Annual Events & Festivals - Festivals And Annual Events

There are few things Portland residents like better than a good festival, and who can blame us? Festivals and annual events are an opportunity to meet new people, check out new things, and catch up with old friends in a city small enough to offer up familiar faces at practically every gathering. Year-round, you’ll find events to pique your interest, whether your tastes lean toward home renovation, sports, traditional national holidays, or just a good old-fashioned block party. This chapter focuses on some of the best and biggest festivals in Greater Portland, including June’s Old Port Festival, July’s Yarmouth Clam Festival, and January’s Winterfest, as well as popular events within an hour’s drive of the city.

As any local will tell you, Portland’s social scene really picks up in the summer. You’ll notice in this chapter that many of the area’s largest festivals fall in the months of June, July, and August. This list is by no means exhaustive. If you sniff around, you can find some kind of event to attend nearly every week here. The local newspapers are a good resource—you’ll find information on some of the area’s smaller happenings, including dozens of church fairs and activities sponsored by the city and area merchants and organizations.

Unless noted, events are free of charge. Where entry fees are charged, we have noted the current price. Still, ticket prices are subject to change, so it’s best to double-check before you go. And make sure to bring enough money for snacks at the event. Since this is Portland, most events offer great seafood, homemade sweets, and ethnic cuisine that you won’t want to pass up.

Also, the dates and times of events listed may change from year to year. For events that run longer than one month, we have listed the event in the month in which it traditionally begins. Some annual fund-raisers and arts festivals occur in different venues from one year to the next. For these events, we have listed the address of the sponsor. Be sure to call ahead or check local listings to confirm that your intended event has not migrated to other pastures.

And finally, in this chapter we have replaced geographic organization with month-by-month chronology. This way you can mark your calendar and make sure to hit the events that most excite you. Have fun!