Special Local Events

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Christmas by the Sea

The local pre-holiday celebration weekend before Christmas.  The parade is short and very sweet.  Santa comes to town on a lobster boat. The library is illuminated with happenings galore and specials, and shops are open for business.


National Toboggan Races

The National Toboggan Races are held here each year.  Festivities are in town and out on the lake for the races.  It’s an event that is unique and special.


Camden Film Festival

It is always wonderful to have new films and people gathered to promote artists.


Pop!Tech

PopTech brings together a global community of innovators from many fields to share insights and work together to create lasting change.


Christmas by the Sea

In December, the whole town is transformed into a festive and intimate fairytale town, complete with an enchanting star on top of the mountain overlooking the town. Christmas by the Sea, featuring a full weekend of activities, kicks off the season with a holiday parade, Santa’s arrival (by boat!) to the Midcoast, store-wide sales, free photos with Santa, open houses, craft fairs, and fireworks.


Winterfest Week

Winterfest is a community celebration of winter. With live music, downtown rail jams, snow sculptures, ice carving and ice skating — there’s fun for all ages!


Toboggan Nationals

This amateur event started in the 1990s and has swelled into a serious affair, with people coming from all over the U.S and overseas, often with their wooden toboggans roped to the roof of their family SUVs. The 400-foot long, one-run toboggan chute is located at the Camden Snow Bowl skiing area.


Camden Conference


Maine Restaurant Week

Restaurant Week is a celebration of the culinary talents of area restaurants. During restaurant week, restaurants offer specially priced three-course meals. Chefs work hard year round to take care of their customers. During restaurant weeks, they go above and beyond. The first restaurant week concept originated in New York City in the early nineties and caught on in Maine in 2009.


Midcoast Rendezvous: A Plates and Pillows Event

The Midcoast Rendezvous in Midcoast Maine celebrates the premier culinary and lodging experience found from Brunswick to Belfast. It consists of ten outstanding days of dining, cooking, tasting and a host of other events, all led by local hospitality greats, and friends from all over, who cherish the Maine experience.


Business is Blooming

Help Camden kick off the summer season with this spring celebration! Many stores do sidewalk sales and also feature their newest wares.


Peter Ott’s 10K

Run one of Maine’s oldest road races! The course hugs the ocean and travels past the Galloway Cows, down dirt roads and through the woods, by a golf course and then back to the downhill stretch to the finish.


Ragged Mountain Run Around

Join in this scenic trail race at the Camden Snow Bowl! Chose to run either a 4-mile or 9-mile course. Benefits Ragged Mountain Development and Coastal Mountains Land Trust.


Maine Home+Design Show

The Maine Home+Design Show will bring the pages of Maine Home+Design magazine to life in a specially constructed 30,000 square foot clear span semi-permanent structure located in Rockport.


Camden’s 4th of July: Festival of Our Independence

From Camden through Rockport, to Owls Head and to Thomaston. Midcoast organizations team up to offer the Festival of Independence. Four days of fun in the Midcoast over the Fourth of July holiday. There will be concerts, family events, parades and fireworks throughout the Penobscot Bay region, with fun and affordable options for everyone!


North Atlantic Blues Festival

Our neighbor Rockland hosts the magnificent annual two-day blues music festival featuring national blues performers. It’s widely considered one of the most prestigious blues festivals on the East Coast!


Camden Garden Tour

Camden Garden Club presents their 66rd Annual House and Garden Tour from 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. – rain or shine. Enjoy a day visiting lovely homes and gardens in one of Maine’s oldest and most famous summer tours. Unique views, waterfront properties, and in-town jewels make this tour a must for residents and visitors alike!


Carol Sebold Harbor Arts Juried Arts & Craft Show

The Carol Sebold Harbor Arts Festivals take place in the summer and fall. Over 100 artists and craftspeople display and sell their work in scenic Camden Amphitheater, Harbor Park, and along Atlantic Avenue. Stroll around the different vendor tents and shop for unique art and crafts while enjoying the view.


Maine Lobster Festival

A Maine coast tradition, packed with family-friendly events and lots of lobster, of course!


Maine Boats, Homes and Harbors Show

If you love the coast of Maine, you won’t want to miss this high-summer event! Each year the show gathers Maine’s finest artists, architects, boatbuilders, craftsmen, designers, furniture makers, jewelers, and marine gear vendors together in ONE place at ONE time!


Lobster SUP Cup

“The Battle for Penobscot Bay”: Stand Up Paddle Board Race and charity event.  Competitors paddle from Rockport Harbor to Lincolnville beach in one of the world’s fastest growing sports!


Penobscot Bay Rendezvous

One of New England’s best regattas for power and sail boats!


Camden Windjammer Festival

Every Labor Day weekend, Camden hosts a windjammer celebration of maritime heritage. Throughout the day on Friday, Schooners from around Maine sail in and dock in our harbor – whether you’re a boat lover or not, it’s a spectacular site. After nightfall, fireworks officially kick off the weekend, and festivities continue throughout. When it comes to a community party, the crews, captains, craftspeople, business owners, residents, neighbors, and visitors really know how to have a great, family-friendly time in one of the world’s prettiest harbors.


Camden International Film Festival (CIFF)

The Camden International Film Festival, better known as CIFF, showcases the finest international documentary cinema. Recognized as one of the top 25 film festivals in the world for documentary films and filmmakers, the festival highlights work that shows dedication to craft and a unique and artistic approach to telling a darn good story.  The Festival utilizes beautiful and unusual venues in Camden, Rockport and Rockland, Maine. Screenings are followed by intimate Q&A sessions with directors and industry professionals. Festivities over the weekend include panels, workshops, photographic exhibits, musical concerts and exclusive parties. CIFF gets bigger and better every year!