60th Boothbay Harbor Windjammer Days Festival
Schooner Heritage sails by Burnt Island. File photo
There’s the Blessing of the (commercial) Fleet to kick things off on Sunday and the Gathering of the Fleet is on Wednesday when visiting and local schooners sail in and drop anchor. The Antique Boat Parade features a fleet of a different kind – classic pleasure cruising vessels. This year, the Antique Boat Parade is followed by a Pier Party at Bristol Marine with live music, food, boat viewings and shipyard tours. The party is a ticketed event.
Harbor Aglow is the new name for the Lighted Boat Parade event, which is preceded by boats anchored around the inner harbor to light up an hour prior to the parade.
There are two trips out to Burnt Island for a new kind of living history tour led by four of its former keepers - not all at once, of course!
Boat trip companies Balmy Days Cruises and Cap’n Fish’s Cruises add special trips on Tuesday, June 28 and/or Wednesday, June 29 to see the windjammer fleet in local waters – and for the fireworks display Wednesday night. Or … sail on local vessels Eastwind, Lazy Jack, Tyrone, Isaac H. Evans or the Agness and Dell to really be part of the scene! Visit their websites for details.
Remember the Street Parade? Well, it’s back after a two-year absence – and it will be amazing – believe it!
Competitions galore: Codfish Relay Races, Lobster Eating Contest, Boothbay’s Got Talent (an online event again this year), Rock Skipping Contest; and also returning after a two-year absence ... the Tug of War Across the Harbor!
Those fun-loving rogues, the Pirates of the Dark Rose, are coming back for another year of mayhem for adults and kids alike. Events just with kiddoes in mind – Kids Alley and Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library’s Windjammers for Wee Mateys are back.
The two-day Artists’ Alley returns, with paintings, jewelry, sculpture and more. There’s a special Burnt Island History Tour with former lighthouse keepers sharing stories about their duties as keepers as well as a few anecdotes (some are sure to be of the ghostly variety); speaking of history and ghosts, don’t miss the opportunity to go on one of the three Haunted History Tours presented by American Ghost Tours/Red Cloak.
Get the up-to-date information on your favorite events on the official Festival website!
Public and private sails daily: two-hour, three-hour, half-day and full day trips are available: Visit Alert Boothbay Harbor Sailing Schedule
Docked at Boothbay Harbor Oceanside Golf Resort after Gathering of the Fleet on Wednesday, June 29.
Sunday, June 26
Monday, June 27
Over 101 years ago on April 9, 1921 Schooner Bowdoin was launched at Hodgdon Brothers Boatyard in East Boothbay, Maine.Schooner Bowdoin is the official vessel of Maine and the flagship of Maine Maritime Academy's Vessel Operations and Technology program.
Schooner Bowdoin will be at the Town Dock next to the Thomas E. Lannon.
Angelique: 21st-century safety standards and the authenticity of classic 19th-century English Channel and North Sea windjammers.
American Eagle, a National Historic Landmark since 1991, has been coming to Boothbay Harbor’s Windjammer Days for most of the festival’s 60-year history!
The Oliver Hazard Perry of Rhode Island provides innovative and empowering education programs at sea and ashore to promote personal growth and professional development, while raising awareness of opportunities in the maritime industry, marine trades, and defense sector for the communities of Rhode Island and Southern New England.
Isaac H. Evans is the oldest surviving oyster fishing schooner that calls Boothbay Harbor its homeport.
A 38-foot wooden schooner constructed in Essex, Massachusetts in 2006. This is her first year here for the Festival.
The sixth schooner built by Herb and Doris Smith in Albion in the mid-late 90s ... and then sailed to Cape Town, South Africa in September 1999.
Tyrone’s homeport is Boothbay Harbor. She is used as a teaching vessel for those who want to learn how to sail on a weekend or week long sailing expedition.
Designed and built by Doug and Linda Lee, Heritage was launched April 16, 1983. This year marks the 38th year she has sailed in for Windjammer Days!
A 37-foot traditional wooden gaff rigged ketch designed by Boothbay Harbor boat builder Roy Blaney and Naval architect Thomas C. Gillmer. Built by Blaney in 1981.
The Ernestina-Morrisey is at The Shipyard at Boothbay Harbor/Bristol Marine, 120 Commercial St. There are two events being held there: A talk about the rebuilding of the historical vessel there June 27 from 4 to 5 p.m. and the Antique Boat Parade Pier Party June 30 immediately following the parade.
The 48-foot vessel modeled after the traditional fishing schooners of the 1800s calls Boothbay Harbor homeport.
This 65-foot vessel was designed and built by Harold A. Burnham of Essex, Massachusetts in 1997 for Tom Ellis. Burnham’s design was based on the Gloucester fishing schooner Nokomis, designed by Capt. George Melville McClain.
Monday, June 27
Thursday, June 30
A new approach to the Island’s history tour, told by actual lighthouse keepers who served there! Balmy Days Cruises provides the ferry. Advance reservations only: call 207-633-2284! Depart from Pier 8 at 1:45 p.m., return 4:30 p.m.
NEW: Antique Boat Parade Pier Party!
Thursday, June 30
The Shipyard/Bristol Marine
120 Commercial St.
4:30-7 p.m.
Rain date: Friday, July 1
Immediately following the Antique Boat Parade. A ticketed event, $40 pp, with music by Chris & Dave Gagne ~ appetizers ~ drinks ~ antique boats to admire tied up at the docks. https://gtgtickets.com/index.php/my-events/pier-party-at-the-shipyard
There is no parking at the Shipyard for this event. The Shipyard is 0.2 miles from Whale Park, in a westerly direction on Commercial Street, it is a 4 minute walk. Parking is available at various locations around town. A free trolley will pick up pier party goers at Boothbay Region High School, across from the YMCA, 236 Townsend Ave. and 11 Howard St.
Haunted History Tours
Sunday, June 26
Wednesday, June 29
Thursday, June 30
7 p.m.
Hear local accounts of three major types of ghosts - residual manifestations, intelligent hauntings, and poltergeist - during this 90-minute walking tour. Suitable for all ages. Service dogs only. Advance reservations only: Tickets are $20 pp at https://redcloaktours.com or call 1-833-GHOST13.
Lobster Eating Contest
Wednesday, June 29
Whale Park
12:30 p.m.
Ten contestants will vie for braggin’ rights and $100 cash. Be the first to eat two 1 pound lobster claws, tails, and knuckles and let the braggin’ (and spending) begin! Sign up at the Friends of WJD tent in the Whale Park day of the competition.
Cod Fish Relay Races
Wednesday, June 29
Commercial Street, near Whale Park
2 p.m.
Such fun - be ye contestant or spectator ...
Teams don fisherman wet weather gear, take hold of two fish and run like you-know-what round the short race route and back. First team finishing wins a $100 cash prize!
Teams sign up at the Friends of Windjammer Days tent in the Whale Park day of races.
Tug of War Across the Harbor
Friday, July 1
Teams meet in the parking lot near the footbridge and Wannawaf
High Noon
This popular event pits east against west, sides of Boothbay Harbor, that is. The course spans 700 feet. Teams vie for bragging rights and possession of the Trophy Cup for one year. That cup has been held by the 2018 and 2019 winning team – Clear Stream Construction! Will they return to retain championship status? Only one way to find out!
Team sign up at https://www.boothbayharborwindjammerdays.org/tug-of-war
NEW this year: The Chowder House, on the edge of the parking lot, is the location for drinks and food starting at 11 a.m. - just in time for the rock skipping and tug. Tickets are $8/advance on the website above or $10/door.
Pirates of the Dark Rose
All Pirates of the Dark Rose events are in Whale Park.
Puppet show: Tuesday, June 28, 10-10:30 a.m. ~
Tortuga open (games and activities): Tuesday, June 28, 11a.m. to 1 p.m., and Wednesday, June 29, 10-11 a.m.
Tours of the Must Roos: Tuesday, June 28, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Wednesday, June 29 (ship’s rail only), 2-3 p.m.
Crudbeard’s Cannon Lessons: Tuesday, June 28, 11:30 a.m., 4 p.m. and on Wednesday, June 29, 10:30 a.m.
Weapons show: Tuesday, June 28, 2 p.m.
Recruiting & Training Young Pirates for Wednesday’s battle, Tuesday, June 28, 3 p.m.
Battle for Boothbay Harbor: Wednesday, June 29 at High Noon!
Ernestina-Morrissey Talk at The Shipyard/Bristol Marine
Monday, June 28
120 Commercial St.
4-5 p.m.
Master shipwrights rebuilding the beloved vessel talk about the complete rebuild and outlook for Ernestina’s setting back out to sea. A free event - however, donations are never discouraged! And !00% goes to the Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey Association.
Youth T-shirts
This year’s youth T-shirt design is by Georgia Griffith, a sixth grade student at Southport Central School on Southport Island. Georgia sketched the design of her favorite parts of Windjammer Days - the schooners and fireworks, in pencil first, filled in with colored pencils, and outlined all in pen.
The youth T’s are soft gray. They, and all of the official Festival T’s and hats, will be available at the Friends of WJD tent in the Whale Park on Tuesday, June 28 and Wednesday, June 29.