Blanketed in snow for half of the year, Maine is a picturesque state famous for its rife and delectable lobster. Travellers looking for the sights, sounds and smells of New England often settle here in the Pine Tree State, a perfect place to explore the best of the region. With coasts, peaks, parks, forests and a veritable buffet of local eats and treats, it offers something for everyone, including an annual output of fun and funky festivals.
It wouldn’t be Maine without a celebration of delicious and iconic lobster. Maine Lobster Festival is one of the state’s biggest events, and churns out over 20,000 pounds of the clawed red delicacy each year. Have it on a roll, in a salad or all on its own – but make sure you gobble some one way or another! Other sea foods and fair foods are abundantly available, as well as arts, crafts, music, beer, wine, parades and a seafood cooking contest. Fans of seafood may also be interested in Yarmouth Clam Festival, which has decades of fishy history.
Old Port Festival also offers food and entertainment, and is the biggest one-day event in the whole of Maine. Established over 40 years ago, it’s a long-standing and popular tradition for many residents and visitors. There are parades, amusements, vendors, horse rides, arts, fairground rides, a big Ferris Wheel, loads of kids’ entertainment and lots of rock, pop and country performances. And to add to the bargain, lots of food vendors offer their tastiest morsels to keep your energy up and running.
Blistered Fingers Bluegrass Festival is so fondly loved that it happens twice a year! Since 1991, the event has been showcasing the very best strummers and pluckers for four days of traditional bluegrass bopping and boogying. With accommodation for tents and RVs, you can pitch up, take the weight off and listen to your heart’s content, with banjos, fiddles and tradition aplenty. A kids’ academy is also offered for teens and tykes who might be keen to get their fingers on the strings and practice some tunes.
Maine also holds more festivals celebrating things as diverse as potatoes, boats, blueberries, Celtic music, folk, hot air balloons and plenty other offerings of food, music and fun. Come and find the perfect festival for you!