The Most Popular Event at the Maine Lobster Festival

The fun begins at 10am August 3, 2024!

Wonder what the most popular event at the Maine Lobster Festival is? Look no further than The Big Parade! This year The Big Parade begins at 10am August 3, 2024 on Main Street in Rockland.

The 2024 parade theme is “Through The Years” and Festival directors encourage creative interpretations!

For many years, the parade has drawn the largest crowd of the week, and often proves to be among the longer of the parades in Maine during the year. Each year, the town of Rockland closes Rockland Main Street to traffic as local community members and visitors alike gather to watch parade participants march or drive by.

In the past, participants have ranged from local groups and businesses to nationally-recognized participants joining us from various parts of the country like The L.L. Bean Bootmobile and “The Band” Marching Unit.

2022 Maine Sea Goddess Olivia Dougherty and King Neptune

This year’s grand marshal for the 2024 Big Parade will be Lewis Metcalf. Lewis was a firefighter and police officer for the town of Rockland for 36 years, retiring from the force as Deputy Chief. Lewis has a deep connection with Rockland, serving on the City Council for six years after a landslide election. Lewis has also been involved with numerous community organizations, the Masons, Kora Shriners, and “Rockland Share The Pride,” to name a few. Maine Lobster Festival President Celia Knight says, “He has been a wonderful mentor to kids in our community and served as a volunteer in many capacities at the Maine Lobster Festival.”

Our local community makes this parade an exciting and entertaining family event celebrating our lobster industry.

2023 Big Parade Winners

Theme: The Strand

Nonprofit: Elks Lodge

Director’s Choice: Taste of Maine

Commercial: Fisher Engineering

Band: Nutmeg Fife & Drum Corp

People’s Choice: MVRA All-Stars

Parade FAQ

Saturday August 5

YES – your float/ vehicle/ etc MUST be decorated for either the Theme or to support the Lobster Industry

The Theme changes each year and is listed on the application

the parade starts at 10a

line up starts at 8a

Oceanside High School, Broadway, Birch St, Lower Cedar

staging at Oceanside High School or Planet Fitness

the parade is approximately 1 mile and lasts 1.5 to 2 hours

NO, Politicians, politics or religion of any kind is prohibited

parade starts at the intersection of North Main & Broadway, goes down North Main, up Main in the wrong direction and ends at Pleasant Street

the parade will be canceled if there is thunder/ lightening in the area or if the rain is a downpour

Vendors must be approved by the city (but are discouraged)

NO – there is never a cost to participate in the parade

candy must be HANDED OUT, not thrown into the crowd

Horses MUST be wearing poo-bags – NO EXCEPTIONS

Want to Participate?

Groups and organizations interested in participating in the parade may download, fill it out and mail it to Maine Lobster Festival, PO Box 552, Rockland ME 04841 or email the application to us at [email protected].

In addition to floats, it also features the grand marshal, the newly crowned Maine Lobster Festival Delegate, King Neptune and his court, and a variety of bands, marching units, drill teams and more.

There is no fee for participating in the Big Parade.

The Big Parade has for many years drawn the largest crowd of the weekend and often proves to be among the longest parades in Maine during the year. Grand marshals for Festival parades have ranged from local, long-time workers for the event to influential community members.

Watch the full 2022 parade ONLINE

Antique Vehicle – Union Fair Auto
Non-Profit – Rosie’s Hugs
Novelty – Black Harpoon

2019 Parade Winners:

Marching – Gym Gandies
Band – Lincolnville Community Band
Commercial – Horch Roofing
Theme – Hannaford

Marching – Gym Gandies
Band – Lincolnville Community Band
Commercial – Horch Roofing
Theme – Hannaford