Walking into the Maine Lobster Festival Aug. 3-7, 2022 with all of the activities and tents might be a bit overwhelming at first, but once you’ve read this blog, it’ll be a snap. Here’s your guide to the Festival grounds and what to see and do in Rockland, Maine.
When you first come through the Main Gate, the Information Booth is located at the north side of the oval near the entrance. Here is where you’ll find general information, contest applications, and registration information as well as the official Maine Lobster Festival T-shirts, hats, aprons, tote bags, mugs, posters, assorted souvenirs, and other items. This booth also handles lost-and-found items, including parents looking for their lost children.
Food
The Main Eating Tent is the center of what the Festival is all about. Located next to the sea wall, this is where visitors come to enjoy Maine lobster at its finest. Begin your morning with a blueberry pancake breakfast starting at 7 a.m. Thursday through Sunday. Prefer a later start? Volunteers will begin serving Maine lobster dishes and the fixings, as well as other seafood and beverages on Wednesday at noon and Thursday through Sunday at 11 a.m. Find out what’s on the menu.
Speaking of lobster, don’t miss the World’s Greatest Lobster Cooker, located at the entrance to the north end of the festival grounds. Built in 2008, this gigantic steamer can cook 1,600 pounds of lobster at one time, which is brought over to the Food Tent when done. Look for the engraved bricks at the base of the cooker.
The Marketplace
Next to the Food Tent, you’ll find Maine displays, demonstrations, and items for sale in the Marketplace tent. Commercial exhibitors, craft vendors, and displays by volunteer and nonprofit organizations are worth exploring for a unique experience. Visitors also will find Maine-made products in the Marketplace, from delicious maple syrup to unique alpaca products.
Culture & History
The North Entertainment Tent, located at the north end of the grounds, is one of the primary locations for events and demonstrations throughout the five days of the festival, Authors from Maine Authors Publishing will be selling and signing books here. Just outside, Tap Truck 207 hosts the Seafood Cooking Contest.
The Marine Experience Tent, located on the pier at the north side of the grounds, includes a “touch tank,” a dynamic fish display, lobster trap demonstrations, knot-tying demonstrations, book signings and more.
The Heritage Tent, located across from the Marine Tent, is an exploration of the history of the Maine Lobster Festival, which began in 1947. Find out how things have changed over the past 75 years in this blog post.
Children’s Tent
This tent, located at the bottom of the hill off the Park Street gate, is a rest and play area for children and their parents. It includes diaper-changing stations. [Note: This area is not a daycare facility and parents need to remain with their children at all times.] At the Children’s Tent, parents and children will find a daily craft, CedarWorks playsets, coloring pages, a sand table, a train table, and more.
Selfie Photo Opps
Don’t forget the Scavenger Hunt! Try to find eight diamonds hidden throughout the Maine Lobster Festival grounds. Follow the clues on your treasure hunt card in the program to each lobster trap punch station, and when you’ve collected all eight, head to the Information Booth to claim your prize! Take some selfies along the journey and post them to social media with #MaineLobsterFestival.
And if you happen to see a lovable, oversized lobster greeting visitors as they walk through to the Maine Lobster Festival — that’s Rocky. Rocky is is the only Festival fixture who isn’t nailed down to one spot! Rocky travels to various fairs and festivals throughout New England raising awareness for the Festival and Maine’s lobstering industry. Grab a selfie and tag us on social media or use #MaineLobsterFestival for a chance to have your photo featured!
Make your plans now to attend Maine Lobster Festival, a five-day internationally recognized celebration Aug. 3-7, 2022 in Rockland, Maine. Find out where to stay, what to do when you’re here, and where to feast on fresh lobster by visiting our newly revamped website and blog.
