The 78th annual Maine Lobster Festival has wrapped up, and what a celebration it was on the Rockland waterfront! Tens of thousands of guests from across the United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, and more than 40 countries traveled to Midcoast Maine to enjoy five days of food, fun and tradition.

This year, our guests were treated to more than 20,000 pounds of in-shell lobster, plus thousands more pounds of lobster meat in rolls. Our world-famous cooker, the largest in the world, steamed over 3,000 pounds of lobster per day to keep up with the appetites of Festival-goers.

The Festival was proud to crown Rebecca Spearing of Owls Head as the 2025 Maine Lobster Festival Delegate. Trishelle Ames of Warren was named Second Delegate and Riley Whitman of Rockland was honored as Most Congenial.

Five impressive young women competed for this year’s titles, each sharing their stories, community service and commitment to Maine’s coastal traditions at the Delegate Banquet on July 23 at the Samoset Resort. The coronation took place July 30 on the Festival’s main stage at Harbor Park.

Seafood Cooking Contest

Always a favorite, the Seafood Cooking Contest wowed judges and the audience with original seafood recipes using Maine’s best. This year’s winners were:

Visitors not only cheered on the contestants but also had the chance to sample these delicious creations.

Inaugural Dog Show

New this year was the Maine Lobster Festival Dog Show, which kicked off with a lively dog parade through the Festival grounds. Canine contestants competed in three categories: Best Costume, Best Hair and Best Trick. With wagging tails and lots of laughter, it was a paw-some addition to the week.

Twelve water stations around the grounds ensured that our furry friends stayed cool and refreshed. A heartfelt thank you goes out to our many Dog Bowl Sponsors including Bird Enterprises, Knight Marine Service, Dinapoli Property Management, Three Dogs Screen Printing, RCA Excavation & Transportation, Garden Island, Rockport Homes, Breakwater Design & Build, Camden National Bank and Oakley & Maverick.

Giant Wild Blueberry Pancake Breakfast

Pancake towers soared at this special event celebrating another of Maine’s iconic heritage industries–blueberries! Sponsored by Oakhurst Dairy and Wild Blueberry Weekend, with blueberries provided by Wyman’s, guests competed to stack the tallest stack of blueberry pancakes.

The Big Parade

The Big Parade once again brought thousands to Main Street, making it one of the largest parades in Maine. Dog Days of Summer was the theme, and participants delivered! This year’s participants included bands, performers, Navy and Coast Guard members, floats, pirates, visiting royalty, the Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, mascots and community organizations. It was a true show of Midcoast spirit and tradition.

A panel of judges selected this year’s winners:

  • People’s Choice – Saltwater Fields
  • Antique Vehicle – Raymond Brand
  • Commercial – Horch Roofing
  • Non-Profit – Elks
  • Marching – Claddagh Mhor Pipe Band
  • Band – Dunlap Highland Band
  • Director’s Choice – Oscar Meyer
  • Theme – Five County Credit Union
  • Honorable Mention – Gary’s Lawn Care

Road Races

The 5K and 10K road races brought hundreds of runners and walkers to Rockland’s streets on Sunday morning.

5K Overall Winners:

  • Male: Griffin Conway, age 15 — time 16:47
  • Female: Isubella Fryer, age 19 — time 18:24

10K Overall Winners:

  • Male: Aidan Brad, age 21 — time 33:54
  • Female: Shannon Stakelbeck, age 20 — time 42:17

Runners from kids to seniors joined in the fun, with medals awarded across multiple divisions.

International Great Crate Race

A signature event of the Festival, the International Great Crate Race once again thrilled crowds as competitors attempted to race across a string of floating lobster crates in Rockland Harbor. This year’s overall winner was Maverick Ausplund, age 8, of Rockland, with an incredible run of 3,580 crates.

The crate race dates back to the Atwood family in the 1970s and continues to be celebrated each year with participants traveling from around the world to take part in this uniquely Maine tradition.

Thank You to Our Volunteers and Sponsors

The Maine Lobster Festival would not be possible without the hundreds of volunteers, who dedicate countless hours, and the generous support of our sponsors. From serving lobster to organizing parades, contests and events, your work makes this Festival shine year after year.

About the Maine Lobster Festival

Five days of fun and feasting on the fabulous coast of Maine, the Maine Lobster Festival attracts thousands of people to the Midcoast region and has a long tradition of giving back to the local community. The 2026 Festival will be held July 29-Aug. 2 and will celebrate its 79th anniversary. Once again, admission will be free. For more information about the Maine Lobster Festival, visit the website at www.mainelobsterfestival.com, “like” it on Facebook, follow it on X (formerly Twitter) at @MELobsterFest, and on Instagram at @mainelobsterfest.