The 14th Annual Kennebunkport Festival scheduled for June 4-10, 2018 went on… although this year its 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, and Wells Laudholm Farm, to Maine Art celebrations.
Funds raised at The Kennebunkport Festival – $81,000 this year- 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 to The Maine Art Block Party, and Music on The Green on the River Green Lawn, Chef’s Night at Wells Laudholm Farm, and a 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, with the exception of Monday’s Pig Roast at Stripers, and Saturday’s Maine Craft Music Festival which is a casual outdoor concert venue on the Captain Lord Mansion lawn – River Green.
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.
Monday, June 5 Kennebunkport Festival Events
Spark Pig Roast at Stripers – at The Breakwater Inn & Spa, 5-7, $45 to benefit Full Plates, Full Potential.
Tuesday, June 6 Kennebunkport Festival Events
Cocktails at Kennebunkport Inn Burleigh 5 – 7 pm $25
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
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 7 Kennebunkport Festival Dinners
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 9 Kennebunkport Events
Oasis Party at Old Vines 6-12pm $125, not an official Festival event, but a fun fundraiser for COS – Community Outreach Services of the Kennebunks
Friday, June 9 Kennebunkport Festival Events
Maine Art Block Party 5-8pm
Chef’s Night Out at Laudholm Farm in Wells with Chef Justin Walker
Saturday, June 10 Kennebunkport Festival Events
Maine Music On The Lawn, live bands, beer tent and food trucks on The River Green 1 – 5 pm $20 Tickets
Sunday June 11
Tour De Cure at Wells Reserve at Laudholm Farm
Taste of The Kennebunks at The Colony Hotel, 12-4, $65
If that’s not enough to make your Maine head spin, the following weekend is 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.
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