Originally Posted by
farebravo
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!
Not enough people were interested. And, no, lobster isn't just for summer, as the article stated.
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?