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.
2014 Camden Windjammer Festival
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Young and old, both people and boats
A great weekend for a schooner festival
20104 Camden Windjammer Festival Build-A-Boat Contest
Creative naval architecture splashes through Camden Harbor
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 extensive, but the... Read more
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Pirates invade Camden as Windjammer Festival winds down Sunday
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 them how... Read more
2014 Camden Windjammer Festival
Sunday morning was time for the little boats to strut their stuff in Camden Harbor
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 Yellow Missile, a 6.6-... Read more
Graffam’s wins Chowder Challenge Saturday
CAMDEN — West Bay Rotary Club held another Chowder Challenge this year during the Camden Windjammer Festival, and the public cast their votes, choosing Graffam’s Seafood Market in Rockport as their favorite.Second place went to the Pen Bay Medical Center Cafe, in Rockport, and third place went to Cappy’s Chowder House in downtown Camden.Turnout was strong and steady Saturday afternoon, a perfect way to get a traditional Maine favorite for lunch. The Chowder Challenge is a fundraiser for the... Read more
http://youtu.be/332fQDLEIIA
Sights and sounds of the Windjammer Festival
Talent, fireworks and song in Camden
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, and other... Read more
http://youtu.be/raZyYBOhY1w
2014 Camden Windjammer Festival
A peek at Camden Harbor, aloft on the mast of schooner Mary Day
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 heading back... Read more
2014 Camden Windjammer Festival Lobster Crate Race
This year’s Camden Windjammer Festival Lobster Crate Race had 32 entrants vying for prizes, and the youngest racer was 4-year-old Finley Roper.Emerson Brott won first place, crossing a total of 288 crates Saturday before a large crowd gathered along the harbor’s waterfront.Second place went to Lauren Rothwell, who made it across 286 crates, holding the lead until Brott made his run 11 racers after Rothwell.Third place was a tie between Jonah Lovejoy and Luke Drinkwater, after both tallied 270... Read more
2014 Camden Windjammer Festival
Lobster Crate Race: The winners are...
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 crates. Brott was... Read more
Photo Gallery
Schooners big and small arrive in Camden Harbor to kick off Windjammer Festival
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, click here. Or better yet, just head down to the harbor and go with the flow. There is... Read more
2014 Camden Windjammer Festival
As a volunteer, you’ll be in the center of all the fun and action
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 festival... Read more
On Labor Day weekend, the 2014 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, Aug. 29 through Sunday, Aug. 31. The annual weekend event kicks off Friday at noon with a parade of schooners sailing into one of the country's most scenic harbors followed by a 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 highlight is 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.
A Pancake Breakfast, hosted by Camden Rotary Club, and a Chowder Challenge, hosted by West Bay Rotary Club, Saturday morning and afternoon respectively, will keep visitors tastefully entertained while raising money for local Rotary projects. The Sea Dog show returns this year to take over Harbor Park on Sunday, when man's best friends are invited to compete in a variety of entertaining contests.
Sunday also features the colorful attack on Camden by the Pirates of the Dark Rose, with their swords out and cannons ablaze... all in good fun. Children are encouraged to don pirate attire, get a little pirate training and help in the effort to save Camden from the clutches of the evildoers.
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. On Friday, visitors can bid on a dockside dinner aboard one of the schooners famous for their food.
Sunday night, 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 theme is Pirates of the Caribbean, so dig up your boots, your puffy shirts, ruffled blouses and big gold hoop earrings and dance the night away.
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 20th year in 2014. All Festival events are free to visitors and exhibitors, 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.
Schedule of Events
Updated times and details can be found on the Camden Windjammer Festival website.
Friday, Aug. 29
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 (Over the Harbor)
Saturday, Aug. 30
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 5 p.m. - Music in the streets throughout town
Noon to 2 p.m. - West Bay Rotary Chowder Challenge (Public Landing)
Sample a variety o
f chowders from local restaurants and vote for your favorite.
1 p.m. - Talk on the whaling ship Essex by Richard Cornelia (Camden Public Library)
1:15 p.m. - Lobster hauling talk (Public Landing)
Learn how Maine lobsters are caught
2 to 4 p.m. - Schooner Open House (Harbor)
2 p.m. - The How of Diving (Public Landing)
Rick Carney will describe the mechanics of scuba diving, a necessity for mooring setting, floating boat repairs and hull cleaning, and for harvesting a variety of seafood.
7:30 p.m. - Noel Paul Stookey (Camden Opera House)
Concert by the legendary balladeer
Sunday, Aug. 31
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.
10 a.m. - Pirate Puppet Show: Treasure Island (Harbor Park)
11 a.m. - Sea Dog Show (Harbor Park)
Registration begins at 10 a.m. Competition includes bragging rights for tallest and shortest dog, longest and shortest tail, largest and smallest ears, best nautical costume, best dog trick, most unusual name and obstacle challenge. Woof! (Registration fee benefits P.A.W.S)
Rules can be found here.
Entry form can be found here.
Noon - Build-a-Boat Race (Harbor)
1 p.m. - Pirates of the Dark Rose live battle (Camden Harbor)
2 to 4 p.m. - Schooner Open House (Harbor)
2 p.m. - Pirate weapons demonstration (Harbor Park)
3 p.m. - Pirate cannon demonstration (Harbor Park)
4 p.m. - All Comers Boat Parade (Harbor)
Registration form can be found here.
8 to 10 p.m. Dance Party (Public Landing)
DJ Terry Frank will be spinning popular dance tunes for locals and visitors alike. Free. Light show. Pirates of the Caribbean theme.