing regattas and visit sloops in Rockland Harbor. On the final day, the Parade of Sloops will start from the harbor and then pass the dramatic Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse. You can stand on the breakwater that extends for a mile out into the sea and get amazing access to the event action and the opportunity to take breathtaking photographs.

 

 

Maine Lobster Festival – Rockland

July 31-Aug. 4
The 77th annual Lobster Festival is a five-day event that celebrates the maritime heritage of the MidCoast. What started as a local marine festival has turned into an internationally-recognized celebration. You can indulge in lobster rolls, bisque, lobster mac and cheese, and of course, steamed lobster. Local musicians and bands will perform daily. There are seafood cooking contests, carnival rides, arts and crafts made by local artisans, and the not-to-be-missed “International Great Crate Race” on the water.

 

 

Belfast Harbor Fest

August 16-18
The annual Belfast Harbor Fest celebrates boating and maritime culture at Steamboat Landing and Commercial Park on the town’s beautiful waterfront. The weekend features a boat-building competition, a classic boat show, and the wildly popular Cardboard Boat Challenge. This family-friendly event includes music, kid’s activities, arts and crafts fairs, shipyard tours, and the 5K Bug Run/Walk. In Maine, lobsters are referred to as bugs. Instead of a gold medal, the race winner takes home 10 pounds of bugs.

 

 

Camden Windjammer Festival

August 30-31
Every Labor Day weekend, Camden hosts the arrival of the spectacular windjammer fleet into Camden Harbor. Hundreds of handsome coastal schooners will line the waterfront for the festival. Enjoy the Schooner Talent Show, Bay Winds Ensemble Concert at Harbor Park, fireworks Friday night, a pancake breakfast and chowder challenge, the Lobster Crate Race, Pirates of the Dark Rose, First Fish Relay Race, Schooner Open House, the Nautical Dog Show, and yes, even more!

 

To spend more time on the water, read an in-depth account of a Colorful Windjamming Adventure. Or when you’re back on dry land, consider some of our Favorite Summer Detours.