2014 Camden Windjammer Festival sails in for Labor Day weekend

As the Labor Day weekend winds down, we look back at the people and events that helped make it both memorable and enjoyable. Browse through the photo album and remember the people you saw, the good time you had, or the excitement of the festivities. The video is of the Outerspace Band from Vinalhaven who rocked the Waterfront Restaurant on Saturday, Aug. 30, 2014.

CAMDEN — For two days, the parking lot of Camden’s Public Landing was an open workshop of sawing, drilling and nailing as six teams worked furiously to construct their own boats to test in the annual Camden Windjammer Festival’s Build-A-Boat — and race — contest. On Sunday, at high noon and under a hot sun, the competition was on. The rowers were fierce, and in the end, it was neck and neck right to the end.

And everybody won, in one way or another.

The build-up was long and…

CAMDEN — When word got out there was a band of pirates sailing on a stolen pirate ship and skulking around Penobscot Bay, the Pirates of the Dark Rose headed to Camden and set up an encampment, just in case the Baggy Pants crew decided to sail in and invade the Windjammer Festival.

The Dark Rose pirates partied it up at Harbor Park, at the head of the harbor, but not before positioning a pair of cannons along the water’s edge. They also spent some time working with the locals, showing…

CAMDEN — Three competitors showed up Sunday morning for the annual remote control sailboat racing event, a long-standing tradition of the Camden Windjammer Festival.

Anyone can sign up to compete, and the course involves sailing out, around a marker and back. The fastest one to complete the course wins, and there are multiple heats to ensure everyone gets a chance to do their best during the quick track out and back with unpredictable winds.

Irvington Maxwell was captain of …

CAMDEN — The public landing Saturday morning, the second day of the 2014 Camden Windjammer Festival, was slowly beginning to come to life around 7:45. Camden Rotary Club had begun serving blueberry pancakes and sausage and two of the big visiting schooners were beginning to make their way out of the harbor for some sailing.

Over on the Mary Day, guests who had been on a four-day cruise and sailed back to Camden Friday afternoon, were enjoying cups of hot coffee before they would be…

CAMDEN — The talent was diverse and entertaining, and the fireworks were stupendous Friday evening, Aug. 29, as Camden’s Windjammer Festival got fully underway at the harbor. Throughout the day, the sun was bright and the streets filled with visitors and locals, who filtered to the waterfront to celebrate the region’s nautical heritage.

The start of the 2014 Windjammer Festival was marked by occasional cannon fire bursting over the water, and as dusk settled in, the guitars, ukeleles,…

CAMDEN — Camden Harbormaster Steve Pixley and Lobster Crate Race Organizer Seth Silverton shared the microphone late Saturday morning to introduce each of the 34 racers and offer color commentary during their runs, and the down time between.

The 2014 Lobster Crate Race lasted 90 minutes, and featured a bevy of kids, including one 4-year-old, and two adults who were classified as the Clydesdale division.

When it was all said and done, Emerson Brott took first place, crossing 288…

CAMDEN — Friday afternoon was one glorious weather day in the Midcoast, making for a seriously pleasant time to sit alongside the harbor and watch the action as schooners made their to the head of Camden Harbor, and tied up at the town docks.

Today was the first day of the 2014 Camden Windjammer Festival, and Saturday and Sunday have plenty of activities lined up.

For more information about what’s happening,…

CAMDEN — On Labor Day weekend, Camden throws a celebration on and around the harbor and everyone's invited. There is plenty to see at the annual Camden Windjammer Festival, but it’s even more fun to join in and be in the thick of all the action.

The festival needs more volunteers to make the event a success - more hands make for lighter work. In exchange for a four-hour shift, volunteers will receive a Festival T-shirt and a voucher for a free trip on one of the smaller boats after the…