41st Annual Fishermen’s Festival April 25-27
Welcome to the Fishermen’s Festival page!
Everything you need to know to enjoy Fishermen’s Festival to the fullest.
Visit this page for our streaming live-feed, event results, schedule, featured stories, photos, videos and more. (Special thanks to BRCTV, Fisherman’s Wharf Inn and Red Cup Coffeehouse for making the live-stream possible.)
Use hashtag #FF207 on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to tag your festival photos, or send to pix@boothbayregister.com.
41st Fishermen’s Festival Schedule of Events
April 25, 26 and 27, 2014
Times are approximate and events are subject to change.
Pot Buoy Decorating: By age groups (young children and adults). Stop by The First bank, pick up your plain pot buoy ($5 each), decorate it and drop it back off at The First in Boothbay Harbor. You’ll need to use your own supplies for the decorating. Buoys will be judged by the community downtown Saturday morning. Prizes awarded for different age groups. This year we will hold a live auction for the pot buoys just before the Tug of War competition to raise money for the Fishermen’s Memorial.
FRIDAY
All weekend: Geary’s Draft Beer specials at all events at Mine Oyster, and dinner and drinks at McSeagull’s. Come on over and enjoy the food. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated back to the Fishermen’s Memorial Fund.
Mr. C’s Food & Spirit will have a pre-pageant menu with a choice of fried or baked haddock, baked stuffed chicken breast with wine sauce, char-grilled 8 oz. rib eye steak (above served with choice of side or mixed green salad or spaghetti marinara with meatballs, vegetable primavera with pasta) served with mixed green salad. $13.95 per person. Mr. C’s will also have its regular menu as well all weekend. A percentage of the proceeds for the entire weekend will be donated back to Fishermen’s Festival Memorial.
7 p.m. Shrimp Princess Pageant at Boothbay Region High School. Young ladies between the ages of 9 and 12 participate and show us their fine talents. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 children under 12. Tickets on sale at the door. Benefits the Fishermen’s Memorial Fund. 50/50 raffle with the winner announced during the pageant. Contact Brenda Blackman at 207-633-6280 or 207-633-5149 or Heather Casey at 207-798-0054. Fishermen’s Festival T-shirts will be on sale as well.
Entertainment
8:30-11:30 p.m. at McSeagull’s: Jehovah Stover and the Holy Mackerels
9 p.m. to 12 a.m. at Mine Oyster: In Too Deep
SATURDAY
Come join the fun at the waterfront. Purchase a Fishermen’s Festival T-shirt and enjoy some homemade French fries, along with the famous Craig Andrews fish chowder, served by Craig at approximately 9 a.m.
6 a.m. Pancake Breakfast Boothbay Region Lions Club Hall, Lakeview Road, West Boothbay Harbor. Pancakes, eggs, bacon, home fries. Tickets sold at the door.
7:30 a.m. Coffee and doughnuts for sale at the waterfront during morning events (by Project Graduation).
8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Events for the children in Fisherman’s Wharf parking lot. Lots of fun stuff for all ages. Face painting, bouncy house for kids, and other fun things as well. Chaired by Sarah Jo Barter.
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. CLICK will be doing the chalk art on Boothbay House Hill.
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Arts and Crafts Show at the Boothbay Harbor Fire Department, 11 Howard Street. More than 50 crafters participate in this fabulous craft show. Contact Vicki Huskins at 207-633-2404.
9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Blood pressure clinic courtesy of the Boothbay Region Ambulance at the Boothbay Harbor Fire Department, 11 Howard Street.
Events Worth Watching
8 a.m. Cod Fish Relay Race: Four person teams of the Boothbay Region High School run a course beginning at the public parking lot (adjacent to Fisherman’s Wharf Inn) dressed in foul weather gear, including hip boots, while carrying slippery fish. Contact Kathleen Pearce at 207-687-6677.
Small Fry Cod Fish Relay Race featuring Boothbay Region Elementary School students grades 5 through 8. Contact Kathleen Pearce at 207-687-6677.
8:45 a.m. UPDATE: The Greasy Pole event has been canceled; it will be replaced with a Bait Shoveling competition at the same time, in front of Red Cup Coffeehouse. Contact Corey Pottle at 207-380-6196 for information or to sign up.
9:30 a.m. Lobster Crate Running: Participants will demonstrate their agility in running along the tops of the lobster crates strung out between the two town docks. Contact Brandy Pottle at 207-633-2045 or 207-380-5169. Limit 15 contestants.
10:15 a.m. Trap Hauling Competition: Race begins at the town dock, where competing lobster boats tie up. Captain and sternman race down the ramp, untie their boats and speed toward the string of traps in the inner harbor to haul, bait and reset their traps, return to the dock, and race up the ramp, trying to turn the fastest time. Contact Mark Carter at 207-633-5762.
Lobster Picking and Eating Contest: $20 entry fee per person. Sign up by calling Ryan Casey at 207-380-3166 or sign up at the waterfront. Contestants will get two lobsters. Sign up will be at the pot buoy tent at the Whale Park that morning.
50/50 Raffle will be drawn between the Lobster Picking and Tug of War.
11 a.m. Tug of War competition at the waterfront. Ten teams (men, women or co-ed) vie for championships. Co-ed teams must consist of five men and five women. Lively, spirited competition. Get your teams together to do a business to business challenge. Contact Ashlee Lowery at 207-380-5348 or you can sign up at the pot buoy tent.
Small Fry Tug of War competition (third and fourth graders) takes place right after adult Tug of War. Contact Kathleen Pearce at 207-687-6677 or sign up at the pot buoy tent on the waterfront.
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fish Fry on Pier One by Mine Oyster. All proceeds to benefit Fishermen’s Memorial Fund. Fish sandwiches served inside until they are gone.
1-3 p.m. Oyster Shucking contest at Mine Oyster (different categories for competition and everyone who enters gets a prize). Three oysters paired with three wines for $10. This event will be hosted by Pine State.
12-3 p.m. Mine Oyster’s Raw Bar: Three oysters paired with tastes of great wines.
5 p.m. Church Supper: Congregational Church, Townsend Avenue, Boothbay Harbor. Two seatings: 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. Fabulous home cooking with great desserts. 207-633-4757.
Entertainment
8:30-11:30 p.m. McSeagull’s: The Boneheads
9 p.m. to 12 a.m. Mine Oyster: Krewe de Groove with special guest Douglas Gimbel
SUNDAY
BLOODY MARY SUNDAY: On the new deck at McSeagull’s if not at Mine Oyster. Hosted by Waldo Stone Farm. Try drink specials, including lobster martinis and Geary’s Beer all day. Opens at 9 a.m.
12 p.m. Burnt Island Lighthouse Tour. Board the Novelty at Pier 8. Scenic cruise to Burnt Island to spend an hour touring the island and lighthouse buildings. The coordinator will talk about the lighthouse’s history and significance to our region. On the return, the Novelty will be watching the blessing of the fleet service in the inner harbor. Space limited to 75, tickets must be purchased in advance. Advance tickets available Monday through Friday at The First NA, Oak Street, Boothbay Harbor, the Shrimp Princess Pageant on Friday night and on the waterfront on Saturday. Adults $10, children (under 6) $5. No refunds. Remaining tickets available at 11:30 a.m. on Pier 8, first come/first served basis. Contact Brenda at 207-380-7770.
1:30 p.m. Memorial Service: Outdoor at the Fishermen’s Memorial on Atlantic Avenue (east side of the Harbor across from Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church) in honor of area fishermen lost at sea. As the bell tolls, the names of the lost fishermen will be read by local clergy.
2:15 p.m. Blessing of the Fleet: Fishing boats circle the inner harbor and pass the Fishermen’s Memorial to receive the blessing for a safe and profitable year. The Miss Shrimp Princess and area clergy are in attendance.
Grab a drink and watch the Blessing of the Fleet from the Fishermen’s Memorial on the East Side, or from the decks of McSeagull’s or Mine Oyster.
Memorial Service and Blessing of the Fleet
At 1:30 p.m. at the Fishermen’s Memorial on Atlantic Avenue (east side of the Harbor across from Our Lady Queen of Peace Catholic Church) there will be the traditional Memorial Service in honor of area fishermen lost at sea. As the bell tolls, the names of the lost fishermen will be read by local clergy.
Following the service, at about 2:15 p.m., will be the Blessing of the Fleet: Fishing boats circle the inner harbor and pass the Fishermen’s Memorial to receive the blessing for a safe and profitable year. The Miss Shrimp Princess and area clergy are in attendance.
Grab a drink and watch the Blessing of the Fleet from the Fishermen’s Memorial on the East Side, or from the decks of McSeagull’s or Mine Oyster.
Fish Fry
Don’t miss Saturday’s Fish Fry on Pier One by Mine Oyster. All proceeds benefit the Fishermen’s Memorial Fund. Fish sandwiches served inside until they are gone, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.