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...

Where is the festival located? Downtown Rockland, Maine, in Harbor Park, which overlooks Penobscot Bay along Maine's Midcoast region.
Why go to the festival? For starters, how does 20,000 pounds of fresh Maine lobster sound?
Add to that...
...what is acclaimed to be the world's largest lobster cooker, great live entertainment, the Big Parade - featuring a variety of bands, floats, marching units, and a newly crowned Sea Goddess and her Sea Princesses...
...various arts and crafts vendors, U.S. Coast Guard Station tours, road races, carnival rides, seafood cooking contests, games and activities for the kids.
And, all of that atop an all you can eat blueberry pancake breakfast!

Surely you won't want to miss out on the 65th Annual Maine Lobster Festival, in Rockland, Maine, a historic harbor town along Maine's Midcoast. Even a U.S. Navy ship has made recent appearances at the Lobster Fest - perhaps again this year?

When is the 2012 festival? The festival for 2012, officially opens on Wednesday, August 1st and runs through Sunday, August 5th, 2012.

We have a 2 night minimum during Lobster Festival

• Smoking and Non-Smoking Rooms Available
• Extra Person add $10
• Corporate, Frequent & Group Rates Available
• AARP Discount with membership card
• All rooms are based on double occupancy. Maine state lodging tax not included in rates. All eservations must be cancelled by 4pm the day before arrival to avoid a forfeiture of one night room and tax.

We have an abundance of museums located close to us including Owls Head Transportaion Museum, the new Maine Lighthouse Museum and the Farnsworth Art Museum & Wyeth Center. Please investigate our Website and discover why time spent in Maine should include a stay with us.

Midcoast Maine is a shopper's paradise. Not only are there antique shops, there are gift shops, art galleries, restaurants and specialty shops of all kinds.

We have an abundance of museums located close to us including Owls Head Transportaion Museum, the new Maine Lighthouse Museum and the Farnsworth Art Museum & Wyeth Center. Please investigate our Website and discover why time spent in Maine should include a stay with us.

Shopping

Maine is well noted for its selection of Antique Shops, Rare Books and Collectibles. Maine Antique stores, boutiques and markets offer treasures of country decor pieces, fine furniture, primitives and collectibles. A visit to a Maine Antique Shop is a wonderful experience for the novice buyer and professional dealer alike. There are several antique shops in the Rockland area and many more located along Route One. Antiquing can be exciting and fun for the entire family and some real finds can be had at bargain prices.

Customer Reviews

"The price of our stay was vary good due to the 15% discount for weekly rate. We truly appreciate this service. It was great to have a refrigerator!"

The Navigator Motor Inn has been serving Midcoast Maine for more than 35 years. We are located in historic downtown Rockland, Maine directly across from the Maine State Ferry Terminal. The ferry service links the mainland with Vinalhaven and North Haven. We have 81 rooms and 5 suites, all with refrigerators and many rooms feature ocean views. We offer a wonderful continental breakfast each morning featuring breakfast burritos, waffles, yogurt, juices cereals and coffee. Our rates are very reasonable and special group rates are also available. We have a lounge and meeting facilities that accommodate 50. Our experienced staff will be happy to assist you in planning your stay in Midcoast Maine.

Seeing Midcoast Maine

Our staff will be happy to help you decide on the area activities and day trips that will suit you best. Some suggested day trips and activities are included here and new itineraries are being developed on an ongoing basis.

Light up your day - Take the walk along the breakwater to the harbor light. The breakwater extends one mile into the harbor and affords a view of the area normally only possible by boat. Then drive south to Owls Head and stop at Owls Head Light and park; this is wonderful spot to picnic, wade in the ocean, sit on the rocks, or search under the seaweed for crabs and starfish. Then continue on to Port Clyde Village, visit Marshall Point Light and make a stop at the Port Clyde General Store before heading. Directions and maps are available.

A Walk in the Park - While you can drive to the top of Mount Battie and enjoy the vista, there are many wonderful hiking trails across the ridges of the Camden Hills from Megunticook Lake to Bald Rock in Lincolnville. These are easy hikes, but good exercise and provide views of the area from several vantage points; trails can be reached from several parking lots, or you can drive from the hotel into Camden and right on up. Pack a lunch and have a wonderful day. Maps are available.

Ferry cross the Bay - Just across the street or a short drive will take you to state run ferries to off shore islands to visit Vinalhaven, or North Haven. Drive your car, take a bicycle, or just walk after reaching those distant shores. Each island has its own personality and possibilities for you.

It doesn't get any better - After a 15 minute drive to Port Clyde Village, board one of Captain Barstow's vessels and cruise to Monhegan Island. Boat schedules allow ample time to walk around the island, visit the several small shops and museum, and enjoy the day before returning in the afternoon. The trip to the island is just gorgeous; on the way, you pass between many small islands on your way to the edge of the open ocean. Reservations are recommended; the desk will be happy to help.