The Mission of the “Damariscotta Pumpkinfest” is to promote education to  citizens of all ages regarding the specific agricultural science  required to grow giant pumpkins, and to provide local non-profit  organizations with opportunities for dissemination of information on  their activities and fundraising.

The Festival

Pumpkinfest draws visitors to the mid-coast region, and the entire state of Maine, via widely-publicized events such as:

The Pumpkinboat Regatta, featuring numerous 400-700 pound, hollowed-out pumpkins with motors attached or paddled, piloted by volunteer captains, racing one another in the Damariscotta Harbor. This event is live-fed into the local theater;

A downtown display of 65+ volunteer-carved and decorated giant pumpkins lining Main Street in Damariscotta & Newcastle;

The Pumpkin Derby, with competitions for kids and adults;

The popular Pumpkin Dessert Contest and Pumpkin Pie Eating Contests;

The infamous 180′ Pumpkin Drop of a massive squash lifted up by crane and let go into a large inflatable pool filled with beach balls; and

The Giant Pumpkin Parade, featuring the winning pumpkin (the largest fruit in the State of Maine) from the weigh-off'; and 

The Pumpkin Catapult hurls 20-lb pumpkins hundreds of feet in the air, while the Giant Slingshots let kids of all ages aim small jack-be-little pumpkins hundreds of yards to hit targets. 

2023 SCHEDULE 

Volunteer Growers Weigh-Off 2023

Saturday, September 30, 2023

10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Louis Doe Home Center  

Join us for a gathering of local pumpkin growers presenting their 2023 pumpkins to be weighed!

7 AM: Fruit drop-off begins

10 AM: Weigh Off Begins

Great Pumpkin Commonwealth Weigh-Offs 2023

Sunday, October 1, 2023

10:00 AM - 1:00 PM

Louis Doe Home Center  

Join us for the nail-biting weigh off where growers from around Maine will present their giant pumpkins for competition! 

7AM : Fruit drop-off begins

10AM : Weigh Off begins 

Pumpkin Deployment

Thursday, October 5, 2023

3:45 PM - 4:45 PM

Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta  

A ballet of forklifts and giant gourds takes place every year on Thursday evening before the festival weekend to get the pumpkins into place all along Main Street in Damariscotta.

Let us know if you would like to join the group of volunteers who help make this magic happen! 

Artists at Work

Friday, October 6, 2023

10:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Main StreetDamariscotta, MEUnited States   

Pumpkin Dessert Contest

Saturday, October 7, 2023

11:00 AM  1:00 PM

Skidompha Public Library  

Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta is pleased to invite all chefs, bakers, and wannabe Food Network stars to enter this year’s Pumpkin Dessert Contests. This yummy event will be held at Skidompha Library and samples will be for sale following judging. 

Please see www.mainepumpkinfest.com/dessert-contest for official rules for entry and other event details! oes here

Pumpkin Parade

Saturday, October 7, 2023

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

93 Main StreetDamariscotta, ME, 04543United States  

Watch as Main Street, Damariscotta hosts a parade full of music, energy, fun and frivolity!

Pumpkin-car Derby

Sunday, October 8, 2023

2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Elm Street PlazaDamariscotta, ME 04543USA  

The 2023 Pumpkin Derby brings yet another way to utilize a pumpkin, as spectators and contestants will enjoy the “soapbox-styled” pumpkin-car race! A perfect parental bonding opportunity!

Pie Eating Contest

Sunday, October 8, 2023

4:00 PM - 5:00 PM

Elm Street PlazaDamariscotta, ME 04543USA  

The 2023 Pie Eating Contest will be a spectacular involving races and feats of feasting taking place on Sunday at Elm Street Plaza. In between pie-eating, from about 4:30 onward, Team Maine Armwrestling will take the stage to bring delight to the audience with their amazing skills in demonstration. 

Pumpkinboat Regatta

Monday, October 9, 2023

9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Description text goDescribed as the “extreme sport of gardening,” this real-life  jack-in-the- beanstalk sport is an event you don’t want to miss! Spectators will be thrilled to watch giant gourds -steered  by captains either paddling or powered by “wicked nice motors”- ply the  waters of the Damariscotta River in a series of races.

The Regatta will take place when high tide allows each year. For 2023, that will be at 9 AM on Monday, October 9th! Needless to say, those 600 lb pumpkin boats need HIGH TIDE to be able to float & go really fast!

The regatta can be viewed harbor-side, or via a “live feed” into The  Lincoln Theater, where spectators are able to watch the event, seated in  the warmth and comfort of the historic theater. 

Date: September 30-October 9, 2023

Location: Various venues in Damariscotta & Newcastle, ME 04543

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