Lucky winners of this silent auction will get a taste of life on a schooner and enjoy part of Friday evening at a dinner with the crew and passengers, prepared by the ship's cook on board a windjammer at the dock at 5 p.m.

Many maritime displays - pictures, paraphernalia, crafts, old boats - are reminders of the sturdy work and life in Midcoast Maine communities. Booths that are integrated with stalls of modern day crafts will provide you with fascinating portrayals of what coastal life was like during the age of sail. (All 3 days)

To many, this throwback to the era of sail is the highpoint of the weekend. Each of the schooners is a museum in its own right. Each crew is practiced in skills that have all but disappeared in our age of motor and speed. Capt. Jim Sharp, who provides the live narration and will formally welcome the windjammers, is a dean among the captains and has personally saved and rehabilitated many sailing vessels.

This melodic ensemble music is a perfect complement to peaceful Camden Harbor, which will be packed with stylish schooners, reminiscent of the harbor in the early 1900s. The musicians are regional and play a variety of musical styles.

Not only skilled sailors, the windjammer crews are entertainers. Have fun with them and their passengers as they display their acting, dancing, singing and comedic talents. Performance and maritime artist Buckley Smith will create a 4-foot x 8-foot drawing live during the show, which will be auctioned at the end. Also during the show, the captains of the Maine Windjammer Association will present the Windjammer Lifetime Appreciation Award to a special person who has gone the extra mile to help Maine's windjammer fleet.

A spectacular fireworks, which can be seen from the grounds of the Camden Library, Harbor Park, commercial decks facing the shoreline, the bleachers at the Public Landing and other bayside locations, culminates Friday's event. See the bright patterns sparkling across the bay, a splendor of multi-colored lights that dance on moored boats and play with ripples in the water.

Get up early Saturday morning and head to the big Rotary tent on the Public Landing, where a pancake breakfast will be underway. You'll be able to meet new people or hang out with old friends over a cup of coffee and delicious pancakes, either with or without Maine wild blueberries. It all makes for a great annual tradition at this perennial fundraiser.

Many maritime displays - pictures, paraphernalia, crafts, old boats - are reminders of the sturdy work and life in Midcoast Maine communities. Booths that are integrated with stalls of modern day crafts will provide you with fascinating portrayals of what coastal life was like during the age of sail. (All 3 days)

Eight lucky teams will get the opportunity this year to build boats from "kits” with all the building materials supplied. In addition to the pre-cut kit and building materials, each registered team (family members or 2-3 friends) will get expert on-site supervision Saturday at the public landing. Participants should bring their own hand tools, either electric or battery powered. Contestants will then take to the harbor and vie to win the Build-a-Boat race on Sunday. There will be expert rescue crews on-site during the race. Pre-registration is encouraged, and forms can be downloaded at the Forms and Rules Page online. Deadline to register is 9:30 a.m. Saturday, with space limited.

Megunticook Race Festival

Join Miss Katie for story time at the Camden Public Library. She will read marine related stories and lead craft activities for pre-school and elementary children.

See Events Page for details

Lobster crate racing is perhaps the favorite participation event of the weekend. The race starts at 10 a.m. this year due to the earlier high tide (9 a.m.) and registration is limited to 30 racers, and required at the entrance shed before the race starts. The winner is the one who crosses the most crates in two minutes. Volunteers are there to help those who slip and fall in the brine. The race is sponsored by Camden National Bank. Online registration form on the Forms and Rules Page online must be submitted at the entrance shed starting at 9 a.m.

Visit the pirate encampment at Harbor Park, which will be open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. There is a puppet show at 11 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, and children's "blade" (foam) practice afterward. Watch out because the pirates will try to recruit you into the Hellion Brigade. Canon Lessons at 1:30 p.m., duels at 2:15 p.m. and a weapons demonstration at 3 p.m. Saturday. On Sunday there are displays and games at the encampment. Learn about tooth worms, small arms, how not to walk the plank. Get a balloon cutlass made for you. The big fight is at 1 p.m., with the Hellion Brigade taking on a band of pirates from the Dark Rose. There is a Pirate Finale at 3:30 p.m. Sunday. The pirates are sponsored by Riverhouse Hotel.

Want to be a mate on one of the schooners? If you are between 8 and 13 years old, you are encouraged to pick up some basic navigational and seamanship skills. Learn parts of the sailboat, how to read a chart, and how to set a course. You'll be given a good compass, after you practice using it, by the program sponsor, Country Inn. Help hoist the sail and finish by cooking a flapjack under the supervision of former windjammer cook Bridget. Register early by contacting Roger Akeley at rakeley@gmail.com and then you will need to fill out a short application at the entrance shed.

Experienced kayak guides are provided by the sponsor Maine Sport; however, participants should have had some experience with paddling and boats. There are four departure times from Steamboat Landing with six single kayaks leaving in each time slot. The kayakers will land on Curtis Island and the lighthouse will be open for a brief tour. Space is limited so pre-registration is strongly advised. Contact rakeley@gmail.com and provide the name of participants and the preferred time slot and then confirm your registration at the entrance shed before the event.

Back at the Rotary tent again, this time for lunch. Now it's time to try chowders of all varieties - lobster, clam, fish or all three - prepared by local restaurants. The selections are all delicious, but which one tastes the best? Let's see if you all agree.

Take the opportunity on Saturday or Sunday afternoon to board the grand schooners and see them up close. Check out the leather fittings, hefty sailcloth, coiled line, scarred anchors, sleeping quarters for the crew and the passengers, the mess areas, polished brass all on view for visitors. You'll also have the opportunity to talk with the captains and crew. Maybe plan to join them on a future cruise.

This is another popular competition - with a twist. Imagine digging through a bucket of seaweed for a slippery fish, and then working with teammate to toss the fish into a makeshift ship's hold. If you can do it within five tries, bring the fish back to the barrel, grab a flag and run to the marked spot, raising the flag to signal you are done. This relay race is fun to watch as participants in three age groups, ranging from 4 to 14, race against the clock with their slippery catch. The race is limited to six teams in each of the three divisions. Protective rain gear is provided. This contest is sponsored by the First National Bank. See the Events Page for details.

Introduction by Capt. Jim Sharp, who appeared in the film. See scenes of Camden in this classic tale.

Four generations have grown up loving and listening to Peter, Paul and Mary. Peter's caring presence of commitment to ethic and purpose brings together audiences in inspiration and joy.

Many maritime displays - pictures, paraphernalia, crafts, old boats - are reminders of the sturdy work and life in Midcoast Maine communities. Booths that are integrated with stalls of modern day crafts will provide you with fascinating portrayals of what coastal life was like during the age of sail. (All 3 days)

If you have a radio controlled boat, bring it along down to the harbor where you can test your boat and your skills at running it. It is lots of fun to watch as well.

See Events Page for details

Everyone starts at 10:00am, but teams should arrive by 9:45 a.m. to get your instructions. There are surprises along the way, and when you finish, you will know more about Camden's maritime and windjamming history. Winners of the hunt will also be richly rewarded.

From the harbor-side edge of the Public Landing, let a lobsterman teach you the secrets of lobster fishing.

The dog show is back by popular demand. Run your dog through a nautical theme agility course; then watch as seasoned handlers run their dogs through the same course. Local and visiting dogs, some purebreds, others mixed breeds, will be judged in a variety of categories including best nautical costume and best trick. Prizes will be awarded to the winners. To participate, register online at pawsadoption.org or prior to the event at the P.A.W.S. table in Camden Harbor Park. The event is sponsored by P.A.W.S. Animal Adoption Center

Watch or join in a boat parade to wrap up the festival. Entry forms available on the Event Forms page and at the harbormaster's office.