Camden, Maine Events: 13 Must-Sees for the Best Vacation
Midcoast Maine is brimming with incredible things to do. From relaxing by the water’s edge to hiking to the performing arts, our area truly has something for everyone. Camden, Maine, events are no exception! Year-round, you can choose from a variety of diverse events. Our annual events highlight food, film, holidays, maritime culture, and more! Browse five of our favorite events in Camden, Maine, below.
Request a copy of our complimentary Travel Guide for a complete list of year-round events in Camden, Maine, and more ideas on how to spend your time best here!
13 Camden, Maine Events You Can’t Miss
We have events in Camden and nearby areas, like Rockland, year-round. You get a little bit of everything, and so much fun. We love our festivals and are excited to share them with the thousands of visitors we get each year! See which ones look the most exciting to you and add them to your vacation itinerary!
Camden, Maine Events in Summer
Jazz in June | June
Jazz in June is a local annual music festival that takes place in Camden, Maine. The festival features a variety of talented jazz musicians who come together from all over the nation for over two days of festivities and fun! It starts at the Camden Opera House but often extends to other locations throughout the city. Check their website for the most current information!
North Atlantic Blues Festival | July
This annual festival, held in Rockland, Maine, brings two days of live blues music from
various blues artists from all over the nation. It’s at the Public Landing, looking over the Rockland Harbor, but they shut down Main Street to make way for the NABF Club Crawl. Be sure to get your wristband to get in free to the many bars and clubs joining in one of the biggest festivals on the East Coast! Visit the North Atlantic Blues Festival website for more information and to get tickets!
Camden Garden Tour | July
Discover the magic of Camden’s gardens with the Camden Garden Club’s Annual Tour. Running for over 70 years, this calming event gives you the chance to see different stunningly designed gardens all maintained by their owners. Tickets act as an all-day pass for the gardens and activities, allowing you to move and explore at your own pace. Along with tours of the gardens, guests can also enjoy lunch in Camden’s Downtown before continuing things at the tour. Return to observe paintings of the stunning gardens in real time, or participate in a raffle where you can win that very painting and more. Stop by this event for a relaxing, slow-paced day here in Camden.
Camden Classics Cup | July
Take part in this coastal boat racing event, deemed one of the world’s most beautiful regattas! The Camden Classics Cup sees a series of classic yacht races, boatbuilding, and plenty of onshore events across two days of fun. Marvel at the stunning vessels from a wide range of competitors or try your part in competing in this race series! The event also features a youth regatta, open to competitors from ages 8 to 18. Saturday, in particular, offers spectators something to look forward to, as the day begins with the Parade of Sail in Camden Harbor.
Camden Arts and Book Fair | July and October
Held two times a year, the Camden Arts and Book Fair is a family-friendly event and free for everyone. Spend the weekend strolling down the rows of vendors and exhibits where you can browse handcrafted arts, photography, jewelry, wares, and more from the artists themselves. You will find unique arts and crafts, perfect for gifts or for adding to your collections. Also, the Camden Public Library runs a book sale where you can browse good deals on hundreds of books!
Friendship Sloop Days | July
If you love sailing and history, this festival is right up your alley. The Friendship Sloop Society hosts this celebration, recognizing Friendship sloops with two days of races and then a parade at the end of the races. Join this festive gathering that has been commemorating Friendship sloops for over 50 years and draws people from all over the East Coast.
Camden, Maine Events in Fall
Maine Boat & Home Show | August
The annual Maine Boat & Home Show is a favorite for people who love Maine. This show is one of those events everyone waits for all year because it brings together Maine’s finest artists, architects, designers, boatbuilders, craftsmen, furniture makers, and marine gear vendors in one big weekend.
Enjoy live music, a food court, a kids’ area, and plenty of walking around to see all the talented, tented vendors. And you can see many elegant boats in one of the largest in-water boat shows in the area! If you want a truly cultural experience in Maine, check out this event!
Union Fair & State of Maine Wild Blueberry Festival | August
This weeklong event is at the Fairgrounds in Union, ME, and has been an annual festival for over 150 years! See the celebration of blueberries at its finest! All week, you can enjoy live music, food, carnival rides, races, contests, and the best blueberries in the state at the Wild Blueberry Festival!
Maine Lobster Festival | August
If you like lobster, Maine is the right vacation destination for you. If you don’t, a trip to Midcoast Maine might change your mind. In any case, the Maine Lobster Festival is the culinary event of the year! This takes place in Harbor Park, the first weekend in August, and features five days of exciting, seafood-themed events. Can’t make it to the Maine Lobster Festival? Don’t worry! You can indulge in bay-to-table cuisine at these waterfront restaurants in Camden, Maine.
Camden Windjammer Festival | September
Many visitors come to Camden for its serene water views. Celebrate all Penobscot Bay has to offer at the annual Camden Windjammer Festival! This event takes place each year over Labor Day weekend and celebrates the area’s maritime history and culture. The Camden Windjammer festival features sailboat displays, games, auctions, food, and more.
Camden International Film Festival | September
The Camden International Film Festival (CIFF) highlights a variety of documentary-style productions. This weekend-long event takes place at the end of September each year and has showtimes in Camden, Rockport, and Rockland. Looking for more entertainment? Consider a show at the Camden Opera House! It is one of the most entertaining things to do in downtown Camden, Maine.
Camden, Maine Events in Winter
Parade of Lights Celebration | November
Every November, Rockland Main Street, Inc. hosts a weekend full of holiday activities for the city of Rockland and visitors! In past years, events included a visit from Santa, a ribbon-cutting ceremony marking the holiday shopping season, free horse-drawn wagon rides, lighting of the Lobster Trap tree, and, of course, the parade of lights! Visit their website, Rockland Downtown, or their Facebook page, Rockland Main Street, for more information and updates!
Christmas by the Sea | December
Christmas by the Sea is our favorite holiday season event! This festive event features holiday shopping, live music, a parade, and more! It is a weekend-long event that features a tree-lighting ceremony and classic Christmas shows like The Nutcracker. Christmas in Camden, Maine, wouldn’t be complete without this annual event.
Camden Winterfest | January
Camden Winterfest brings the town together for one of Midcoast Maine’s most charming winter celebrations. Held around the Camden Public Library and Camden Harbor, this annual event features ice carving, a Polar Plunge, hot local food, live music, and even a Doggie Fashion Show. Stop by and watch ice carvers transform huge blocks of ice into sculptures, warm up inside the library with jazz and family-friendly activities, or cheer on the polar plungers as they splash into the chilly harbor to support local youth programming. If you’re visiting Camden in January, Winterfest is a fun way to experience the town’s community spirit, coastal beauty, and winter charm all in one afternoon.
U.S. National Toboggan Championships | February
If you want excitement when you travel to Camden, plan to make the U.S. National Toboggan Championships in February. They are everything serious about racing toboggans in the most humorous fun you could have in the snow. Join thousands from around the nation in this race open to anyone daring enough to fly down a toboggan chute at 40+ mph!
For registration, tickets, and more information, visit Camden Snow Bowl.
Serenity Awaits at the Camden Maine Stay Inn
Stay near the excitement of these Camden, Maine, events when you stay with us! Camden Maine Stay Inn is the best bed and breakfast in Midcoast Maine. From luxurious rooms to hospitable innkeepers, our inn has everything you need to experience Camden like a local.
Consider a stay in our Dogwood Room! This guest room features first-level access, a queen-size bed, a private bathroom with a walk-in shower, peaceful views of our park-like garden, and much more.
Check our availability and start planning your trip to Midcoast Maine!
