Winter Harbor Lobster Festival, ME 2024, Craft Fair & Boat Races

The small town of Winter Harbor, Maine, welcomes many visitors during the Festival. On the 2nd Saturday of August, the locals celebrate the famous Winter Harbor Lobster Festival, Craft Fair, and Boat Race every year. Local restaurants and food vendor trucks serve lobster dishes besides other popular food. 

Kids and teenagers enjoy the arts & crafts stall in front of Schoodic Arts For All. You can hover around different stalls of food vendors, the local library, and the Winter Harbor Fire Dept. The old-fashioned float parade includes many familiar units.

The town has been celebrating this for almost 6 decades. Next year, the city will host the 60th Winter Harbor Lobster Fest on 10th August 2024. 

Winter Harbor Lobster Fest Craft Fair

The Craft Fair during the Lobster Fest is organized mainly outside and inside the Town Gymnasium at the School Street. The fair starts at 09:00 a.m. and runs till 03:00 p.m. More than 80 exhibition stalls are there on the fest grounds.

Local galleries and art shops exhibit different pieces of local, American, and tribal culture. Shopping here is a great idea. The Children’s Art tent is placed at Schoodic Arts For All at Harbor Road. The timing of this stall is 10:00 a.m. to 02:00 p.m. Face Painting and T-shirt painting are organized during this craft fair. 

Winter Harbor Boat Race and Float Parade

Hundreds of Lobstermen register their fishing boats in nearly 30 Winter Harbor Lobster Boat Race categories. It’s a part of the state-wise Lobster boat race circuit. The race starts at 10:00 a.m. Registration must be done before that time. The race starts from Henry Cove and ends at the End of Harbor Road. 

The Grand Prize for the 2023 Winter Harbor Boat Race is 10 rooms on a Luxury cruise. The Eastern Caribbean Cruise is from February 11th to 18th February. Other prices include toolkits from Maine Knife Company, fuel worth thousands of dollars, and many others. All the winners are participants who get invited to participate in the gala dinner organized after a statewide competition. 

The town organizes float parades in old-fashioned ways at the end of the Lobster Fest. It starts at 05:30 p.m. from Grindstone Ave. It ends at Schoodic Loop. Last year, The Winter Harbor Lobster Fest parade theme was “Pride of Maine.” Cars, Wagons, and floats designed in different items like Blueberry, Lighthouses, Potato, etc. are welcome.

Participants need to register at the Town Office before the show. The Grand Marshal takes part in the traditional black vintage car. 

Winter Harbor Lobster Fest Eateries

• Local eateries, food trucks, and vendors participate in this Winter Harbor lobster fest.
• The traditional Blueberry Pancakes are served from 06:00 a.m. till 11:00 a.m. at the Masonic Hall of School Street. 
• The official lobster dinner of the Fest is organized by the Deputy Town Clerk of Winter Harbor, Susan Liscomb.
• The menu has Boiled lobster, corn on the cob, chips, and traditional coleslaw blueberry pie, besides beverages. It’s served at the Municipal Building of School Street from 11:00 a.m. to 03:00 p.m.
• A single lobster costs $30, while it’s $35 for 2 lobsters. 
• The Black Sheep and the Smoke and Steel eatery have joined the 59th Winter Harbor Fest this year.
• Visitors can also enjoy different seafood, vegetarian, and non-vegetarian dishes from other diners throughout the city. Food like muffins, sandwiches, french fries, nachos, kettle corn, etc., is available on the fest ground. The list includes the Winter Harbor Lobster Shack, The Lobstore, Chase’s Restaurant, etc. 

Winter Harbor Lobster Festival Tickets

Locals and tourists can visit the Winter Harbor Lobster Festival for free. The shops and food vendors are open from 10:00 a.m. till 04:00 p.m. However, you need to pay $60 to set up a stall in the outdoor space. Donation to the welfare of the local Winter Harbor Public Library stall is encouraged. Books on different topics are sold for free from this stall. 

Maine Lobster Boat Races

Maine Lobsters are world-famous. This makes fishing lobster one of the most exciting jobs in the state. Every year, the Lobstermen of different cities vent off some energy by participating in this race.

During the 3-month lobster fest from July to October every year, the lobster fest race in Maine is organized in coastal towns throughout the state’s coastline. The race is divided into different parts based on the size and engine type of the boats. The number of participants is growing every year.

Lobstermen have to register first to take part in the race. Dates for races in different cities are updated on the official page. Cities like Portland, Moosabec Reach, Harpswell, Rockland, Bass Harbor, Boothbay, and many others participate in this racing circuit. The race ends with a gala dinner and prize distribution.

Fishermen can collect points throughout the year to earn rewards through cash prizes or tickets to cruise ships. Spectators can watch the races for free. Lobster festivals are organized in different coastal cities during the boat races.

Conclusion

Winter Harbor Lobster Fest is the embodiment of the true New England celebration. It’s designed to create numerous unforgettable memories for everyone. The fest showcases local culinary delights and live entertainment to celebrate the rich marine heritage of Maine. It’s an experience that will leave you craving more and counting down the days until next year’s event.