New England - is Rockland, ME annual lobster festival any better than normal ME lobster?

Hi all --

I'm planning a short summer trip for family, and it could possibly overlap with the annual lobster festival in Rockland in August.

Just wondering if you all have found it to be a great $ deal, or any better than lobster outside of the festival -- taste / cost? The website says $14 lobsters, so not sure if this is regular, or high for Maine along the coast.

The festival attractions are mildly interesting, but my ingoing bias is that it's probably not worth altering plans deliberately to go...

Anyone had experience with this festival?

Thanks!

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Obscure2k
TravelBuzz Moderator

Hi all --

I'm planning a short summer trip for family, and it could possibly overlap with the annual lobster festival in Rockland in August.

Just wondering if you all have found it to be a great $ deal, or any better than lobster outside of the festival -- taste / cost? The website says $14 lobsters, so not sure if this is regular, or high for Maine along the coast.

The festival attractions are mildly interesting, but my ingoing bias is that it's probably not worth altering plans deliberately to go...

Anyone had experience with this festival?

Thanks!



I have never been myself, but I have heard it is a zoo up there during the festival. I live in Southern Maine and you can usually get lobsters in the summer for anywhere from $3.99 - $6.99 a pound (most of the time you will get 1-1.5 lb lobsters)and most places will even steam them for you at that price - so $14 a lobster is kinda steep. I would just focus on the coastline and scenery rather than deal with the festival. Camden is also beautiful with great views from the top of Mount Battie http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g40550-d104230-Reviews-Mount_Battie-Camden_Maine.html

Anyone had experience with this festival [lobster festival in Rockland ]?

David Foster Wallace write an in depth article: It covers the fest but gets into issues concerning the lobster's participation in the event. It may be off-putting, and more philosophical than you may be looking for, but so warned, here's the url (from 2004): http://www.gourmet.com/magazine/2000s/2004/08/consider_the_lobster

I generally try to avoid these kinds of festivals - especially with kids. the crowds can be large and overbearing and the food you end up getting is often produced en masse and not a particularly good deal. you may be better off finding some great destination places to eat (i.e. particular restaurants that you can look at in advance) and avoiding a large festival.

if you are going to maine and interested in food options, i highly recommend Portland. Phenomenal set of restaurants there, with Fore Street probably the king but many less pricey options available.

I generally try to avoid these kinds of festivals - especially with kids. the crowds can be large and overbearing and the food you end up getting is often produced en masse and not a particularly good deal. you may be better off finding some great destination places to eat (i.e. particular restaurants that you can look at in advance) and avoiding a large festival.Not all festivals are alike. Unless you've been to this one, you're making generalizations especially about the food. How do you know that their lobster bisque or lobster rolls are no good? The OP would be better helped by those who have been to this festival. Now if others hate it and tell you why, that's a different story. I think seeing local events like this gives you a wonderful feeling of what the people of the town are like. To me, this is what travel is all about—the people you meet and the fun your kids will have. Festivals can be a taste of "Americana".

That Gourmet magazine looked down on the festival is no surprise. Their scope was to write with a snobbish condescension. With such a limited range, they went out of business. Shock! :D Not enough people were interested. And, no, lobster isn't just for summer, as the article stated. :p

if you are going to maine and interested in food options, i highly recommend Portland. Phenomenal set of restaurants there, with Fore Street probably the king but many less pricey options available.What is so distinct about Fore Street that you can't find in any other city with expensive "foodie" restaurants?

I have been and wouldn't go out of my way to return. Like others have said, it's a zoo and one can find better and cheaper food quite easily.

Not all festivals are alike. Unless you've been to this one, you're making generalizations especially about the food. How do you know that their lobster bisque or lobster rolls are no good? The OP would be better helped by those who have been to this festival. Now if others hate it and tell you why, that's a different story. I think seeing local events like this gives you a wonderful feeling of what the people of the town are like. To me, this is what travel is all about—the people you meet and the fun your kids will have. Festivals can be a taste of "Americana".

Hear you loud and clear :) I was going on word from friends who have gone, so happy to concede that at best the recommendation is second hand. For some, this may indeed be a great piece of Americana. I do think that or many, that Americana is more enjoyable when taken in at a less crowded time and alongside locals in their regular routine. (Though the festival is arguably an important, however, infrequent routine.)

What is so distinct about Fore Street that you can't find in any other city with expensive "foodie" restaurants?

i think fore street is quite special for three reasons:
1. arriving on a train or long ride into portland and walking along the streets as you look out at the water puts the dinner in a special setting
2. the menu is fantastically new england and local (pan fried sardines; venison chop, etc]
3. the ambiance of the restaurant exudes maine - great wood tones, comfortable, serious but not formal, etc. i thought it was quite special.

Hear you loud and clear :) I was going on word from friends who have gone, so happy to concede that at best the recommendation is second hand. For some, this may indeed be a great piece of Americana. I do think that or many, that Americana is more enjoyable when taken in at a less crowded time and alongside locals in their regular routine. (Though the festival is arguably an important, however, infrequent routine.)I've always wanted to go at least once because it's theme IS lobster. It may be kitsch but who cares? That you can now avoid the hideous midcoast traffic by taking the train into town I think is fabulous. We had fun at the Blueberry Festival in Machias....it was all locals. We happened to be traveling out there during the time of the Festival. If you don't like festivals, I guess you should probably avoid them. :p

Thanks for your take on Fore Street.

Some eschew crowds, some love 'em. Count me in the latter group. I've planned several past vacations around food festivals of all sorts - chili festivals (Hatch, NM), crawfish festivals (Breaux Bridge, LA - great), shrimp festivals (Rockport, TX), garlic festivals (Gilroy, CA), a barbecue and blues festival (Pensacola, FL), a blueberry festival (somewhere in MI), and lots and lots of BBQ and/or chili cook-offs. This afternoon, we may be headed to the Chicken Fried Steak festival in Lamesa, TX (about 45 minutes from here).

We've also been to numerous music festivals, flower festivals, and local heritage/founders days type events.

At all these events, we enjoy the people, the food, the live music, the arts and crafts, the festival atmosphere. There are times when you want peace and seclusion, but I've never not enjoyed myself at a festival.

BTW, I've been to Rockland, and the entire area is quite lovely. Particularly fond of Camden.