The only thing better than summer in Maine is autumn in Maine! From cider donuts to fall foliage, there’s no better place to be than Vacationland in September and October. Of course, just spending some time outside is great, but if you really want to celebrate the season we recommend heading to one of the best fall festivals you’ll find anywhere in the country. As pumpkin festivals in Maine go, this is the best!
The Damariscotta Pumpkinfest takes place over the course of ten days, with the main events happening from October 5-8th, 2018.
This beloved celebration has been happening since 2007 when the first two pumpkin boats raced each other and a festival was born!
While the program is intended to help promote horticultural education, including the specific science that goes into growing Atlantic Giant Pumpkins, the event is so much fun that it’s meant for anything but good, clean Maine fun!
Each event throughout the ten-day period is meant to showcase the results of local pumpkin growers in lots of creative ways. And, the proof of success is in the huge attendance is receives each year! This year, the town is expecting to see between 10,000 and 15,000 attendees!
While there a number of ways to get excited about fall and pumpkins over the ten-day celebration, there are a few key events that draw some seriously devoted crowds!
Foodies will love the Pumpkin Dessert Contest on October 6th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., which allows bakers of all levels to come share their own pumpkin-related concoctions.
The Giant Pumpkin Parade, takes place on October 6th at 2:15 p.m. and the star of the show is the winning pumpkin from the weigh-off on the morning of September 30th.
And, right after the parade be sure to catch the Pumpkin Pie Eating contest from 3 to 4 p.m. Watching might be more fun than competing in this case!
Another fun event is the Pumpkin Derby on October 7th from 9 to 11 a.m. It’s great for kids and features small, non-motorized pumpkin racers under 20 pounds. The self-made, creatively decorated cars compete on a 50 yard course in downtown Damariscotta to lots of cheers!
There are a variety of age group competitions and the winners in each group compete against each other to determine the Grand Champion! Even those who pull up the rear can get in on the fun with the prizes for scariest, funniest, and most creative pumpkin racers.
Don’t forget the 180′ Pumpkin Drop on October 7th from 1 to 4 p.m. There’s nothing like watching giant pumpkins being dropped from a crane onto junk cars and into inflatable pools.
To keep things eco-friendly, the resulting pulp is used for pig feed at a local farm, and the junk cars are recycled for scrap metal.
Our personal favorite and perhaps the most uniquely Maine is the Pumpkinboat Regatta on Monday, Oct 8th at noon. In this race, participants create their own vehicles out of 400-700 pound, hollowed-out pumpkins. Some have attached motors while others are simply paddled.
The pumpkins are raced by captains in the Damariscotta Harbor. This event is so popular that it’s actually live-streamed in the local theater!
There are so many fun events taking place throughout the ten-day celebration that we can’t possibly list them all, so be sure to check out the full schedule here. Learn more about the event and see lots of fun pictures on the official Facebook page.
For another great way to experience fall, make sure to plan a trip to this lovely fall town. You’ll find lots to do and some great food!
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