Of the hotels in Camden Maine, the Camden Harbour Inn experience is defined as the premier boutique hotel throughout the region. A good part of that is the luxury and comfort that the Inn offers each guest. Another part of that is the inviting, historic seaside town of Camden, Maine.
There’s always much to do and see in Camden, Maine, and throughout the surrounding Midcoast Maine region. However, if you’ve waited for a ‘special time’ to visit the ‘Jewel of the Maine Coast,’ then Labor Day Weekend is that time to go. Highlighting the festivities over the long holiday weekend is the Camden Windjammer Festival, 2018. The festival is a celebration of the Schooners, Windjammers and sailing yachts that define the community. The event features activities for all the family. There are maritime displays and experiences, tours onboard many vessels, fireworks, a packed program of live musical entertainment, and Boat Parade Finale. Outside of the festival, there is much else to experience. Sailing, hiking, farmers’ markets, concerts, and beer tours await vacationers and intrepid travelers alike. Herein is your guide for Labor Day weekend fun in Camden.
Sails Along Maine’s Rugged Coast
Looking for something special to experience over the holiday weekend, day sails and charters are available at on the Schooner Surprise. The Windjammer offers sails around Penobscot Bay. The day cruises pass by historic lighthouses, marine wildlife, private yachts and summer estates. Enjoy sunset sails featuring live music, or special full moon sails, too. Labor Day weekend sail in with the other windjammers on Camden Harbor or sail out at night to enjoy the fireworks over the harbor. The Schooner Surprise sails 7 days a week from mid-May to mid-October. See our Labor Day and Windjammer Festival Package for a getaway deal!
Take the Path Less Traveled
The Camden area has some of the best hiking trails throughout Maine. Choose from stunning coastal vistas and panoramic views of Penobscot Bay, or tranquil lakeside trails that wind through mixed forest lands. A short list to consider includes: the Camden Hills State Park offers near 30 miles of trails and the summits of 800 foot Mt. Battie and 1,380 foot Mt. Megunticook; Bald Mountain Preserve in Camden has over 600 acres of diverse terrain, abundant wildlife, and unique geologic features, with exceptional views of Penobscot Bay and the surrounding Camden Hills; Bird watchers will delight hiking through the Beech Hill Preserve in Rockport, listed on the Maine Birding Trail; Fernalds Neck Preserve trail winds its way for miles through Fernalds Neck Peninsula on Megunticook Lake; and Maiden’s Cliff Trail in the State Park offers spectacular vistas along the way and ends at a cliff outcropping 800 feet above Megunticook Lake with views of Ragged Mountain to the west.
Taste the Season’s Bounty
Whether you’re hankering for blueberry pie, artisan breads, maple syrup, fresh organic produce, cheeses, and meats, or even fresher seafood, you’ll find a wide selection to choose from in the area farmers’ markets. Camden Farmers’ Market is open Saturday from 9 to 12, and Wednesday from 3:30 to 6:00 on Washington St. Rockland Farmers’ Market is open from 9 to 1 every Thursday at Harbor Park. On Heal Road in Lincolnville Center, you’ll find the Lincolnville Farmers’ Market open every Saturday from 9 to 12.
Rock’n and Roll Through the Weekend
From Portland to Bangor, make your Labor Day weekend a long one, August 30 to September 3 national and regional acts are performing in venues large and small. Bands include ZZ Top, the Ghosts of Paul Revere, John Doyle, Pentatonix among other acts. In Camden, at the Camden Opera House, classically trained composer and accordionist Marianna Filippi performs on the evening of August 31, legendary singer-songwriter Jonathan Edwards performs on September 1. There are also many live performances taking place throughout the Windjammer Festival. Be sure to check the calendar of events.
Raise a Toast to Summer!
There’s a reason craft beers are all the rage these days, fresh and tasty choices, locally brewed by people with a passion for quality. Midcoast Maine boasts several small breweries to choose from. First stop is Rock Harbor Brewing in Rockland, voted Best Brewery in the 2017 Best of the Best competition, aficionados will find a wide assortment of freshly brewed pale ales, IPAs, and stouts. Sea Dog Brewing is right in the heart of downtown Camden and is noted for their award-winning signature craft brews in the traditional English style of brewing. Fifteen miles north of Camden, Threshers Brewing Company in Searsmont is known for quality craft beer in small batches that will satisfy any thirst. Freshly brewed batches include amber, wheat, and brown ales, porters, and IPAs. Finally, Marshall Wharf Brewing Company in Belfast offers a wide selection of ales, porters, and seasonal specialty brews, along with a growing reputation as one the finest breweries in all of Maine.