10th Annual Maine Boats, Home and Harbor Show

Event date/time:
August 10, 2012 – 10:00am – August 12, 2012 – 4:00pm
Where ‘Tradition Shapes Innovation’. Maine’s only in-water boat and home show features artists, architects, boatbuilders, craftsmen, designers, furniture makers, and marine gear vendors, plus music, food, and the 10th Annual World Championship Boatyard Dog® Trials (Sunday). $12 adults, under 12 free. No pets allowed.
Location Address: Harbor and Buoy Parks Rockland, ME

65th Annual Lobster Festival

Event date/time:
August 1, 2012 (All day) – August 5, 2012 (All day)
World-famous festival, one of New England’s great summer events. This year’s festival and parade theme is “65 and still going strong”. Saturday night concert by 38 Special. Tons of steamed Maine lobsters served; pageantry, waterfront activities, maritime displays and demonstrations, Maine arts and crafts, visits to Navy and Coast Guard ships, harbor cruises, entertainment, parade, lobster-crate race and more.
Location Address: Harbor Park Rockland, ME

Maine Windjammer Parade

Event date/time:
July 13, 2012 – 2:00pm – 4:00pm
The entire windjammer fleet participates in an afternoon Parade of Sail past the mile-long Rockland Breakwater, providing spectators with stunning, close-up views of Maine’s fleet of tall ships.
Location Address: Rockland Harbor Rockland, ME

North Atlantic Blues Festival

Event date/time:
July 14, 2012 – 9:00am – July 15, 2012 – 10:00pm
This annual festival features more than 15 blues artists from the U.S. and abroad. Saturday night “Club Crawl” starts at 9:00 p.m. Advance tickets ($25/day, $50/weekend): 207-593-1189; www.northatlanticbluesfestival.com
Location Address: Harbor Park Rockland, ME

Summer Solstice Celebration

Event date/time:
June 23, 2012 – 5:00pm – 9:00pm
Come celebrate the 12th Annual Summer Solstice Street Fair on Rockland’s Main Street, Saturday June 23th, 2012 5 – 9 p.m. The Summer Solstice Celebration is hosted by Rockland Main Street, Inc. Main Street between Park & Summer Streets is closed for this fun family event.
Downtown restaurants and food specialty shops along with retail shops will participate with food, Solstice Sidewalk Sales, and entertainment and activities. Maine’s “Official Treat” is featured in The Whoopie Pie Eating Contest. Street entertainment features local performers throughout the evening on the street.
If it is music you come to Summer Solstice for, Paul Benjamin, North Atlantic Blues Festival, has brought back the Summer Solstice eve favorite bands along Main Street with a wide variety of music.
For more information, “like” Rockland Main Street on facebook and check out www.rocklandmainstreet.com. This event is proudly produced by Rockland Main Street
Location Address:
Rockland Main Street Rockland , ME

How to volunteer at Maine Lobster Festival... Being a volunteer (whether you are a local or from away) is a great way to meet Maine visitors AND mingle with many of the great people who call Maine home. Read about volunteering at the Lobster Fest, and perks that come with it!

How to Buy tickets for the 2012 Maine Lobster Festival...

Please note... The ticketing structure has changed for the 2012 Festival!

Daily Festival General Admission tickets are available at the gates. These tickets are for admission to Festival grounds only. Entertainment tickets need to be purchased separately

On Wednesday, Maine Lobster Festival Hometown Day 2012, general discounted admission is $5 ($2 ages 6-11 and Free for children 5 and under).

Thursday, Friday and Saturday daily admission to the grounds is $8 for the entire day ($2 ages 6-11 and Free for children 5 and under).

Sunday, Family Fun Day. admission to the grounds is FREE!

Four-day passes ($25 for adults and $8 for children ages 6 to 12) can be purchased at the Main Gate on Wednesday and Thursday of the festival and online at www.mainelobsterfestival.com.

During the 2012 Festival, passes will be easier to use. One person may use the pass for four days, or 4 individuals may use them for one day each!

Additional information about the Rockland Lobster Festival can be obtained from the Rockland, Maine Chamber of Commerce (Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce):

P.O. Box 552
Rockland, ME 04841
207-596-0376
800-562-2529
info@mainelobsterfestival.com

How to get to the Rockland, Maine Lobster Festival...

Rockland, Maine, located in the Midcoast, is an easy drive from many locales - a four hour drive from Boston, Massachusetts and a two hour drive from Portland, Maine.
Rockland parking is limited, but hopefully, as for the 2011 Maine Lobster Festival...
...the 2012 Maine lobster fest will have free shuttle service between the parking lots at Rockland District High School (400 Broadway, US Rt 1A), Rockland District Middle School (30 Broadway), and the festival fairgrounds.
For handicap parking...
...on the northbound lane of South Main Street, directly adjacent to the Main Gate, there are approximately 8 handicap parking spaces. Also on Myrtle Street, across from the Maine Gate, are approximately 14 other handicap parking places.
Driving directions to Maine Lobster Festival...

• From Boston: Approximately 185 miles. Take I-95 into Maine. Follow I-95 North to I-295, Exit 44, South Portland/Downtown Portland. Take I-295 North to Exit 28, which is U.S. Route 1 North (Coastal Route) Brunswick/Bath. Follow U.S. Route 1 to Thomaston. Rockland is another four miles on Coastal Route 1.
• From Portland: Approximately 82 miles. Take I-295 North to Exit 28, which is U.S. Route 1 North (Coastal Route) Brunswick/Bath. Follow U.S. Route 1 to Thomaston. Rockland is another four miles on Coastal Route 1.
• From Quebec, Canada: Approximately 251 miles. Take 73 South to 173 South. At the U.S. border 173 South becomes 201 South. Exit 95 South, continue to the City of Augusta. In Augusta, take 17 East to Rockland.
• Alternative route from the South: So as to avoid heavy summer traffic on U.S. Route 1 - take I-95 to Exit 109 Augusta and follow Route 17 East into Rockland.

You can also get to Rockland by train...
The Maine Eastern Railroad travels from Brunswick to Rockland. The summer 2012 schedule is yet to be announced at: www.maineeasternrailroad.com.
Or, visit fly into a Maine airport for the Lobster Festival...
If you will be traveling a long distance, or wish to make a short trip even shorter, you may be interested in my response to a woman who asked about airports in Maine near Rockland lobster Festival. In a nutshell...
...the closest airport to the lobster fest is Knox County Regional Airport in Owls Head Maine, and further away are the Portland, Maine airport and the Bangor Maine airport, each with rental cars available..
In addition to you, someone else was wondering about directions to Rockland Maine Lobster Fest...