August Calendar of Events

August Calendar of Events

Presque Isle - Northern Maine Fair
Presque Isle. July 25-August 2, 2008. Large family fair with rides, exhibits, horse pulling, harness racing, tractor pulling, demo derby and more. Contact Person: Ed Nickerson (207) 328-7005.

Bangor State Fair
Bangor. July 25-August 3, 2008. Enjoy outdoor concerts, demolition derby, backyard circus, midway rides, great food, a petting zoo and pony rides, exhibits, fireworks and more. Phone Sally Bilancia at (207) 947-5555.

Prospect Harbor - Schoodic Peninsula - 7th Annual Schoodic Arts Festival
Prospect Harbor. July 28 - August 10, 2008. The 7th Annual Schoodic Arts Festival is a two week celebration of arts and culture, including 65 workshops, 26 evening performances, free brown bag lunchtime performances, an art show, a silent auction, and much, much more. Phone (207) 963-2569 for details.

Monmouth Fair
Monmouth. July 31 - August 3, 2008. Small, family agricultural fair with midway, animal exhibits, crafts and animal pulling events. Contact Paul Fox at (207) 933-2512.

Maine Lobster Festival
Rockland (Harbor Park). July 30 - August 3, 2008. One of New England's great summer events is the Maine Lobster Festival. Tons of steamed Maine lobsters, waterfront activities, maritime displays, Maine arts, naval vessels, harbor cruises, entertainment and a parade. Call (800) 562-2529 or 1-800-LOB-CLAW for a free brochure.

Skowhegan Harvest Days
Skowhegan. August 1-3, 2008. Skowhegan Harvest Days feature chamber beano, chamber mini-golf tournament, Veteran's memorial Chinese auction, Rotary lobster bake & chamber golf tournament, craft tent. For more info call the Skowhegan Area Chamber of Commerce at (207) 474-3621.

Wilton Blueberry Festival
Wilton (downtown). August 1-2, 2008. The Wilton Blueberry Festival is always held the first Friday and Saturday of August. There is fun for everyone including yard sales, sidewalk craft and food sales, blueberry pancake breakfasts, a doll carriage, bicycle and pet parade, firemen's muster, boat tours, chicken barbeques, blueberry shortcakes and pies with road races and fireworks. Also, don't forget to mark your calendar for 2007: The 25th Annual Wilton Blueberry Festival will be on August 3-4, 2007.

Wild West Weekend
Dexter. August 1-3, 2008. This 6th Annual Wild West Weekend Festival features lots of horses, free carriage and hay rides, children's games, multiple concerts, barbeques, town-wide sales and more. Get Dexter back in the saddle!

International Festival
Calais, Maine & St. Stephen, New Brunswick. August 1-10, 2008. 33rd Annual International Homecoming Festival. This festival celebrates the "two nation" community along the St. Croix River. Begins with international handshake on the bridge between Calais and St. Stephen, New Brunswick. Street fair, parade, dinners and other events celebrate the kinship of two communities in two countries.

Beach to Beacon Road Race
August 2, 2008. This is the 9th annual Beach to Beacon race. The 6.2 mile race starts at Crescent Beach and ends at Portland Head Light. The race attracted over 5,000 runners and 10,000 spectators to the Maine coast last year, making it the largest road race ever in the Pine Tree State. There are also wheelchair divisions and a 1K Kids Race.

Winterport Music Festival
Winterport (at Abbott Park). August 2, 2008 (noon to 9:00 p.m.). The Winterport Music Festival features the Kruger Brothers and their variety of bluegrass and americana music. Also featured are Sista Sadie (rhythm and blues), King Pirogi (polka elvis), the Union River Band and Evergreen (bluegrass), Spirit Fiddle Band (fiddle and guitar duo), Wolf Creek (country rock), Piero Trio (jazz), Fiddlin Noah Gardiner (8 year-old fiddle player), Souder and Williams (blues), Mutt and Jeff (contra mandolin duo) and Paul Anderson (singer songwriter). For info call the Winterport Town Office at (207) 233-5055.

Topsham Fair
Topsham. August 3-9, 2008. Agricultural exhibits, animal pulling events, 4-H, crafts, midway and harness racing. Contact Tad Hunter at (207) 729-1544.

Outdoor Sporting Heritage Day
Oquossoc (Guides Clubhouse). August 12, 2008. Fishing, hunting, environmental concerns, outdoor education, Sportsmen's Hall of Fame and historical program. Sponsored by the Rangeley Guides & Sportsmen's Association.

Maine Performing Arts Festival
Bethel. August 5-12, 2008. The picturesque streets and town common of Bethel, Maine come alive with art and entertainment during the 1st Annual Maine Performing Arts Festival. This family-oriented festival includes free outdoor shows at the hat fair, plus comedic theatrical performances in Gould Academy's Bingham Auditorium. The daily hat fair features regional and national entertainers such as mimes, musicians, acrobats and jugglers. This year's plays are The Servant of Two Masters, a classic Italian comedy, and Telling Tall Tales, which recounts European folk tales. For information on tickets and a schedule phone (207) 824-4436.

Cumberland Craft Show
Cumberland Fairgrounds (near Freeport & Portland). August 7-10, 2008. 37th Annual Event. Maine's largest craft show with over 325 exhibitors.

Skowhegan State Fair
Skowhegan. August 7-16, 2008. Grandstand shows, Quarter Horse and other Horse Shows and much more. Contact Lorraine Nunn at (207) 474-2947.

Forest Heritage Days
Moosehead Lake region. August 8-9, 2008. Forest Heritage Days falls on the 2nd weekend in August. It is a yearly celebration of the Moosehead Region's heritage and history. Some of the events of this year's Forest Heritage Days include: woods tours, educational exhibits, a craft fair and logging games. Witness for yourself these professional loggers as they compete with their saws with great precision and skill. For more information phone (207) 695-2702.

Maine Boats, Homes and Harbors Show
Rockland (Harbor Park & Buoy Park). August 8-10, 2008. Features boats in the water and on land, marine wares, the arts, and delicious food. Showcases Maine's top-notch boat builders, craftsmen and architects presenting all the essential elements for life on the coast. Hands-on demonstrations, historical exhibits, live music, children's activities and the 4th Annual World Championship Boatyard Dog? Trials. Call (800) 565-4951 for more information.

Winter Harbor Lobster Festival
Winter Harbor (Schoodic Peninsula). August 9, 2008. 42nd Annual Winter Harbor Lobster Festival. Blueberry pancake breakfast, beauty pageant, lobster boat races, 80 craft exhibitors, Maine lobster dinner and evening parade.

Winter Harbor Lobster Boat Races
Winter Harbor. August 9, 2008. This is the sixth race of seven "sanctioned" and eight total lobster boat races this season. Phone Chris Church at (207) 963-2117 for details.

Art Show on the Green
Southwest Harbor. August 9, 2008. This is the 8th annual event by the Fine Arts Coastal Alliance of Maine, co-sponsored by the Southwest Harbor/Tremont Chamber of Commerce. Two days of outstanding Maine artwork. Phone (207) 244-9264 for details.

Salt Bay Chamberfest
Damariscotta (Round Top Center for the Arts). August 12, 15, 19, 22, 2008. Every summer, Salt Bay Chamberfest brings some of the most captivating and internationally renowned musicians to the coastal town of Damariscotta to perform great masterpieces of chamber music literature.

Rangeley Blueberry Festival
Rangeley (Rangeley Inn Green). August 21, 2008. Jams, muffins, pies, gifts and crafts. Special entertainment for children.

Portland Chamber Music Festival
Portland, Maine. August 14-23, 2008. The Portland Chamber Music Festival celebrates its 13th season with August concerts. Well-known for its eclectic mix of traditional and contemporary repertoire.

Great Falls Balloon Festival
Downtown Lewiston-Auburn. August 15-17, 2008. The 14th Annual Great Falls Balloon Festival is one of the largest hot air balloon festivals in Northern New England, with activities for all ages.

Machias Wild Blueberry Festival
Machias, Maine. August 12-17, 2008. This is the 33rd Annual Machias Wild Blueberry Festival. The Downeast region of Maine produces some 85% of the world's blueberries. The festival features baking and pie eating contests, over 200 craft booths, foot races, a blueberry musical comedy and a variety of musical entertainment.

Maine Highland Games
Brunswick (at Thomas Point Beach). August 16, 2008. The 28th Maine Highland Games is an opportunity for Maine's Scottish community to come together, with bagpipers and over 30 Scottish vendors Featured performance group in 2006 is Schooner Fare.

New England Auto Auction
Owls Head Transportation Museum. August 23, 2008. The cars are gorgeous and the drama intense as two hundred antique and classic autos head to the block at the New England Auction of Antique, Classic and Special-Interest Vehicles. The Boston Globe says this "just may be the finest antique auto auction in New England." Previews begin at 7:30 a.m. and auction starts at 9:30 a.m. For more info call the Museum at (207) 594-4418.

Union Fair
Union Fairgrounds. August 17-23, 2008. Classic, rural Maine fair, one of the oldest in Maine, celebrating all aspects of agriculture, including a wild blueberry festival. Events include harness racing, old fashioned pig scramble, wild blueberry pie baking and eating contests, horse, oxen and tractor pulls, fireworks, sheep shearing contest, 4-H exhibits, carnival, entertainment and crowning of the State of Maine Wild Blueberry Queen. For info call George Field at (207) 273-2772.

Frantasia Festival
Livermore Falls. August 21-23, 2008. The Frantasia Festival of Out Music and Arts is an exploration in sound, music, movement and the visual arts. It is eclectic, improvisational and electric. Truly an auditory and visual adventure. Frantasia is the largest Out Music festival in Maine. For a list of performers please check the web site link above or phone (207) 897-6158 for details.

Blistered Fingers Bluegrass Festival
Sidney. August 21-24, 2008. The 27th bluegrass festival with over a dozen performers. Ticket info and performance schedules are online.

Piscataquis Valley Fair
Dover-Foxcroft. August 21-24, 2008. Milking parlor with home made ice cream, agricultural exhibits, crafts, midway and animal pulling events. Contact Deanne Merrill at (207) 943-2650.

Crown of Maine Balloon Fest
Presque Isle. August 21-24, 2008. Come and enjoy the 3rd Annual Crown of Maine Balloon Fest. In addition to 9 balloons, other activities include a BBQ, Chili Cook Off, Classic Car Show, Beer Garden and Battle of the Bands.

Windsor Fair
Windsor. August 24 - September 1, 2008. Large progressive fair with extensive agricultural, crafts and art exhibits. Large midway, animal pulling events, harness racing and mechanical pulls. Contact Lincoln Orff at (207) 549-7121.

Blue Hill Fair
Blue Hill. August 28 - September 1, 2008. A "Down to Earth" Country Fair always scheduled Labor Day Weekend. The Blue Hill Fair showcases the best of Maine Agriculture, while providing carnival thrills, a great selection of food and displays, and major entertainment (past headliners include Faith Hill, Charlie Daniels, 38 Special, and Diamond Rio).

Thomas Point Beach Bluegrass Festival
Brunswick, Maine. August 28-31, 2008. For over 25 years running, bluegrass in Thomas Point Beach. Details are posted online as they develop.

Windjammer Weekend
Camden Maine. August 29-31, 2008. The largest single gathering of Maine's windjammer fleet arrives in Camden Harbor for festivities all throughout the Labor Day weekend.

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