The Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta In Maine Is A Classic Fall Tradition

There's nothing we love more than a good local tradition. For some who grew up in Maine that was bean dinners and brown bread. For others, it's welcoming friends from away on the same holidays year-after-year. All of those things are great, but we're not ashamed to admit that our favorite tradition involves pumpkins! This annual event is the real start of fall here in Maine and we wouldn't have it any other way. While things will look different this year, we welcome the chance to appreciate this event in any way we can.

The Damariscotta Pumpkin Festival & Regatta has been delighting Mainers since 2007.

The event might be best-known for the colorful boats that take to the Damariscotta River racing each other to the finish line. But these aren't just any boats. These are actually pumpkins, and we're pretty sure you won't find anything like it anywhere else.

While this year's actual regatta has been postponed until next year, we're still just as excited to attend the event. Much will stay the same, including the annual weigh-in and display of the largest pumpkins.

And these things are large! You'll want to head to town to see the giant pumpkins arrive in front of local businesses on Main Street on Thursday, Oct. 7.

And that's when things get fun! Artists will paint and carve the pumpkins all day on Friday, Oct. 8.

Throughout the years, the intricacy and detail found in each creation has only become more impressive. This is one of the most intriguing aspects of the festival, as it truly brings the community together to celebrate local artists.

And in many cases the pumpkin creativity goes beyond just painting and actually extends off the pumpkin.

The giant pumpkins will be on display on Main Street through Oct. 19, 2021, which means there's plenty of time to visit while maintaining social distance.

While things might look a bit different for this year's event, we couldn't be more excited to have it in any capacity!

The Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta takes place October 8-11, 2021. You can learn more about the events taking place throughout the weekend by visiting the official website. You can also follow them on Facebook to keep up-to-date.

Another great way to appreciate the season is by taking the pumpkin patch trolley train ride in Maine for scenic fun for the whole family.