Rockland, Maine Lobster Festival 2010

Surely you won't want to miss out on the 63rd Annual Maine Lobster Festival, in Rockland, Maine...

When is the 2010 festival? The festival officially opens on Wednesday, August 4th and runs through Sunday, August 8th, 2010.

When is the festival in 2011, 2012? The Penobscot Bay Chamber of Commerce says it's easy to figure out - the festival always runs Wednesday to Sunday and begins the Wednesday before the first FULL weekend in August.

So, that means that the Rockland Lobster Festival 2011 will run from August 3rd through August 7th, and the Lobster Festival 2012 will run from August 1st through August 5th.

Where is the festival located? Downtown Rockland, Maine, in Harbor Park overlooking the Penobscot Bay.

Why go to the festival? For starters, how does 20,000 pounds of fresh Maine lobster sound?

You may also be interested in:
Maine Lobster Season, Rockland, Maine, or from Amazon Chow Maine: The Best Restaurants, Cafes, Lobster Shacks & Markets on the Coast, Second Edition

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 and marching units, along with the newly crowned Sea Goddess and her Sea Princesses - various arts and crafts vendors, U.S. Coast Guard Station tours, seafood cooking contests, road races, carnival rides, games and activities for the kids...

And, all of that atop an all you can eat blueberry pancake breakfast!

How do you get there? 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.

The 2009 Maine Lobster Festival offered free shuttle service between the free parking lot at Rockland District High School (400 Broadway, US Rt 1A), MacDougal and Rockland District Middle School, and the festival fairgrounds. Hopefully, that will remain the same for the 2010 Maine lobster fest.

• 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. Their spring 2010 schedule is yet to be announced at: www.maineeasternrailroad.com.

Purchasing Tickets for the 2010 Maine Lobster Festival: In the past, daily Festival General Admission tickets were available at the gates only, while four day passes could be purchased on-line, or at the Main Gate on Wednesday and Thursday of the Festival. In 2009 four day passes were $25 for adults and $8 for children ages 6 to 12.

Additional information about the Rockland Lobster Festival can be obtained from the Rockland, Maine Chamber of Commerce:

P.O. Box 552
Rockland, Maine 04841
207-596-0376
800-LOB-CLAW

B&B, Hotel, Motel or Inn, Rockland Maine Lodging

There is no shortage of lodging in Rockland, Maine. A good thing, since...

Thousands of tourists vacation to this scenic town annually, to enjoy the beauty of its waterfront, and its many arts and crafts shops, boutiques, restaurants and museums.

Rockland is also home to many special events and festivals, including not only the Maine Lobster Festival, but the North Atlantic Blues Festival, the Down East Pirate Days, the Maine Windjammer Parade, the Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors Show, and many other enjoyable things for you and your kids to do.

You will have your choice of quaint country inns, secluded bed and breakfasts, mom-and-pop motels, summer cottages, or your own tent, pitched at one of several Midcoast Maine campgrounds.

However, book early! The Maine Lobster Festival is a BIG event and rooms can fill quickly.

Are you a business owner that would like a FREE plug before the Maine Lobster Festival? I would love to hear from you. I'll be happy to include a write-up on my Maine Vacations Blog, as well as a mention on one of my web pages. Just send me your email address, or phone number, and I'll be in touch.