The annual Wild Blueberry Festival takes place every August in Machias, Maine, to celebrate the delicious berries for which the region is famous. Organized by the Centre Street Congregational Church, UCC, the festival is free of charge and features great food, live entertainment, contests, farm tours, and blueberries. A three-day weekend event attracts about 15,000 attendees.
Schedule of Events
The fun, family-friendly festival is known for its pie‑eating and cooking contests, parade, Blueberry run, and musical comedy. Music entertains the visitors and tells a story of the threat of rising sea levels to blueberry farms. In addition to entertainment, there is also great shopping. More than 250 artisans and crafters offer various jams, jellies, candles, jewelry, hand-sewn items, pottery, glass designs, home decor, soap, sea salt, rugs, and quilts. All events run from 9 am to 7 pm. On Sunday, the festival ends at 3 pm.
Festival Contests
The Blueberry Pie-Eating Contest is both exciting to participate in and entertaining to watch. Contestants are selected through a lottery at 10 am, with ten participants competing across four age categories: 7-10-year-olds, 11-14-year-olds, 15-18-year-olds, and adults. The contest kicks off at 11 am on Saturday. The Blueberry Festival also hosts a T-shirt design contest where participants can showcase their creativity. The contest winner will receive a $100 cash prize, four free T-shirts, and the honor of featuring their design.
Location
The free Machias Wild Blueberry Festival is held between Bar Harbor and Bangor in the Downeast part of Maine. Besides the festival, you can have a lovely family vacation in the area. The surrounding area features a scenic coast, whale watching, lighthouses, eagle watching, plenty of hiking trails, and kayaking opportunities. It's also famous for its delicious lobster rolls.
