Maine's Main Event For Lobster Lovers

Those crazy for lobster can indulge at the 65th annual Maine Lobster Festival Aug. 1 to 5 at Harbor Park in Rockland, Maine. More than 20,000 pounds of fresh local lobster are being steamed, cooked, and savored by festival-goers seeking scrumptious seafood sensations.

Within the Maine Lobster Festival's main eating tent, guests can gorge on lobster rolls, corn-on-the-cob, steamed clams, crabcakes, fried shrimp, fried haddock, and calamari. All-you-can-eat pancake breakfasts are being held in the mornings, offering non-lobster treats like blueberry pancakes, sausage, juice, and coffee.

Events throughout the Maine Lobster Festival include arts and crafts tents showcasing local Maine craftsmanship, a marine tent housing an interactive display of underwater wildlife, and a parade down Rockland's Main Street, where crowds of more than 25,000 guests can expect to see lobster lovers dressed up in lobster costumes and King Neptune with his royal court riding onboard ocean-themed floats.

On the Maine Lobster Festival's final day, there is a seafood cooking contest for amateur chefs and food lovers who compete to create a winning dish for cash prizes. Last year's winning dishes included pan-seared sea scallops with lobster medallions in a lemon butter sauce, lobster and crab galette, and lobster curry mac and cheese with a crispy crab topping. Prizes award to first, second, and third place victors are $200, $175, and $150, respectively.

Another contest taking place Aug. 5 is a lobster crate race, where contestants willing to brave the chilling Atlantic seas race along a submerged lobster crate track.

Admission cost for the festival is $5 for adults and $2 for children.