The 15th Annual Kennebunkport Festival was June 3-9, 2019…. totally re-invented thanks to a group of local business owners and community members. Its fantastic to see the Kport Fest as a local celebration again!
The Kennebunkport Festival for over a decade has been a seaside celebration loaded with events revolving around eating, drinking, admiring art and socializing in this 1653 charming seaside setting.
The Festival events range from cocktail parties to exclusive Chef dinners at private mansions on the beach and Ocean Ave, to parties at Old Vines Wine Bar, Stripers at The Breakwater, The Colony, The Kennebunkport Inn, Vinegar Hill to Maine Art celebrations.
Funds raised at The Kennebunkport Festival – $158,ooo in 2019, $81,000 in 2018 to benefit local Kennebunk and Maine charities, so its fun fundraising as participants sample local Chef bites, sip cocktails by the sea, listen to live music, browse Maine art, see and be seen in the famous town of Kennebunkport!
From the cocktail parties at The Burleigh – Kennebunkport Inn and Stripers, to The Maine Art Block Party, Oasis at Old Vines, to the finale Sunday Grand Tasting at The Colony, it’s a festival infused with high spirit, flowing spirits, music, surrounded by Maine art and scenery. See our Top 10 favorite festival events.
It’s both a locals event and an attraction for folks from away, foodies looking to dine at private homes with top chefs from around the state and media from all over. It’s pay to play, dress to impress.
Over all the Festival is a feel good, do good event (benefiting local charities) and it’s a week of back to back parties so remember it’s a Maine marathon of eating and drinking, not a sprint…
Here is the new re-invented Kport Fest schedule of events, as the festival is being re-structured, re-invented by local Kennebunkport businesses, without Maine media collective involvement.
Tuesday, June 4 2019 Kennebunkport Festival Events
Cocktails at Kennebunkport Inn Burleigh 5 – 7 pm $35
Tuesday Private Art of Dining Dinners 7 – 10 pm
Hurlbutt Residence Dinner featuring Chef Pierre of Ocean Cape Arundel Inn, Craig Mooney’s Art, benefit Full Plates Full Potential
Burke Residence featuring Kitchen Chicks, benefit StopTraffickingUs
Molloy Residence featuring Chef Romann Dumorne of Northern Union, to benefit Animal Welfare Society
Matthews Residence featuring Chef Melissa Maidana of The Sol Food to benefit Times Up and Maine Art Hill Scholarship
Kuehnle Residence dinner featuring Chef John Shaw of The Boathouse to benefit Graves Memorial Library
Turner Bull Residence featuring Chef Rick Shell from Cliff House to benefit The Salvation Army

Wednesday, June 5 Kennebunkport Festival Dinners
Cocktails at Stripers 5 – 7 pm $35
Private Art of Dining Dinners 7 – 10 pm
Harrington Residence featuring Earth Chef Joseph Schafer
Sullivan Residence featuring Chef Matt of Evo – tentative…
Feingold Residence Art of Dining featuring Chef Avery of Black Tie Co.
Raffaelli Residence featuring Chef Harding Lee Smith of The Rooms
Rice Residence featuring Chef Emil of Sur Lie
Thursday, June 6 Kennebunkport Events
Cocktails aboard the Spirit of Massachussetts 5 – 7 pm $35
Oasis Party at Old Vines 6-10pm $125, party with food, cocktails, wine, live music and a late night DJ.

Friday, June 7 Kennebunkport Festival Events
Maine Art Block Party 5-7:30pm
An open art art gallery party with New orleans themed live music, food and craft cocktails, tickets $55.
Saturday, June 8 Kennebunkport Festival Events
Summer Soiree at Vinegar Hill Music Theatre – 6-10 pm. Enjoy food and drinks from popular restaurants Earth, The Burleigh, The Dory, and The Boathouse all under one tented ‘roof’. The event culminates with a Dance Party not to be missed!
Sunday June 11
Taste of The Kennebunks at The Colony Hotel, 12-3, a Culinary Event to Benefit the Good Shepherd Food Bank of Maine. Tickets $65
If that’s not enough to make your Maine head spin, the following weekend is often Kennebunkport’s annual Launch – a maritime fest complete with a River Lights Boat Parade, Rock the Boat VIP Party, Blessing of the Fleet and Sirens and Sailors 5k! So put on your party pants people and come to Kport!
See our Guide to dining in Kennebunkport and Kennebunk Maine, and where to stay during the Festival in the Kennebunks.
Photos and Content Copyright KennebunkportMaineLodging.com
