Sunday - Maine Lobster Festival

Sunday, August 4

7 AM – 6 PM

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

All Day

Free Shuttle Bus

The festival provides free shuttle services to and from the festival grounds from the following locations. A bus arrives at each location approximately every 30 minutes.

South Elementary School: 30 Broadway, Rockland, ME
Oceanside High School: 400 Broadway, Rockland, ME

Check days for detailed schedule:

Wednesday: 11AM – 10PM
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday*: 8:30 AM – 11:30 PM
Sunday: 8:30 AM – 6:30 PM

Bus arrives at each location approximately every 20 minutes. Saturday morning shuttle service will be limited due to the parade. *Shuttle will not be running approximately 9 am – noon Saturday, Aug. 3.

All Day

Happy 234th birthday to the U.S. Coast Guard! Thank you for your service to our city and our country.

Art Show in Fine Art & Craft Tent

“Heritage, History, and Ancestry” (at the Maine Heritage Tent at Middle Pier)

Listen for music and festival announcements in the PA booth.

Touch Tank, Books, & Demonstrations of the Maritime Industry in the Marine Tent, on Middle Pier

5 to 7 am

Registration for the International Great Crate Race Opens, Information Booth

Registration officially opens at 7 am, but the line starts forming at 5 am and the limited number of slots fill in minutes. There is a fee of $15 for contestants 12 and older and $10 for children 11 and younger.

7 to 10 am

Pancake Breakfast (in the Food Tent)

8 am

5k & 10k Road Race begins near the main gate.

8:30 am

Kids Fun Run begins near the main gate.

9 am to 6 pm

U.S.S Delbert D. Black Tours

The U.S.S Delbert D. Black is an Arleigh Burke-class destroyer of the United States Navy, which was launched in 2017. It weighs approximately 9,200 long tons, is 510 feet long, and houses 280 officers and enlisted. The ship is named for the first Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy, Delbert D. Black.

Free tours will depart from the Festival grounds at the pier next to the Harbor Master’s building. Tours last approximately 30-40 minutes aboard the ship, with an additional 45 minutes for travel to and from the ship. Minors must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. No pets, water bottles, backpacks are allowed. No open toed or backless shoes or flip flops. ID required.

9:30 am

Presentation of 10K, 5K, Kids’ Fun Run Awards, near the main stage

Awards are presented to overall race winners and top male and female finishers in multiple age categories for our Fun Run, 10K and 5K races.

10 am

Registration for the Codfish Carry, information booth

This event is for children entering 2nd, 3rd, or 4th grade.

10:30 am

Registration for the Lobster Eating Contest, Information Booth

This event is for children ages 8-11.

Noon to 5 pm

The food tent opens to serve fresh Maine lobsters and other seafood. Menu

11 am

Registration for the Little Lobster Diaper Derby, Information Booth

This event is for crawlers only.

11:30 am

Cod Fish Carry, Main Stage

Participants run across the Maine Stage to a skiff, where they must put on fisherman’s foul-weather gear, including a Sou’wester (yellow fisherman’s hat), big rain jacket, and rubber boots as quickly as possible. After they are dressed, they must run over to a net containing a slippery, 12-pound cod, pick it up, and carry it back to the skiff. This event is for children entering 2nd, 3rd, or 4th grade.

Noon

Lobster Eating Contest, Main Stage

The rules are simple—the first person to finish eating a 1 1/4 lb. steamed lobster wins. Participants must finish two claws, two knuckles, and the tail to be considered done. This event is for children age 8-11.

12:30 pm

Little Lobster Diaper Derby, Main Stage

A crawling race for our youngest festival-goers. Parent coaches sit on each side of the Main Stage, cheering them on, coaxing them toward the finish line using a range of creative methods, and ensuring that they stay on course. The first Little Lobster to finish wins! This event is for crawlers only, walkers will be disqualified.

2 pm

International Great Crate Race, Rockland Harbor

The race course is a string of 50 lobster storage crates stretching across a section of Rockland’s inner harbor in full view of the festival grounds. While trying to reach the other end, contestants scamper across the barely floating lobster crates. If successful, a contestant turns and heads back to the other end. The “race” for each runner continues until a fall into the water occurs or until exhaustion takes over.

Sign up begins at 7 am day-of on the far end of the Food Tent, but spots fill up quickly, so we recommend getting in line a few hours early.

3 pm

Julia Gagnon, Main Stage

Julia Gagnon, a beloved Maine native and Cumberland resident, captivated the state and the nation during her impressive run on season 22 of the popular reality singing show, American Idol. Rising to the top 7, Gagnon’s powerful performances and genuine charm won the hearts and votes of fans nationwide.