The summer of 2024 is ready and waiting to dazzle, entertain, feed and delight you here in Maine.
There are dozens of big, outdoor summer concerts to choose from, plus a slew of festivals and special events to make this a memorable stretch during Maine’s best time of year.
Grab the sunscreen and get ready to mark up your calendar.
A tray of freshly baked Baklava for the upcoming Greek Food Festival at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church parish hall. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer
Greek Festival
Thursday through Saturday. Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, 133 Pleasant St., Portland. htrinityportland.org/greek-festival
This year marks the 40th anniversary of the Greek Festival at Portland’s Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. Follow the sound of music and the smell of Greek fare to the huge white tent on Pleasant Street. The line is always long, but it moves fast as you load up on spanakopita, moussaka, gyros and several other quintessential dishes. Leave room for dessert: The baklava and koulorakia will be calling your name, as will the endless supply of loukoumades (Greek honey puffs).
Musicians perform Peruvian-American composer Gabriela Lena Frank’s “Tarqueada” at Pine Cove in Range Pond State Park in Poland as part of Vigorous Tenderness in 2023. Ben McCanna/Staff Photographer
Vigorous Tenderness: A Summer Solstice Concert
6 p.m. Friday. Mackworth Island, Falmouth, $25 sliding scale donation, no advance tickets needed. On Facebook.
Celebrate the official arrival of summer with an immersive outdoor concert on Mackworth Island. Vigorous Tenderness amplifies marginalized voices in classical music four times a year. The summer solstice performers include Molly Harmon, Sylvia Schwartz, Sol Adams and Kal Sugatski, among several others performing music by composers Leilehua Lanzilotti, Coleridge-Taylor Perkinson, Mary D Watkins, Julius Eastman, Michael Tippett, Lili Boulanger and Calixto Alvarez. As you stroll around Mackworth, you’ll encounter clusters of musicians.
Past La Kermesse designs line the walls in the entertainment tent in Biddeford. Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer
La Kermesse
Thursday through Sunday. St. Louis Field (John F. Kennedy School), Biddeford. lakermessefestival.com
Biddeford’s 41st annual Franco-Americaine festival is a four-day cultural celebration with food, music, a craft show, a car show, carnival rides, a parade and much more. Catch performances by The Early Beatles Tribute, Arianna Cote and Don Campbell Band, among others.
Maine Whoopie Pie Festival
Saturday. Various locations, Dover-Foxcroft, $6, free for 12 and under. mainewhoopiepiefestival.com
For one of the sweetest days out there, head to the Maine Whoopie Pie Festival, where you can sample a rainbow of flavors of Maine’s official state treat and cast votes for your faves. Other facets of the festival are a 3K race/walk, arts, food and crafts from more than 100 vendors. You can also enjoy live music, rides, games and whoopie pie eating contests.
The schooners Eastwind, Spirit of Massachusetts and Harvey Gamage, right to left, sail around Boothbay Harbor during Windjammer Days. Gregory Rec/Staff Photographer
Windjammer Days
Sunday through June 29. Boothbay Harbor. boothbayharborwindjammerdays.org
Make your way to the Midcoast for sailing experiences and several fun events during Windjammer Days in Boothbay Harbor. You can reserve a spot aboard a majestic schooner for a sail around Linekin Bay. But if you’re more of a landlubber, you can rub shoulders with the Pirates of the Dark Rose, watch the cod fish races, and check out the artist’s alley, among other activities – including a pier party.
Wavy Days Beer Fest
June 29. Thompson’s Point, Portland, 21-plus. mastlandingbrewing.com
Mast Landing Brewing invites you to its third annual Wavy Days Beer Fest. Tickets include unlimited samples of beers from more than 55 cross-country breweries. You’ll be alongside the Fore River as your Wavy Days tasting glass gets a workout. There will also be at least nine food vendors and plenty of live music to make this a gold-star Saturday.
Maine Oyster Festival
June 29 and 30. Downtown Freeport. visitfreeport.com
The 3rd annual Maine Oyster Festival kicks off on a Friday night at Freeport Oyster Bar, with samples, chats with farmers, live music and cocktails. The bivalve bliss continues Saturday and Sunday with a ton of live music from acts including Paddy Mills, Juke Joint Devils and Ashkyn Bird. Sunday at noon, don’t miss the speed-shucking contest at L.L.Bean’s Discovery Park.
A child enjoying a ride at Bath Heritage Days in 2023. Derek Davis/Staff Photographer
Bath Heritage Days
July 4-7. Front Street, Commercial Street, Library Park and Waterfront Park, Bath. visitbath.com/bath-heritage-days
It’s the 50th anniversary of Bath Heritage Days, and for four days, the celebration will be packed with events and activities, including Art in the Park, carnival rides and games, food trucks, an antique car show, beer garden, parade and fireworks. Some of this year’s musical acts are Queen Bee, Pat Colwell & the Soul Sensations, Breaking Strings and Lynn Deeves Trio.
Ossipee Valley Fair
July 11-14. Ossipee Valley Fairgrounds, Hiram. ossipeevalleyfair.com
The Ossipee Valley Fair, spread over four days, is crammed with family-friendly events and entertainment. Choose your own adventure from the long list of offerings that includes agricultural animal shows, farmer olympics, live music, food trucks, oxen pulling, an antique car and truck show, a horseshoe tournament and much more.
Darth Vader strolls down Lisbon Street during the 2023 Moxie Festival parade. Russ Dillingham/Sun Journal
Moxie Festival
July 12-14. Lisbon Falls. moxiefestival.com
Moxie soda might be an acquired taste, but everyone can have a blast at the 40th annual Moxie Festival. There’s a lot to be excited about, including fireworks, food trucks, kids’ activities, the parade, carnival rides, a book sale, a Moxie-chugging contest and a fishing derby. You’ll also hear a bunch of live music, including a Saturday afternoon performance by “American Idol” contestant Julia Gagnon.
Steamer, the clam festival mascot, says hello to parade-goers during the Yarmouth Clam Festival parade. Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographe
Yarmouth Clam Festival
July 19-21. Downtown Yarmouth. clamfestival.com
The 57th annual Yarmouth Clam Festival draws thousands of attendees out of their shells and into downtown Yarmouth for three days of festivities. The Maine State Clam Shucking Contest is a legendary competition, as is the kick-off parade, with “Pop Culture Phenomena” as this year’s theme. Yes, it’s still to early to set your lawn chair out on Main Street, but you sure can get excited about strawberry shortcake, lime rickeys and clams as far as the eye can see.
Native American Pow Wow
July 20, 21. Harbor Park, Wells. wellschamber.org
The Native American Pow Wow celebrates its 20th anniversary in Wells. Presented by the New Hampshire Intertribal Native American Council and the Wells Chamber of Commerce, the event includes drumming from Sacred Spirit, Humble Spirit and Lonefeather, native flute by Dail Martin, dancing, and Native American arts and crafts and demonstrations.
Maine Lobster Festival
July 31 to Aug. 4. Harbor Park, Rockland. mainelobsterfestival.com
Maine’s favorite crustacean enjoys five days of glory during the annual Maine Lobster Festival, which happens by the ocean in Rockland. When you’re not donning a bib and cracking claws, the festival also has an arts and crafts show, live music and entertainment, a seafood-cooking contest, a Steins & Vines tasting event, a festival parade and more.
Wild Blueberry Weekend
Aug. 3 and 4. Statewide. wildbluerries.com
The state’s most flavorful natural resource is the wild Maine blueberry, and the tiny orb of deliciousness is celebrated with two days of festivities. All over Maine, at least 16 blueberry farms will be open for tours and will be selling blueberries. There’s a handy map marking all the sweet spots, so you can hop on the blueberry trail and have a berry good time.
A thrilling moment from Circus Smirkus. Photo by Justin Miel
Circus Smirkus: The Imaginarium
Aug. 5 and 6. Cumberland Fairgrounds. portlandovations.org
For two days, Cumberland Fairgrounds will be transformed into a magical place by a whole lot of wildly creative performers. The Circus Smirkus 2024 Big Top tour is called “The Imaginarium.” You won’t find that word in any dictionary, but you will find a whole lot of whimsical wonderment as an enchanted toy shop comes to life and teddy bears, marionettes and a trouble-making Jack-in-the-Box elicit laughter and wide-eyed awe.
Maine Highland Games and Scottish Festival
Aug. 17. Thomas Point Beach, Brunswick. mainehighlandgames.org
The 45th annual Maine Highland Games and Scottish Festival is a one-day extravaganza full of events that celebrate Scottish culture and athleticism. The robust schedule includes pipe and drums competitions, dancing demonstrations, Border Collie agility demonstrations, Celtic music, bagpipes and a variety of food and drinks. Best of all are the athletic competitions, like the stone toss and caber (tree) toss.
U.S. Coast Guard officer (petty officer 2nd class) Michael Rice awaits a new group of visitors to the top of Portland Headlight at Fort Williams Park on Maine Open Lighthouse Day Derek Davis/Staff Photographer
Maine Open Lighthouse Day
Sept. 14. Statewide. lighthousefoundation.org
The United States Coast Guard, the Maine Office of Tourism and the American Lighthouse Foundation present this annual event, when many of the state’s lighthouses are open to visitors. Maine Open Lighthouse Day includes the chance to tour several landmarks that are usually closed to the public, and in some instances, you’ll be able to climb the stairs to the top. Keep an eye on each lighthouse’s schedule for the most current information on which will be open and when.
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