Maine’s 2025 July Update

July 1, 2025

Windjammer Season

Maine’s Windjammer Fleet is one of the most celebrated traditions on the coast, recalling the days when vintage cargo schooners were repurposed to carry passengers on Maine coast adventures. Today’s fleet consists of retired cargo and fishing ships with traditional rigging, as well as newer vessels built in a vintage style. These vessels have cozy cabins, offer hearty fare, and provide an opportunity to help raise the sails, pull up the anchor, and even take the helm. They offer day trips, multi-day and weeklong excursions through the islands of Penobscot Bay and Casco Bay. For a list of Windjammers and their schedules, visit the Maine Windjammer Association or Maine Windjammer Cruises. Other windjammers can be found at the Portland Schooner Co., Schooner Surprise, Schooner Olad , and Downeast Windjammer Cruises. Go to Visit Maine for more information.

Adventure Local Maine

Maine Outdoor Brands (MOB) has unveiled Adventure Local Maine, a new online platform designed to help residents and visitors find high-quality outdoor gear, guide services, and gear libraries, while supporting the small businesses that power Maine’s $3.4 billion outdoor recreation economy. Whether you’re gearing up for a weekend hike, planning a family paddling trip, or heading north for ski season, it makes it easy to connect with more than 130 trusted Maine-based brands, gear libraries, and experience providers. Visitors can search by activity, season, or region to find everything from handcrafted gear to expert-led excursions. The new platform brings the best of Maine’s outdoor community together in one place. Participating brands include L.L.Bean, Flowfold, Hüga Heat, Hyperlite Mountain Gear, Jetboil, Shaw & Tenney, Good-to Go, Winterstick Snowboards, and many more.

Wild Blueberry Weekend

A celebration of Maine’s wild blueberry heritage, the fifth annual Wild Blueberry Weekend will be held on August 2-3, 2025. More than a harvest, it’s a celebration of land, heritage, and community, supporting Maine growers and local food. The lowbush wild blueberry is one of only a few fruits native to North America and thrives in the thin glacial soils and harsh northern climate of Maine. The Wabanaki Nations were the first to care for the barrens and developed traditional land management practices that are still in use today. Created by the Wild Blueberry Commission of Maine, this statewide event brings residents and visitors directly to working wild blueberry farms throughout the state, many of which have been family-run for generations. Dozens of farms across the state will offer scenic tours, raking demonstrations, pints of freshly picked berries, handmade goods, and the chance to meet the faces behind the food. For more details, visit Wild Blueberry Weekend.

Maine Open Farm Day

Maine Open Farm Day is a chance to visit some of the state’s most beloved family farms, a family-friendly event designed to give a glimpse into farm life, learn about where your food comes from and how it’s grown, and to purchase products. This year’s date is July 27, 2025, and dozens of farms across the state are participating. The event is free and sponsored by Real Maine, a program of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry that connects people with Maine farmers and food producers. Visit Open Farm Day for details.

“Ralph Steadman: And Another Thing” at Bates College Museum of Art

Bates College Museum of Art is hosting “Ralph Steadman: And Another Thing” through October 11, 2025. The English artist is best known for his long collaboration with Hunter S. Thompson, notably illustrating 1971’s “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas: A Savage Journey to the Heart of the American Dream.” Their partnership helped define Gonzo journalism, a style of reporting that blends personal experience with political commentary. Steadman remains an active artist today and continues to influence artists from around the globe. This extensive traveling exhibition spans over 60 years of his work, featuring more than 140 original artworks and pieces of ephemera, including sketchbooks, handwritten notes, and personal photographs.

Agricultural Festivals

Maine’s county fairs offer a deep connection to the state’s agricultural traditions and lifestyles. The Skowhegan State Fair is not only Maine’s oldest agricultural fair, with roots dating back to 1818, but also the oldest continuing agricultural fair in the United States. This year, it runs from August 7 to 16, 2025.   The Windsor Fair will be held from August 23 to September 1, 2025, and has become Maine’s second-largest agricultural fair. The Common Ground Country Fair originated during the back-to-the-land movement of the 1970s and is an annual celebration of rural living, sponsored by the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. This year’s fair will take place from September 19 to 21 in Unity, and, as always, the focus is on organic farming techniques and sustainable living. It’s a showcase for rural crafts, featuring demonstrations of spinning and carding wool. There will be a draft horse show, sheepdog trials, and demonstrations of stonework, tree identification, and workshops on animal husbandry. The state’s most popular fair is The Fryeburg Fair, which dates back to 1851 and inspired E.B. White’s children’s classic, “Charlotte’s Web.” Today, the fair offers classic events such as team pulling, 4-H awards, and the famous pig scramble. There’s a large arcade with vintage carnival rides, harness racing, sheepdog trials, and tractor pulls. This year’s dates are September 27- October 5.