The Maine Lobster Festival is an internationally known celebration of seafood held in Rockland, Maine, in late July and early August. The five-day event is full of culinary demonstrations, gourmet tastings, carnival rides, cooking contests, live music and pure fun on the scenic coast of Maine.
Festival Highlights
The festival's main events include a big opening parade, a sea goddess coronation, an international lobster crate race, 10k road race & 5k walk/run and an artisan fair.
The Big Parade (August 3, 2024)
The Big Parade is probably the most popular event of the Maine Lobster Festival. Each year, the authorities of Rockland close Main Street to traffic, so that locals and visitors alike can gather and watch the Big Parade participants march or drive by. The procession kicks off at 10 am and marches for about 1 mile, from the intersection of North Main & Broadway, down North Main, up Main in the wrong direction, and finishes at Pleasant Streetfinishing by noon. The lineup takes place at Oceanside High School, on Broadway, Birch St, Lower Cedar. Parade participants include local groups, businesses, and nationally recognized guests from other parts of the country, like “The Band” Marching Unit and The L.L. Bean Bootmobile.
Great International Lobster Crate Race (August 4, 2024)
The brave ones are welcome to join the Great International Lobster Crate Race. If you don't mind a risk of falling into the chilly ocean waters in front of thousands of spectators, just sign up on the day of the race at the Souvenir Tent starting early in the morning. Spots fill up quickly, so you might want to rush. The race starts at 2 pm. Participants have to pay a fee of $15, children 11 and younger pay $10.
10k Road Race and 5k Walk/Run (August 4, 2024)
The sporty ones can start their day with a 10k Road Race or a 5k Walk and Run. Usually, more than 300 runners join the races through the streets of Rockland, but only the first 200 receive a T-shirt. Everyone gets a finisher medal, and top finishers get special awards in various age categories. Organizers also took care of the youngest participants who can prove their best the Kids Fun Run. The road race starts at 8 am.
Entertainment
Carnival rides and daily concerts will keep the whole family busy and energized. Keep in mind that some activities and events require an extra ticket.
2024 Lineup
2024 music lineup features eclectic Bone Broth at 8:30 pm on the Main Stage on July 31. Neptunes Return, a local artist, will bring his new album to the main stage at 12:30 pm. On August 1, headliners are NOLA Resistance, A New Orleanian music collective comprised of noted Jazz, Funk and R&B musicians. The concert will start at 7:30 pm on the Main Stage. Jim Gibson will play a blend of blues, rock, gospel and country music at 7:30 pm on August 2. Spencer and the Walrus will provide a Beatles experience on August 3 at &:30 pm. The final day of the festival, August 4, features Julia Gagnon, a Maine native and Cumberland resident, who will perform from 3 to 4:30 pm on the Main Stage.
Festival History
The festival was founded in 1947 to support local marine communities, and since then has been attracting tens of thousands of people to Rockland each summer. Don't miss your chance to see 20,000 pounds of fresh and locally caught lobster prepared by the world's greatest lobster cooks.
The Maine Lobster Festival is one of the most popular summer events in the state. It has been featured in international magazines and newspapers. Several television programs, including a broadcast on the Food Network were dedicated to the event.
