On Labor Day weekend, the 2015 Camden Windjammer Festival celebrates Maine's maritime heritage and the magnificent windjammers that ply the coast with a full schedule of events in and around Camden Harbor. Dates this year are Friday, Sept. 4 through Sunday, Sept. 6. The annual weekend event kicked off Friday at noon with a parade of schooners sailing into one of the country's most scenic harbors, which will be followed tonight, from 7 to 9 p.m., by the schooner crew talent show and fireworks.

All three days feature the Maritime Heritage Fair with exhibits of maritime skills, activities and information about boats, sailing and other maritime-related endeavors. Saturday's highlights include a Camden Rotary Pancake Breakfast kickoff, the Lobster Crate Race, a chance for the fleet of foot to cross a string of lobster crates — without taking a swim. In the Build-A-Boat Contest, teams begin with a kit of the same materials and the gist is to craft and create a boat that floats and can compete on the water in a race around the head of the harbor Sunday.

The Pancake Breakfast, hosted by Camden Rotary Club, and a noontime Chowder Challenge, hosted by West Bay Rotary Club, will keep visitors tastefully entertained while raising money for local Rotary projects. Also on Saturday, beginning at 10:30 a.m., Camden firefighters will demonstrate water rescue techniques at the head of the harbor and there will be a diving demonstration later, at 1 p.m.

A new event this year is the First Fish relay race, which involves a competition carry small, slippery fish in a dash for speed. 

Country music singer Susy Bogguss will perform at the Camden Opera House Saturday night.

Sunday ushers in the radio controlled boat races, followed by a lobster hauling demonstration and then the big Build-a-Boat Race.

Think you have the skills to be a schooner mate? Sunday will also provide the opportunity to test your nautical skills and earn Windjammer Mate Certification if you have what it takes.

The cruising schooners are open for tours Saturday and Sunday afternoon and then hop aboard one of Camden’s smaller daysailers and take a ride on Penobscot Bay for a couple of hours to get a taste of the seafaring life. 

During the late afternoon Sunday, the public landing will be alive with music. First up, at 4:15 p.m. will be Ray Montana and Friends, followed by Andre Lascoutx at 5:15 p.m. Sunday night, beginning at 7, Camden Harbormaster Steve Pixley is hosting a Dance Party under the tent on the public landing, with D.J. Terry Frank spinning the most popular dance tunes for locals and visitors alike. It’s a free event to celebrate Labor Day, the next day, and will include a light show.

The Camden Windjammer Festival is the largest gathering of schooners on the East Coast. "When the schooners enter the harbor framed by the Camden hills, it's just amazing to see," said Meg Maiden, marketing director at the Maine Windjammer Association. "The windjammers are powered only by sail and have no engines; several are designated National Historic Landmarks."

Thousands of people from all over the world attend Camden's popular end-of-summer event, celebrating its 21st year in 2015. All Festival events are free to visitors and powered by volunteers, making this a truly community event.

The Camden Windjammer Festival is a community-led celebration of Camden's maritime heritage and living traditions. The festival is coordinated by the Camden Windjammer Festival Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The festival is produced in partnership with the Town of Camden, Penobscot Bay Regional Chamber of Commerce, Camden Downtown Business Group, Maine Windjammer Association and Maine Windjammer Cruises.

 Updated times and details can be found on the Camden Windjammer Festival website.

Friday, Sept. 4

Noon to 5 p.m. - Arrival of the windjammers into Camden Harbor (Public Landing/Harbor)
Watch the majestic fleet enter the harbor with narration by Captain Jim Sharp

Noon to 4 p.m. - Windjammer dinner auction (Public Landing)
Get a taste of life on a schooner. Silent auction for dinner aboard one of the schooners in the harbor.

Noon to 4 p.m. - Maritime Heritage Fair (Public Landing)
Booths and displays of maritime history, traditions and skills
Exhibitors list can be found here.

5 p.m. - Formal welcome to the fleet (Public Landing)

6 p.m. - Bay Winds North Wind Ensemble (Harbor Park)

7 to 9 p.m. - Schooner Talent Show (Harbor Park)
Crews and passengers showcase their talent. A live drawing by Buckley Smith will be auctioned following the show.

9 p.m. - Fireworks over the harbor

Saturday, Sept. 5

7:30 to 10 a.m. - Camden Rotary Pancake Breakfast (Public Landing)

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Maritime Heritage Fair (Public Landing)
Booths and displays of maritime history, traditions and skills

9 a.m. - Build-a-Boat construction (Public Landing)
Create a boat to your own design with materials supplied by us..
Rules can be found here.
Entry form can be found here.

10:30 a.m. - Camden Fire Department Water Rescue Demonstration (Harbor)

11 a.m. - Crate Race (Harbor)
Sign up starting at 9 a.m. to race across a string of crates without taking a swim. The racer to cross the most crates in two minutes wins!
Rules can be found here.
Entry form and waiver can be found here.

Noon to 2 p.m. - West Bay Rotary Chowder Challenge (Public Landing)
Sample a variety of chowders from local restaurants and vote for your favorite.

1 p.m. - Children’s drawing class with Buckley Smith (Public Landing)

1 p.m. - Diving Demonstration (Public Landing)

2 to 4 p.m. - Schooner Open House (Harbor)

2 p.m. - First Fish Relay (Public Landing)
Relay race involving carrying small slippery fish.
Rules can be found here.
Entry form can be found here.

8 p.m. - Suzy Bogguss (Camden Opera House)
Country music from a top 10 performer

Sunday, Sept. 6

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Maritime Heritage Fair (Public Landing)
Booths and displays of maritime history, traditions and skills.

10 a.m. - Radio Controlled Boat Race (Public Landing/Harbor)
The little boats' turn to show off.

11 a.m. - Lobster Hauling Demonstration (Public Landing)

Noon - Build-a-Boat Race (Harbor)

1 p.m. - Windjammer Mate Certification (Public Landing)
Tests of nautical skills for all ages.
Rules can be found here.
Entry form can be found here.

2 to 4 p.m. - Schooner Open House (Harbor)

4 p.m. - All Comers Boat Parade (Harbor)
Registration form can be found here.

4:15 to 5:15 p.m. - Ray Montana and Friends (Public Landing)
Folk music.

5:15 to 6:30 p.m. - Andre Lascoutx (Public Landing)
Country-alternative rock music.

7 p.m. Harborside Dance Party (Public Landing)
DJ Terry Frank will be spinning popular dance tunes for locals and visitors alike. Free.