January
Polar Plunge January 5th 11am – Kennebunk Beach’s Polar Plunge is a chilly annual chilly tradition, at Gooch’s Beach at 11am January 1. New Year’s day ocean dippers donate to charity to take the polar plunge, so it’s called “Freezin for a Reason”.
February Events
February is for Lovers and Paint the Town Red Specials in Kennebunkport – New England’s most romantic town, with Frozen ice bar parties, Avalanche at Old Vines Wine Bar, cocktail classes, sushi making and oyster shucking demos, and romantic wine dinners at Kennebunks’ best restaurants.
Escape for a weekend away from home, enjoying good food, quiet times and the warmth of a romantic fire. Kennebunk-Kennebunkport offers the perfect winter destination, fine lodgings offer you unique romantic getaway packages. Cozy and intimate restaurants, quaint shops and unique galleries all set in a picturesque stunningly romantic village setting. Red plate specials and red tag sales!
February 9 – Winterfest in Kennebunk – Winter carnival activities, All Day Skating at the Waterhouse Center Ice Rink, Horse & Wagon Rides, Fire Juggling, Figure Skating Performances, Music, Chef Tasting Contest, and the Annual Cabin Fever Book Sale at the Library!
March Events
March 1 – 12, 2019 – Maine Restaurant Week – Maine Restaurant Week events highlight the food and drink professionals who set Maine’s restaurant scene apart. Top chefs and bartenders compete for the “Best of Maine” title at MRW’s Incredible Breakfast kick-off event and Signature Cocktail and Dessert finale event. Pancake Race and Chef-Am Bowling Tournament.
Maine Maple Sunday is always the fourth Sunday in March – The Maine Maple Producers Association welcomes you to join Maine’s Maple Syrup Producers, statewide, as they celebrate Maine Maple Sunday. Most sugarhouses offer free maple syrup samples and demonstrations on how pure Maine maple syrup is made. Many farms offer games, activities, treats, sugarbush tours, music, and so much more.
May Events
Annual May Day Festival– Kennebunk – First Saturday in May – Popular, family-oriented activities and some fun, new additions. Local artists/crafters, community organizations, and antiques enthusiasts.
Mother’s Day Brunch at Nonantum Resort, and at Stripers Waterfront at the Breakwater Inn
Memorial Day Parades
Monday 9:30am Kennebunkport
Monday 2pm Kennebunk Main Street
See Kennebunkport and Kennebunk Parades – Memorial Day Parade Photos
June Events
June 2 – 7, 2020 – Kennebunkport Festival
An early summer fine food, art and wine festival celebrating the spectacular creativity and hospitality of Kennebunkport and Southern Maine’s artists and art galleries, chefs and distillers, with private dinners, parties, gallery openings, and live music throughout town for the week.
Kennebunkport Festival Art of Dining Dinners
Intimate dinners in private homes prepared by Maine’s most-respected chefs featuring special wine pairings and local art featured. Limited seating at each dinner, advanced reservation and ticket purchase required for Kennebunkport Festival
June 8 – Barbara Bush’s Birthday – First Lady Barbara Pierce, also known locally as Ganny, was born in 1925, passed April 17 2018. She is missed. Visit White Columns First Family Legacy Exhibit for memories.
June 12 – President George Herbert Walker Bush’s Birthday, known locally as #41 was born 1924, passed 11/30/18. Kennebunkport was his “Anchor to Windward”.
June 9– Tour de Cure – Wells Reserve at Laudholm
A fund-raising bicycle ride to benefit the American Diabetes Association. Choose from one of five routes, 5K, 25K, 50K, 100K, or 100 Mile. Routes follow Maine’s scenic coastline, featuring rocky coves, sandy beaches and breath-taking vacation homes, all in the bicycle-friendly communities of Southern Maine. Start/Finish Wells Reserve, Wells, ME. Contact: Emily Silevinac. Phone: (888) 342-2383 x3720
June 12 – 16 – Launch – A Maritime Festival Event
The Kennebunks kick off summer with the 4th annual LAUNCH! LAUNCH highlights seafaring facets through various anchor events and activities; a “Captain’s Cook-Off,” an authentic Lobster Bake with red and white checked table cloths at the Pilot House, overlooking the Kennebunk River; and the highlight River Lights Boat Parade where local boats are decked out in their finest, and a VIP “Rock the Boat” adults-only evening event. Launch concludes with a Blessing of the Fleet at Cape Porpoise on Sunday morning.
June 17-18 – George HW Bush Celebrity Golf Classic
A day of golf and fundraising begins with a evening gala at Hiddden Pond. Celebrities and sports stars, Tom Brady, President Bill Clinton, Jim Nance, show up for this 21st annual fundraiser Golf Tournament on Tuesday at Cape Arundel Golf Club, River Road Kennebukport.
July Events
Art Walk in Kennebunk and Kennebunkport- 2nd Friday Art Walks – June to September, and a special Prelude Art Walk 2nd weekend of December, visit 30 art galleries and studios on Friday evening 5-7 for drinks, bites and beautiful artwork, photography and local Maine sculpture and crafts.
July 4 Fireworks – 9PM. At Kennebunk Beach. View Fireworks Images Kennebunk Beach
August Events
Aug TBD Nonantum Annual Paddle Battle – a fun river race for canoe, kayak, Sup and Surfers, with a 1.7 mile course on the Kennebunk River, and a party at Nonantum Resort. Read all about Kennebunkport’s Paddle Battle.
August Seashore Trolley Speakeasy – Mad men and Martinis at the Seashore Trolley Museum
September Events
Sept 10 & 11 Annual Wells Reserve at Laudholm – Nature Crafts Festival, 10 am – 4 pm – The 30th anniversary of this highly respected exhibition brings 100+ artisans to historic Laudholm Farm to show their craftworks in a lovely seaside setting. Sculpture, jewelry, pottery, prints, clothing, photography, and basketry are among the crafts selected by jury for this prestigious event. Thousands of One-of-a-Kind Gift Items and more than $8,000 in Raffle Prizes. Fee. (207) 646-4521
Sept 24 – 10am – Punkinfiddle at Wells Reserve at Laudholm – A National Estuaries Day Celebration and fall craft festival.
October Events
Oct 27 Wicked 5K Road Race – walk or run in costumes, starting and ending at The Nonantum Resort
Oct 31 “Trick or Treat” in the Kennebunks
Merchants throughout Kennebunk and Kennebunkport hand out goodies to the little ghosts, pirates, princesses. Summer Street is spooky, decorated devilishly with haunted mansions.
November Events
Nov 11 – Veteran’s Day
Nov 28 – Thanksgiving
December Events
Nov 29 – Dec 8 39th Annual Christmas Prelude Celebration
A magical season filled with events, entertainment, shopping, craft fairs, and Santa in a lobster boat!
Dec 7 & 8 2019 10th Annual Fire + Ice at Nonantum Resort, 2nd Weekend of Kennebunkport Christmas Prelude
Maine Events
