Summer Festivals

Fairs

Acton Fair, 550 Rte. 109. Midway, parade, 4-H animal events, Cruise’n Car Show, women’s skillet throw, pig scramble, Ms. Acton Pageant, parade, magic & puppet shows, Aug. 24–27. 636-2068.

Bangor State Fair, Cross Insurance Center, 515 Main St. Rides and games, live music and entertainment, Aug. 3–6. 561-8300.

Belfast Harborfest, 34 Commercial St. Classic boat show, 5K Bug Run, pancake breakfast, boat building challenge, live music, barbecue dinner, cardboard boat challenge, charity auction, & Habitat for Humanity Lobster Gala, Aug. 18–20. 338-2081.

Blue Hill Fair, 233 Ellsworth Rd.

A classic country fair including farm animal demonstrations & shows, eating & cooking contests, demolition derby, & live entertainment, Aug. 31–Sept. 4. 374-3701.

Casco Days, 948 Meadow Rd. Road race, parade, fireworks, midway, live music, & more, Jul. 27–29. 627-2154.

Clinton Lions Fair, 1450 Bangor Rd. Midway & exhibits, parade, car show, street pulls, tractor & truck pulls, live music, & pig scramble, Sept. 7–10. 426-8013.

Crown of Maine Balloon Fest, 84 Mechanic St., Presque Isle. Hot-air balloon mass ascensions, hot-air balloon rides, moon glows, kids’ carnival, music, craft fair, farmer’s market, & tasty food, Aug. 24–27. 764-6561.

Cumberland County Fair, Cumberland Fairgrounds, 197 Blanchard Rd. All-American Rodeo, exhibition halls, animal shows, midway, livestock, animal pulls, demolition derby, & harness racing, Sept. 24–30. 829-5531.

Eastport Pirate Festival, downtown Eastport. The largest pirate festival in New England. Waterfront fireworks, food, games, live entertainment, crafts markets, barrel-rolling, parade, & fireworks, Sept. 8–10. 853-4343. Great Falls Balloon Festival, 30 Oxford St., Lewiston. Now celebrating its 29th year. See balloons launch near the Androscoggin River and enjoy food vendors, craft booths, and kids activities, Aug. 18–20. 240-5931.

Harmony Free Fair, Rte. 154. Parade, agricultural demonstrations, games, fair foods, truck pull,

& demolition derby, Sept. 1–4. 683-5873.

Litchfield Fair, 44 Plains Rd. Agricultural fair with rides, antique car cruise-in, & fireworks, Sept. 8–10. 268-4981.

Maine Highland Games & Scottish Festival, Thomas Point Beach, Brunswick. Featuring the parade of the clans, athletic & dancing competitions, food, sheepdog demonstrations, workshops, live music, & more, Aug. 19. 626-7007.

New Portland Lion’s Fair, 280 School St. Demolition derby, truck & tractor pulls, cornhole, & on-site camping, Sept. 15–17. 628-3171.

Northern Maine State Fair, 84 Mechanic St., Presque Isle. Truck pulling, demo derby, fair food & local food vendors, Lil’ Farmers at the Fair, car show, animals, horse show, kids’ games, Baby Beef Auction, antique farm equipment, blacksmith, music, vendors, exhibition hall, & cooking contests, Aug. 3–6. northernmainefairgrounds.com.

Old Orchard Beach Car Show, 11 First St. One of New England’s largest car shows highlighting cars in many different categories & classes. Friday Night

Showcase & live music, Sept. 15–16. 934-2500.

Oxford County Fair, 67 Pottle Rd. Livestock shows, horse pulling, traditional farming & crafting demonstrations, live music, food, & woodsmen day competitions, Sept. 13–16. 739-2204.

Piscataquis Valley Fair, 77 Fairview Ave., Dover-Foxcroft. Including a dairy show, pig scramble, skillet throw, pulling demonstrations, Tuff Trucks, flower show, demolition derby, & horseshoe tournament, Aug. 24–27. 717-9100.

Skowhegan State Fair, 33 Constitution Ave. The nation’s oldest continuously run agricultural fair, featuring truck pulls, demolition derby, harness racing, midway, agricultural exhibits, & live music, Aug. 10–19. 474-2947.

Southern Maine Steampunk Fair, Brick Store Museum, 117 Main St., Kennebunk. Maine’s only steampunk fair with vendors of Victorian-futuristic arts & crafts and Victorian lawn games, Sept. 23. 985-4802.

Topsham Fair, Rt. 196 Coastal Connector. Highlights include harness racing, exhibition hall, live music, agricultural show, & demolition derby, Aug. 8–13.

729-1943.

Union Fair, 175 Fairgrounds Ln. Wild blueberry corner, 4-H exhibits, livestock shows & auctions, exhibition hall, demolition derby, harness racing, fireworks, & live music, Jul. 26–30. 785-3281.

Windsor Fair, 82 Ridge Rd. More than 50 acres of amusement with daily shows, midway, harness racing, woodsman’s day, demolition derby, & large animal exhibit, Aug. 27–Sept. 4. 549-7911. York Days, Short Sands Beach. Summer Lighting of the Nubble, craft fair, 5k virtual road race, movies on Long Sands Beach, & fireworks, Jul. 28–Aug. 6. 363-1040.

Food Festivals

Artisan Bread Fair, Skowhegan State Fairgrounds, 33 Constitution Ave. Dedicated to all things bread with over 50 vendors, demonstrations, live music, hot pizza, & local brews, Jul. 29. Kneadingconference.com.

Brew Fest, Sanford Regional Airport at Pilots Cove, 199 Airport Rd., Sanford. Good times, great brews, and live music, Sept. 23. 324-4280.

Gray Blueberry Festival, 24 Main St. Festivities for all ages, including live music, food trucks and vendors, make and take workshops, wild blueberry contests, Aug. 12. 657-3339.

Kneading Conference, see website for locations. Over 25 online and in-person workshops, demos, panels, & discussions led by grain leaders from around the world, Jul. 26–28. kneadingconference.com.

Machias Wild Blueberry Festival, Congregational Church, Centre St., Machias. Celebration of all things blueberry with crafts, food, contests, and entertainment, Aug. 18–20. 255-6665.

Maine Cheese Festival, Manson Park, Pittsfield. Great cheese, live music, food trucks, and the 2nd Annual Maine Cheese Awards, Sept. 10. 370-7176.

Maine Lobster Week, statewide. The state’s first weeklong celebration of lobster. Lobster shacks, diners, food trucks, & restaurants across the state will prepare Maine lobster in dishes ranging from classic lobster rolls to fine dining multi-course meals, Sept. 24–30. mainelobsterweek.com.

Maine Renaissance Faire, Acton Fairgrounds, 550 ME 109. Jousting, pageantry, unique merchants, comedy & music performances, Jul. 29–30. 850-1162.

Milbridge Days, various locations in Milbridge. Cornhole tournament, petting zoo, cribbage match, pet parade, Gateway Mildbridge outdoor concert with the wildblueberries.com.

Allison Ames Band, vendors, arts & crafts, food, blueberry pancake breakfast, slime lab experiment station, Kids’ Wheel of Fortune, Patriots’ Car Show, parade, lobster cookout, Codfish Relay, & fireworks, Jul. 27–30. milbridgedays.com.

Potato Feast Days, Monument Park, 109 Main St., Houlton. Festivities include doll parade, craft fair, kids games, & displays, Aug. 18–19. 532-4216.

Rangeley Lakes Blueberry Festival, 6 Park Rd. A celebration of the blueberry season featuring pies, crafts & gifts, vendors, & kid-friendly activities, Aug. 17. 864-5571.

Salmon and Seafood Festival, downtown Eastport. End of summer festivity centered around the salmon barbecue, with live music, walking tours, local food & craft vendors, Sept. 2–3. 853-6122.

Skowhegan Craft Brew Festival, downtown Skowhegan. Featuring Maine-crafted brews, local food vendors, live music, Sept. 2. 612-2571.

Taste of Greater Waterville, Head of Falls, Front St. Food, cultural demonstrations, informative walks, live music, beer & wine gardens, Aug. 2. 873-3315.

Wells Chili-Fest, Wells Junior High School, Rte. 1. Food, vendors, and chili cook-offs in three categories with cash prizes, Aug. 26. 646-2451.

Wild Blueberry Weekend, statewide. Inaugural weekend. Tour wild blueberry farms, pick berries at select locations, & try a new dish or drink, Aug. 5–6.

Winter Harbor Lobster Festival, Winter Harbor. Lobster Boat Races, craft fair, lobster dinner, and parade, Aug. 12. 963-2235.

Arts Festivals

Atlantic Music Festival, Colby College, 4000 Mayflower Hill Dr., Waterville. Hundreds of emerging & established musicians perform to celebrate the work of musical masters, through Aug. 6. (888) 704-1311.

Bar Harbor Music Festival, see website for locations. Founded by violinist Francis Fortier in 1967, the festival provides performance opportunities for outstanding up-and-coming talent, through Jul. 30. Barharbormusicfestival.org.

Bates Dance Festival, multiple locations in Lewiston. Virtual & live performances including concerts, an interactive video installation, & experimental screendance, through Jul. 29. Batesdancefestival.org.

Bay Chamber Concerts, Rockport Opera House & various locations. Summer concert series of chamber music and jazz, Aug. 2-13. 236-2823.

Belfast Summer Nights, Steamboat Landing, 34 Commercial St. Outdoor summer music series: Mondaynite Jazz Orchestra (MOJO), Jul. 27; Becca Biggs, Louisa Stancioff & The Kelly Boys, Aug. 3; The Right Track, Phil

OCTOBER 1-8, 2023

8 Full Days

Sunday to Sunday www.fryeburgfair.org

Agriculture & Livestock - Woodsmen’s Field Day Exhibitions & Museums - Tractor & 4WD pulls Harness Racing - Night Shows & Fireworks Grand Parade - Spectacular Food Midway & Rides - Campsites

Hummer & The White Falcons, Aug. 10; Eric Lilliquist, Jacob McCurdy, & His Large Adult Sons, Aug. 17; Tuba Skinny, Aug. 24; Noah Fishman & Friends, Three Button Deluxe, Aug. 31. facebook.com/BelfastSummerNights.

Blistered Fingers Bluegrass Festival, Litchfield Fairgrounds, 30 Plains Rd. Featuring local & national bands, enjoy some of the greatest Bluegrass music at one of the largest family musical events in New England, Aug. 24–27. 873-6539.

Bowdoin International Music Festival, see website for Brunswick locations. Over 175 free and ticketed events including concerts featuring world-class musicians, student performances, composer lectures, master classes, community concerts, through Aug. 4. 373-1400.

Brunswick Outdoor Art Festival, Maine St. Juried fine arts show including over 140 artists & artisans who will be displaying & selling their work along the sidewalks & on the Town Mall, Aug. 19. 729-4439.

Camden International Film Festival, online & in person at venues in Camden, Rockport, & Rockland. Filmmakers will be in attendance, the Points North Pitch will return as a live event, & over 50 filmmaker fellows will be on the ground for the fest, Sept. 14–17. 200-3171.

Camden Shakespeare Festival, Camden Amphitheater, 55 Main St. Professional, non-profit theatre company performing As You Like It, through Aug. 6. camdenshakespeare.org.

East Benton Fiddlers Fest, 270 Richards Rd., Ben- ton. Adult & children’s fiddle contest, children’s activity area, fiddler’s workshop & showcase. Performing bands include East Benton Jug Band, Greg Boardman and Friends, Country Choir, North County Band, Back Woods Road, & John Brown & the Little Fiddleheads, Jul. 30. 453-2017.

International Seaplane Fly-In, Moosehead Lake, Greenville. Enjoy flybys by rare aircraft, craft fair, steakand-lobster cookout, lake cruise, flying, raffles, & contests, Sept. 7–10. 695-2778.

Kneisel Hall Chamber Music Festival, 137 Pleasant St., Blue Hill. One of the oldest and most distinguished chamber music programs in the U.S. Concerts with open rehearsals & audience-attended classes, through Aug. 27. 374-2811.

Laudholm Nature Crafts Festival, 342 Laudholm Farm Rd., Wells. This event brings more than 100 artisans to exhibit their wares alongside music, food, & fun, Sept. 9–10. 646-1555.

League of NH Craftsmen’s Fair, Mount Sunapee Resort, 1398 Rt. 103, Newbury, NH. Handcrafted work of over 300 juried craftsmen, Aug. 5–13. (603)224-3375.

Maine Outdoor Film Festival, Eastern Promenade. Over 15 hours of outdoor adventure and conservation films, through Jul. 30. 619-3622.

Maine Quilts Show, Augusta Civic Center, 76 Community Drive., Augusta. Exhibits, demonstrations, and workshops, with over 500 quilts on display, Jul.