We’ve compiled some great events and festivals happening this month across the state to celebrate the changing seasons: from the Eastport Salmon Festival to the Maine Open Lighthouse Day, the Laudholm Nature Crafts Festival, the Cape Elizabeth Kitchen Tour, and the Cumberland County Fair.
Eastport Salmon Festival
Eastport, Maine
September 2-3, 2023
“Since 1987 Eastport, Maine has celebrated the end of summer with a festival, a gathering, an homage to our local resources. At the center of the celebration is the Atlantic salmon, raised in the cold waters of Passamaquoddy Bay. Seafood Saturday consists of crab rolls, seafood chowders, and oysters during lunchtime. The centerpiece of Salmon Sunday is always the salmon barbecue. With the purchase of a full dinner, enjoy a boat ride to the salmon pens in Cobscook Bay. We eat under the big tent in a crowd of friends, neighbors, and visitors. We look up from our repast and gaze contentedly at the breathtaking view of the Passamaquoddy Bay just a few feet away. Come for music, arts and crafts, galleries, gift shops and museums, locally brewed beers, (wine too), a farmers’ market, flea market, delicious seafood, and a fabulous salmon barbecue dinner.” Learn more at eastportchamber.net
Maine Open Lighthouse Day
Coastal Maine
September 9, 2023
This popular annual event, which is sponsored by the United States Coast Guard, the Maine Office of Tourism, and the American Lighthouse Foundation, attracts between 15,000 to 18,000 visitors each year and offers the general public the rare opportunity to climb and learn about more than a dozen historic Maine lights. Our friends over at Maine the Way are on a mission to visit all of Maine’s lighthouses, check out their latest video tour of Pemaquid Point Lighthouse. Learn more about Maine Open Lighthouse Day at lighthousefoundation.org.
Laudholm Nature Crafts Festival
Wells, Maine
September 9-10, 2023
Hosted annually the weekend after Labor Day, over 130 vendors showcase their crafts at this art festival at the scenic Laudholm campus of the Wells National Estuarine Reserve. Afterward, explore the preserve’s hiking trails and beach. Learn more at wellsreserve.org.
Cape Elizabeth Kitchen Tour
Cape Elizabeth, Maine
September 23, 2023
After a 5 year hiatus, the Cape Elizabeth Kitchen Tour is back and presented by Legacy Properties Sotheby’s International Realty. This is a self-guided tour of beautiful kitchens throughout the seaside town, where you can learn about design trends and talk to our agents and builders about your ideas. The Tour starts at 10 am and ends at 4 pm with check-in at 343 Ocean House Road, the home of Cape Elizabeth Community Services. There you will receive your tour catalog, which includes a map of home locations, sponsor information, and resources from each home. You’ll be ready for a full day of exploring beautiful kitchens and the town of Cape Elizabeth. Best of all, tickets support the Cape Elizabeth Education Foundation, which provides grants to the teachers and students in the Cape Elizabeth school district. Buy tickets here.
Cumberland County Fair
Cumberland, Maine
September 24-30, 2023
Celebrating its 150th year, the Cumberland County Fair includes a demolition derby, rodeos, parades, motocross shows, horse shows, livestock auctions, an exhibition hall and craft fair, and fireworks. Learn more at cumberlandfair.com
