T-Shirt Contest Deadline
May
14
12:01 AM00:01

T-Shirt Contest Deadline

Get those creative juices flowing and submit a winning design. A $500 prize will be awarded to the artist whose design is selected. And, fame and fortune will follow as the winning design will be featured on thousands of t-shirts and hoodies and seen by tens of thousands of happy visitors who come to celebrate the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta on October 12-14, 2024.

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Seedling Sunday
May
19
9:00 AM09:00

Seedling Sunday

One tiny seed, harvested from a giant pumpkin, swaddled in soil, nurtured and loved, grows to form its pumpkin identity. This is your chance to raise a winner! 750 plantings will be displayed for adoption, care and nurture. A "celebrity" panel of professional giant pumpkin growers will be on hand to offer you formulas for raising formidable competitors, sometimes weighing up to 2,000 lbs. To ensure a perfect seedling sendoff, the Pumpkinfest Queen will be present to bless the tiny plants; and will be seated on her throne for fun family photos.

Let this four-month competition begin on Sunday, May 19th. This is a perfect family project, filled with education, fun, and wonder! Did you know that these pumpkins can grow as much as 25 lbs. in one day! Join in the fun! Your FREE seedling is waiting for you! See you on Sunday, May 19th!

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Pumpkin Deployment
Oct
10
3:45 PM15:45

Pumpkin Deployment

  • Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

  • A ballet of forklifts and giant gourds takes place every year on Thursday evening before the festival weekend to get the pumpkins into place all along Main Street in Damariscotta.

    Let us know if you would like to join the group of volunteers who help make this magic happen!

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Pumpkin Dessert Contest
Oct
12
11:00 AM11:00
Family, Kids, Saturday

Pumpkin Dessert Contest

  • Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta is pleased to invite all chefs, bakers, and wannabe Food Network stars to enter this year’s Pumpkin Dessert Contests. This yummy event will be held at Skidompha Library and samples will be for sale following judging.

    Please see www.mainepumpkinfest.com/dessert-contest for official rules for entry and other event details! oes here

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Pie Eating Contest
Oct
13
4:00 PM16:00

Pie Eating Contest

  • Elm Street Plaza Damariscotta, ME 04543 USA (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

  • The 2023 Pie Eating Contest will be a spectacular involving races and feats of feasting taking place on Sunday at Elm Street Plaza. In between pie-eating, from about 4:30 onward, Team Maine Armwrestling will take the stage to bring delight to the audience with their amazing skills in demonstration.

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Pumpkinboat Regatta
Oct
14
9:00 AM09:00

Pumpkinboat Regatta

  • Described as the “extreme sport of gardening,” this real-life jack-in-the- beanstalk sport is an event you don’t want to miss! Spectators will be thrilled to watch giant gourds -steered by captains either paddling or powered by “wicked nice motors”- ply the waters of the Damariscotta River in a series of races.

    The Regatta will take place when high tide allows each year. For 2023, that will be at 9 AM on Monday, October 9th! Needless to say, those 600 lb pumpkin boats need HIGH TIDE to be able to float & go really fast!

    The regatta can be viewed harbor-side, or via a “live feed” into The Lincoln Theater, where spectators are able to watch the event, seated in the warmth and comfort of the historic theater.

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