Top 20 Maine Events for 2009

See Yankee‘s travel bargains in Maine

Yankee recommends that you call ahead to confirm dates and times.

MAY 15-17: FRYEBURG,Northern New England Home, Garden, and Flower Show. One of the largest events of its kind, with more than 250 exhibitors of indoor home- and garden-related products, plus outdoor exhibits, all at Fryeburg Fairgrounds. The Garden Marketplace offers favorite and hard-to-find perennials, annuals, veggie seedlings, and shrubs; the Smart Home Owner seminar series on alternative energy options; and a “Meet the Chefs” cooking series featuring culinary artists sharing their secrets. 800-359-2033; homegardenflowershow.com

MAY 22-25: BARING, TRESCOTT,Down East Spring Birding Festival. Visit the Cobscook Bay area during spring migration and nesting season during America’s easternmost birding festival. See Atlantic puffins up close, and spot more than 150 different species on self-guided explorations, guided hikes, and boat tours. Presentations are led by area experts. 207-733-2233; thecclc.org, downeastbirdfest.org

JUNE 19-21: DEER ISLE, STONINGTON,Lupine Festival. Celebrate summer’s famous bloom with concerts, an art and sculpture show, craft fair, garden tour, boat excursions, airplane rides, quilt show, movies, and much more for the entire family. 207-348-6124; deerislemaine.com

JUNE 20, JULY 18, AUG. 15: YORK,Family Fun Saturdays. Plan some family fun this summer at the Museums of Old York, with tours of historic buildings, traditional craft demonstrations, hearth cooking, colonial games, and crafts for kids of all ages. 207-363-4974; oldyork.org

JUNE 23-24: BOOTHBAY HARBOR,Windjammer Days. Fully rigged schooners, including American Eagle, Heritage, Lazy Jack, and Eastwind, sail into the harbor each day. Other family events include pancake breakfasts, waterfront concerts, fireworks, tours of Navy vessels and the Coast Guard station, an antique-boat parade, and more. 207-633-2353; boothbayharbor.com

JUNE 25-28: MADAWASKA,Acadian Festival. Celebrating tradition at Maine’s largest cultural and ethnic heritage festival, with a tag sale, watermelon-eating contest, softball tournament, performances, dinner theatre, craft fair and quilt show, and picnic, townwide. acadianfestival.com

JUNE 27: SOUTH BERWICK, Strawberry Festival. Those luscious red berries rule at Central School for this eagerly anticipated annual event filled with entertainment, food, art displays, and, of course, plenty of homemade strawberry shortcake. 207-384-3300; southberwickstrawberryfestival.com

JULY 10-12: LISBON,Moxie Festival. Join the New England Moxie Congress and the Seashore Trolley Museum for a parade, Saturday-morning 5K road race (starting at the high school), clambake, tables of memorabilia and collectibles, and more in celebration of America’s oldest soft drink. 207-353-2289; moxiefestival.com

JULY 10-19: WATERVILLE,Maine International Film Festival. Celebrate the best American independent, international, and Maine-made cinema. Screenings and related events take place at the Railroad Square Cinema and the Waterville Opera House. 207-861-8138; miff.org

JULY 16: CAMDEN, ROCKPORT,Camden Garden Club House and Garden Tour. Since 1947, spectacular homes throughout these two towns have opened their doors and their garden gates to the public. Stroll through each property, and take home a few ideas to enrich your own indoor and outdoor space. 207-236-8946; camdengardenclub.com

JULY 17-19: BELFAST,Maine Celtic Celebration. Activities downtown include Highland games, Celtic music, Irish and Scottish genealogy workshops, ceili dancing, a “Men in Kilts” contest, and much more. 207-338-2692; mainecelticcelebration.com

JULY 29-AUG. 2: ROCKLAND,Maine Lobster Festival. Pull up a chair under the eating tent at Harbor Park overlooking Penobscot Bay and indulge in fresh, hot Maine lobsters–more than 20,000 delicious pounds of them. Maritime displays and demonstrations, arts and crafts, harbor cruises, contests, live entertainment, and a parade. 800-562-2529, 207-596-0376; mainelobsterfestival.com

JULY 31-AUG. 9: BANGOR,Bangor State Fair. Traditional event, with a variety of entertainment at Bangor State Fairgrounds. Children’s shows, concerts, animal exhibits, carnival midway, and the best of fair food. 207-947-5555; bangorstatefair.com</p>

AUG. 1-2: EAST BOOTHBAY,Boat Builders Festival. Two-day nautical art show and sale opens Saturday; on Sunday, visit working and pleasure vessels, attend nautical lectures, watch demonstrations, and indulge in a seafood feast, all at Shipbuilders Park/Ocean Point Marina. 207-633-4818; bbrlt.org

AUG. 7: SOUTHPORT,Book & Bake Sale. The town hall provides plenty of space for tons of homemade cakes, cookies, breads, and pies, plus hundreds of good used volumes in a wide variety of categories. 207-633-5740

AUG. 7-9: UNION,Maine Antiques Festival. Maine’s largest antiques show features dealers from across the U.S. and Canada, featuring all categories, from formal to folk pieces, displayed indoors and out under tents on Union Fairgrounds. 207-221-3108; maineantiquefest.com

AUG. 13-22: PORTLAND,Portland Chamber Music Festival. World-renowned performers from the New York Philharmonic and Chicago and St. Louis Symphonies and other renowned groups, all at the University of Southern Maine’s Portland campus. Featured composers include Vivaldi, Mendelssohn, Dvorak, Bartok, and more. 800-320-0257; pcmf.org

AUG. 14-16: MACHIAS,Wild Blueberry Festival. More than 200 crafters and artists, 1- and 5-mile footraces, baking and pie-eating contests, blueberry-theme musical comedy, historical and cultural exhibits, and plenty of food. 207-255-4402, 207-255-6665; machiasblueberry.com

AUG. 20-27: BAR HARBOR, Jazz Festival. Enjoy nine days of modern and classic music at various venues throughout town, ranging from historic theaters to earthy pubs. 207-288-5829; barharborjazzfest.com

AUG. 21-23: LEWISTON,Great Falls Balloon Festival. More than 40 giant models take to the skies–watch from the ground or take a ride. Festivities include food, music, a carnival, crafts, and fireworks. Reservations and hourly fees required for balloon rides. 800-639-6331, 207-783-2249; greatfallsballoonfestival.org