Festivals and Events
Be it Lobster, Blues, Boats or 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. The end of July becomes all things lobster with
the 5 day Maine Lobster Festival, for 63 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 every boat you can possibly dream of. The holiday season begins with the Festival of Lights weekend were the lighting of New England’s largest Lobster Trap Tree takes place.
June 19 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.
June 26 R. B. Hall Day
Join the local musicians at Harbor Park to celebrate R. B. Hall Day. R. B. Hall Day commemorates and honors R. B. Hall, an internationally recognized composer. Recognized primarily as a composer of marches, he was an accomplished conductor and cornet soloist, whose creative talent and native ability marked him as one of Maine's outstanding citizens.
July 10 – 11 North Atlantic Blues Festival
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.
Admission/Tickets:
Saturday, July 10 & Sunday, July 11:
$25 Adults, in advance (1 day only);
$50 Adults, in advance (weekend pass, 2 days);
$30 Adults, at gate (1 day only);
$10 Children (6-12);
Children 5 & under free
For advance tickets to the Blues Festival, call 207-593-1189.
August 4 – 8 Maine Lobster Festival
World famous "original lobster festival" now in its 63rd consecutive year 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 (800-562-2529) for a free brochure.
info@mainelobsterfestival.com
www.mainelobsterfestival.com
August 13 – 15 Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Show
The eighth annual 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 3rd annual 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. Admission: $12 adult, under 12 free. 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. For more information, call 800-565-4951 www.maineboats.comNovember 26 – 28 Festival of Lights Celebration
Celebrate the holidays in Maine. Santa arrives by Coast Guard boat at the Public Landing in Rockland, Historic Inns celebrate with a Holiday Open Houses, the Lobster Trap Tree Lighting Ceremony, Downtown Festival of Lights Parade, Family PancakeBreakfast 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 and dine.