6 Fabulous Festivals Coming To Maine In August
Another Maine summer is halfway over, but there is still plenty of time to experience all the joys of the season. After all, they don’t call it Vacationland for nothing! In addition to the cool, crystal lakes, rustic resorts and pristine beaches, Maine also hosts several fabulous summer festivals – the best of which take place in August!
So hop in the car and experience the lobster, wild blueberries, and carefree summer joys of the Pine Tree State at one of these 6 long-running celebrations of all things Maine!
1. Maine Lobster Festival, Aug. 2–6
It just isn’t summer without the Maine Lobster Festival! This Midcoast tradition has been taking place at scenic Rockland Harbor Park since 1947 – making this its 70th year! The five day long event showcases a whopping 20,000–25,000 pounds of lobster—all freshly caught by local lobstermen—served in a mindblowing array of delicious creations! The festival also features maritime displays and demonstrations, an arts and crafts fair, harbor cruises, themed competitions like the lobster crate race in the harbor, and plenty of live entertainment!
2. Maine Antiques Festival, Aug. 4–6
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This massive 3 day event is the largest antiques festival in Maine. It draws more than 100 dealers from across New England to the Union fairgrounds each year. Search out vintage treasures like fine art, heirloom furniture and fabulous jewelry. Once you’ve worked up an appetite you can recharge with traditional Maine favorites like fried seafood, blueberry pie and lobster rolls.
3. Acadian Festival, Aug. 11–15
The 2017 Acadian Festival, celebrating Maine’s long French-American heritage, marks the 40th anniversary of the state’s largest cultural festival. The festival features a reenactment of the first Acadian landing in northern Maine, a traditional Acadian supper, a 5k color run, a golf scramble, a softball tournament, live entertainment, cultural displays, and a parade. The popular Poutine Palooza and poutine eating contest celebrate the traditional French favorite food that has become a Maine staple!
4. Great Falls Balloon Festival, Aug. 18–20
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Head to Simard-Payne Memorial Park in Lewiston for the 25th annual Great Falls Balloon Festival! The sky above the city will be filled with more than 40 hot-air balloons at dawn and dusk. The event also features the patron-favorite “Moonglow” flights on Friday and Saturday. A cluster of balloons tethered and lit with propane set the night sky aglow. True enthusiasts can reserve a spot on one of the launch rides for $200, while tethered rides are just $10–$15 per person. The festival will also present live music, a carnival, craft and food vendors, plus fireworks displays.
5. Wild Blueberry Festival, Aug. 18–20
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The village of Machias hosts this annual presentation of its summertime wild blueberry harvest. The revered berry is baked, fried, soufled, frozen and charred into a variety of decadent dishes – or you can buy them raw for use in your own signature recipes! Take a tour of a local blueberry farm, watch the pie baking contest, and participate in the pie eating contest! The massive celebration also features more than 250 arts and crafts vendors, a quilt raffle, and live entertainment.
6. Union Fair & Maine Wild Blueberry Festival, Aug. 19 -26
If you don’t get your fill of blueberries at the Machias festival, head on over to Union for their epic annual fair and yet another blueberry celebration! 2017 marks the 146th year for the Union Fair and this year promises to be the best one yet! There will be contests, live music, harness racing, the Wine Pavilion, fireworks, the Maine Wild Blueberry Queen Coronation, two Demolition Derbys, exhibits, demonstrations & shows, the Midway, 4-H, Laser Tag, lots of food, the Matthews Museum, High Flying Frisbee Dogs, tractor pulls, and new for 2017 – Lawnmower Drag Racing!