The Maine Lobster Festival is one of the favorite summer events in Maine and has been an annual festival for many years. Many visitors on a Maine vacation are introduced to the festival and come back year after year.
The events at this Rockland, Maine, festival include:
The Big Parade through downtown Rockland on the Saturday during the festival. Floats, marching bands, and the Maine Sea Goddess and her court will all take part in the show.
The Annual 10K Road Race on Sunday features more than 300 runners. If you prefer to walk, a 5K walk around Rockland is an option. The walk starts and finishes near the Main Street entrance of the festival. The event for the kids is the 1-Mile Kid’s Fun Run. One of the most unusual summer events of the celebration is the Great International Lobster Crate Race, a fun and challenging event. Participants must cross over lobster crates that are strung together without falling into the water.
Cooking contests are favorite events at the festival. If you love Maine lobster and fresh New England seafood, the Maine Lobster Festival Seafood Cooking Contest is the event for amateur chefs. Visitors have the opportunity to sample the creations and take home copies of their favorite recipes.
Live entertainment is always one of the favorite parts of the festival. Jazz, soul, funk, and rock are usually part of the festival. The Fine Art Tent features watercolors, oil paintings, and photography by local artists. The Craft Tent is where local artisans display everything from woven baskets and pottery to handmade jewelry.
The Eating Tent has the best feature of all; Maine lobster dinners with Cabot butter. Lobster rolls are also available, as well as two new additions to the menu are lobster rolls, Lobster Caesar Salads and Lobster Caesar Wraps. A variety of other seafood favorites including steamers, clams, scallops, and seafood platters are on the menu. Finish your dinner with cobbler made with delicious Maine blueberries.
One of the traditional events of the Maine summer celebration is the crowning of the Maine Sea Goddess. The coronation of the Maine Sea Goddess takes place on the opening night of the festival. At the pageant, a young lady from Maine is chosen to represent the lobster industry until the next festival. Each contestant must get sponsors from local businesses and individuals. Sponsors’ names are featured on programs and at all events during the festival. To be considered as a participant, each applicant must submit color photos of herself and write an essay about why she wants to represent Maine in the competition and what she would do to meet her obligations.
The 2016 Maine Lobster Festival will be held at Harbor Park in Rockland Aug. 3-7. Rockland is only two hours from Portland and is easily accessible from Boston and points south. If your summer travels culminate with a Maine vacation, you shouldn’t miss the annual event, whose biggest star is Maine lobster.
