ROCKLAND — Lobster Festival organizers started opening day a bit early this year – 5 a.m. to be exact – doing roughly quarter-hour interviews with Zach Blanchard, of NewsCenter Maine.

The Festival opens to the public at noon.

Between one of the 7 or 8 live spots expected this morning, Wednesday, July 31, Blanchard said he started his morning at 2 a.m., driving from Portland, in order to help kick-start the event. 

Though this is his first time to the Lobster Festival, Blanchard makes a habit of covering similar community events when he can. A few weeks ago he provided live shots from the Clam Festival.

“Every summer we try to do something fun,” he said, “when the people are out, when the tourists are watching.”

This morning, the fun was in Rockland, joking with Lobster President Celia Knight and Vice President Peter Beal; Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Tom Peaco; and Rockland Main Street’s Gordon Page Sr.

The last live shot will take place around 7:25 a.m.

King Neptune, the Sea Goddess and the royal court are expected to come ashore just before noon. The official ribbon-cutting ceremony is anticipated for 12:15 p.m.

For more information of the Festival, visit www.mainelobsterfestival.com/.

FREE SHUTTLE BUS
 

The festival provides free shuttle services to and from the festival grounds from the following location. A bus arrives at each location approximately every 30 minutes.

South Elementary School (formerly Rockland District Middle School)
Check days for detailed schedule:

Wednesday, July 31: Bus starts at noon and ends at 10 p.m.
Thursday, Aug. 1, and Friday, Aug. 2: Bus starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 11 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 3: Limited service 9 a.m. to noon. Full service starts after parade (noon) and ends at 11 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 4: Bus starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 6 p.m.
Bus arrives at each location approximately every 20 minutes.
 

Reach Sarah Thompson at news@penbaypilot.com