Aroostook County

•  Can-Am Crown Dog Sled Races 65 3rd Ave, Fort Kent, ME 04743 | (207) 543-7515
  • International dog sled races that are great to watch or race in. There are three types of races: 20 miles, 100 miles, and 250 miles. The 250-mile race is a qualifier for entry into the Iditarod and Yukon Quest races.
• Crown of Maine Balloon Fest Northern Maine Fairgrounds, 84 Mechanic St, Presque Isle, ME 04769
  • Annual event the weekend before Labor Day weekend. It offers a weekend of hot air balloons, kids events, and other family-friendly fun. This event celebrates 1978, the Double Eagle II launching from Presque Isle and making the first successful crossing of the Atlantic.
• Houlton Agricultural Fair 128 Main St, Houlton, ME 04730 | 207-694-1395
  • Come enjoy a day at the Houlton with rides, games, photo /painting contests, and concession stands (food and merchandise). There’s also a pig scramble, mud runs, farm animals, pony rides, and much more. The event takes place on the 4th of July weekend.
• Maine Potato Blossom Festival Fort Fairfield, ME 04740
  • An annual week-long event that began in 1947 and includes over 75 events including entertainment, sports, pageants, historical tours, horse shows, agricultural events, a parade, fireworks, and more!
• Midsommar Fest Caribou, New Sweden, Stockholm, and Woodland, ME 04736
  • “Swedish culture comes alive in New Sweden’s annual Midsommar Festival in Northern Maine. This traditional Swedish festival holds true to its roots with a colorful three-day event marked by gathering flowers and lighting bonfires to mark the summer solstice.”
• Ploye Festival Bouchard Family Farms, 3 Strip Rd, Fort Kent, ME 04743 | (207) 834-3237
  • During the second weekend in August (same as the Muskie Derby), the Bouchard Family Farm along with the Greater Fort Kent Chamber of Commerce throws this festival filled with eating and family fun. Activities include making the world’s largest ploye, local music, ploye wrestling contest, and craft show.

Downeast

• Bay of Fundy International Marathon PO Box 101, Lubec, ME 04652 | (207) 619-1887
  • This marathon is held annually on the fourth Sunday in June and attracts runners from over 30 countries. It has been called a “small-town wonder,” a “bucket list event for every Canadian runner,” and more by various running magazines. The marathon starts in West Quoddy Head, Lubec, ME, to East Quoddy Head, Campobello Island, Canada, and ends back in Lubec.
• Eastport Codfish Relay Eastport, ME 04631
  • This unique event takes place every Independence Day and includes activities such as a beauty pageant and a codfish relay race. The streets are filled with small vendors, a street carnival, and more. 
• Fisherman’s Day Stonington Commercial Fish Pier, Stonington, ME 04681
  • Located on the Commercial Fish Pier, this is a fun, family day that honors local fishermen with events including a pet show, rowboat races, codfish relays, trap hauling demonstrations, bounce house, watermelon eating contest, and more.
• Machias Blueberry Festival Centre Street Congregational Church, 9 Center Street, Machias, ME 04654
  • If anything screams “Maine,” this is it! This unique and exciting festival takes place during the third weekend of August in downtown Machias to celebrate the Maine wild blueberry industry. You can enjoy crafts, food, entertainment, contests, and all things blueberry.
• Stonington Lobster Boat Races Stonington Commercial Fish Pier, Stonington, ME 04681 | (207) 266-5113
  • They hold a standard race, the John Bay Boat Company Exhibition Race, and the Jimmy Stevens Cup awarded to the Fastest Working Lobster Boat. Signups begin at 7 am, and the race starts at 10 am.

Western Maine

• Denmark Sheepfest 50 West Main St (Rte 160), Denmark, ME 04022 | (207) 581-2953
  • What started as a gathering for shearing local sheep has evolved into a big event including demonstrations, workshops and lessons, a fundraiser lunch, and more for those interested in raising sheep and working with wool. Held annually in April.
• Fryeburg Fair Rte 5, Fryeburg, ME 04037 | (207) 935-3268
  • Fryeburg Fair, the oldest and largest agricultural fair in Maine, is by far the biggest event in Fryeburg’s calendar. Complete with a long list of events and contests, exhibitions in agriculture, gardening, crafts, history, and business, tons of local shops, and a wide variety of fair foods, the Fryeburg Fair is not to be missed!
• Maine Brew Fest Sunday River, 15 South Ridge Rd, Newry, ME 04261 | (207) 824-2292
  • The Maine Brew Fest features around 100 craft beer and cider samplings from almost 30 Maine breweries. The weekend-long event features a beer dinner, an oyster tasting event, great food, family-friendly activities, and more.
• New England Cornhole Championship Sunday River, 15 South Ridge Rd, Newry, ME 04261 | (207) 824-2292
  • Another of Sunday River’s unique offerings, come play or witness this under-appreciated sport at its regional annual competition!
• North American Wife Carrying Championship Sunday River, 15 South Ridge Rd, Newry, ME 04261
  • Looking for a unique event? Head over to Sunday River for the Wife Carrying Championship, where couples cross a 278-yard obstacle course over hurdles, through a watery mud pit, and up an unsteady sandhill, competing to win the wife’s weight in beer and five times her weight in cash.
• Ossipee Valley Music Festival 291 South Hiram Rd, Hiram, ME 04041 | (207) 468-3952
  • Amazing multi-day music festival highlighting bluegrass music, local food and beer, and good times! Musicians can also attend their string instrument camp.
• Rangeley Oktoberfest Rangeley, ME 04970 | Early October
  • The Rangeley Oktoberfest takes place in early October and is a four-day celebration featuring food, entertainment, and beers from local restaurants, pubs, shops, and museums.
• Sunday River Fall Festival Weekend Sunday River, 15 South Ridge Rd, Newry, ME 04261 | (207) 824-2292
  • This fun-filled weekend features the North American Wife Carrying Championship, kids’ pumpkin pie eating contest, the New England cornhole championship, and the Blue Mountain Arts and Crafts Fair. There are also concerts, scenic chairlift rides, free wagon rides, and more.
• Wilton Blueberry Festival Wilton, ME 04294 | (207) 778-4726
  • Wilton’s premier annual event, held on the first weekend of August, celebrates Maine’s favorite berry with live music, races, parades, a pancake breakfast, chili and blueberry cook-offs, and more.

Other Locations

• Whoopie Pie Festival – “Maine’s Sweetest Festival” 20 E Main Street, Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426
  • “Maine’s Sweetest Festival” is an annual event that shows why whoopie pies are such a big part of Maine culture. Festival attendees are able to sample a variety of flavors and vote for their favorites while enjoying many other fun activities for the whole family.

Back to Hidden Gems