Maine’s 2021 September Update

September 1, 2021

Maine Lobster Week

Celebrate Maine’s favorite crustacean at the first annual Maine Lobster Week, September 19-25. Look for lobster deals at more than 30 restaurants, diners, food trucks, and lobster shacks throughout the state. Participants in Portland include Boone’s Fish House & Oyster Room, David’s, DiMillo’s on the Water, Eventide Oyster Co., and EVO Kitchen + Bar. There’s also Sea Glass at Inn by the Sea in Cape Elizabeth and Pine Point Grill in Scarborough, Nubb’s Lobster Shack in Cape Neddick; and The Boathouse Waterfront Restaurant in Kennebunkport. Also on deck are The Hartstone Inn in Camden, the Union River Lobster Pot in Ellsworth and branches of the Sebago Brewing Company in Gorham, Kennebunk, Portland, and Scarborough. Three-course prix fixe meals will range from $45 to $65 per person, and lobster rolls and other lobster dishes will be priced a la carte. Visit Maine Lobster Week for details.

Maine Craft Weekend

Anyone with a strong interest in contemporary crafts should plan a visit during the annual Maine Craft Weekend. This two day event on October 2 and 3 offers a great opportunity to visit artists’ studios and glass blowing studios, tour outdoor installation sites and non-profit craft organizations, and visit craft-based schools as well as craft beer breweries collaborating with artists and pop-up shops. This annual statewide tour of Maine craft studios, breweries and businesses is held in conjunction with American Craft Week, a nationwide event promoting craft events each October. It’s produced by the Maine Crafts Association in partnership with Maine Made. Featured cities this year are Bath, Biddeford, Bucksport, Freeport, Ellsworth, and Gardiner, and they’ll offer open studios, demonstrations, tastings, exhibitions and kids’ projects. Go to Maine Craft Weekend for more info.

Maine’s Classic Foliage Inns

There’s still room at Maine’s legendary inns for a fall foliage getaway. The Pentagoet Inn and Wine Bar in historic Castine, is set in a Queen Anne Victorian a short walk from the harbor. The Newagen Seaside Inn is in Southport, close to Boothbay Harbor. On Mt Desert Island in Southwest Harbor, The Claremont is a newly remodeled property overlooking Somes Sound while the castle-like Norumbega Inn in Camden is an intimate 11-room boutique hotel. For those looking for something more rustic, head west to The Rangeley Inn in the heart of some of the state’s most scenic Western mountains and lakes. Or head a bit further north to The Lodge at Moosehead Lake, where foliage is served up in a luxury environment. Go to Visit Maine for more info.

Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine

Located in a new 30,000 square foot home at Thompson’s Point in Portland, the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine has reopened with interactive exhibits that have been designed to create experiential learning and fun for a hands-on and family-centered experience. The museum’s interactive spaces are grounded in the science of play and the latest research on how children learn. Each exhibit is an opportunity for visitors of all ages to learn about their world through dramatic role play, hands-on exploration, navigating immersive environments, and taking safe risks. Spanning three floors and the Outdoor Adventure area, the spaces reflect Maine’s unique character and encourage exploration across a broad range of subjects, from STEM and the arts to the cultures and traditions that form the fabric of the community. Hours are currently restricted and advance tickets are required. Visit the Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine for more information.

Food & Drinks Festivals

Snow Pond Center for the Arts in the town of Sydney is home to one of Maine’s largest outdoor amphitheaters. This lakeside venue will host the first Snow Pond On Tap! event on September 11th, 2021. Music will be provided by The Mallett Brothers Band, Adam Ezra Group, and Muddy Ruckus, while brewery participants include Bigelow Brewing Company, Island Dog Brewing, Ambition Brewing and Bateau Brewing. For tickets and more info, visit Snow Pond Center for the Arts.

The Maine Cheese Festival on September 12 in Pittsfield will celebrate Maine Cheese and Cheesemakers with the Maine Cheese Guild. The guild’s mission is to support and encourage the Maine cheesemaking community. There will be music, food trucks, adorable goats, and plenty of Maine cheese.

The Maine Whoopie Pie Festival will be held on October 2 in the Piscataquis Valley Fairgrounds. The largest annual event in Piscataquis County, it’s a day that recognizes Maine’s favorite dessert. Held in downtown Dover-Foxcroft, the festival offers whoopee pies in a wide range of flavors. There’s the Earn Your Whoopie Pie 3K Race/Walk at 8 a.m., exhibits of arts, crafts, and foods offered by more than 100 vendors, live music, rides and games, and of course, Whoopie Pie eating contests.