Festivals and Events
Be it Lobster, Blues, Boats or Festival of Lights, Rockland has a festival for locals and visitors alike. We are proud to host several events that are as different as they can be.
Help us welcome the summer season at the Summer Solstice celebration in June. July is kicked off with the North Atlantic Blues Festival, two days of Grammy Award winning blues music on the harbor. Rockland now boasts it's own Blues Marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail.
The end of July becomes all things lobster with the 5 day Maine Lobster Festival, for over 65 years we have been celebrating lobster in Rockland. The Lobster Festival brings 75,000 people to Rockland, involves 1,000 volunteers and 20,000 pounds of lobster, great music, entertainment, and tents featuring children's activities, marine life and the arts.
August brings the Maine Boats Homes & Harbors Show featuring beautiful boats, and the skilled craftsmen that make them. Our harbor is filled with crafted boats and the park home goods and hand crafted items.
The holiday season begins with the Festival of Lights weekend and the lighting of New England’s largest Lobster Trap Tree.
Saturday Closest to the Summer Solstice ! Summer Solstice Evening in Rockland
A celebration of the Summer Solstice and a kick-off to the summer season will take place from 5–9pm on Main Street in Rockland. This annual event offers fun for the whole family. Main Street will be closed to traffic for the evening and there will be live music, entertainment, street dancing, food and special events.
Second Weekend in July http://www.northatlanticbluesfestival.com
The acclaimed Blues Festival features over 15 Blues artists from throughout the U.S. and abroad. In downtown Rockland on Saturday night there will be a Blues "Club Crawl" with more than fifteen clubs featuring Blues bands. Blues Festival Hotline: 207-593-1189
First Full Weekend in August http://www.mainelobsterfestival.com/
Rockland is pleased to host the world famous "original lobster festival" It is one of New England's great summer events. Tons of steamed Maine lobsters served along with pageantry, waterfront activities, maritime displays and demonstrations, Maine arts and crafts, visits to Navy and Coast Guard ships, harbor cruises, contests, lots of wonderful entertainment, a giant parade, international lobster crate race, children's activities and much more. Call
800-LOB-CLAW
Second Full Weekend in August http://www.maineboats.com/boatshow
Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Show will feature boats in the water, boats on land, marine gear vendors, fine furniture and home wares, the arts, architecture, and delicious food. This event is Maine’s only in-the-water boat show, and it is also the only show to feature dozens of Maine's most talented furniture makers, architects, and builders combined on one spectacular waterfront site. These craftsmen present all the essential components for living the good life on the coast of Maine. There will be hands-on demonstrations, live music, a marine activities area, exhibits, the 4thannual Zucchini Boat Regatta and, of course, the ever-popular World Championship Boatyard Dog® Trials on Sunday (only pre-entered dogs may compete, see maineboats.com for entry information). This show is a must for everyone who enjoys life on the Maine coast. See website for admission information. Gates open at 10am daily. Please leave all pets at home; they will not be allowed on show grounds. The Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Show is produced by the internationally acclaimed Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors magazine, now in its twenty-third year.
Thanksgiving Weekend Festival of Lights Celebration
Celebrate the holidays in Rockland Maine. Santa arrives by Coast Guard boat at the Public Landing in Rockland, Historic Inns celebrate with a Holiday Open Houses, attend the Lobster Trap Tree Lighting
Ceremony, Downtown Festival of Lights Parade, Family Pancake Breakfast with Santa, visit Santa at his workshop, free horse-drawn carriage rides, put a letter in Santa's mailbox, holiday music and special events at the Farnsworth Art Museum. Come to Rockland to shop, dine and visit our museums.
