New England Travel

Maine event named one of the top specialty food festivals in the country

The festival takes place July 31 to Aug. 4.

By Kristi Palma

April 1, 2024

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Lobster lovers will delight in this summer’s five-day celebration of Maine’s star crustacean, according to USA Today readers.

The publication recently released a list of the 10 best specialty food festivals in the U.S., part of its 2024 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, and the Maine Lobster Festival in Rockland ranked No. 5. The No. 1 specialty food festival in America is the Delta Hot Tamale Festival in Greenville, Mississippi.

The Maine Lobster Festival attracts tens of thousands of visitors annually, according to the event’s website.

Here’s what USA Today wrote about the Maine Lobster Festival:

“Rockland is the self-proclaimed lobster capital of the world, and its annual Maine Lobster Festival salutes the state’s favorite crustacean. It takes place over five days each summer and includes feasting on fresh seafood, a parade, and live music. The Maine Lobster Festival Delegate Coronation and the International Great Crate Race, where contestants jump from crate to crate and risk falling into the chilly Atlantic Ocean, are must-see events.” 

— USA Today 10Best

This year’s festival takes place July 31 to Aug. 4.

Check out the entire list of 10 best specialty food festivals in America.

Another New England festival was recognized by USA Today: the Newport Jazz Festival ranked No. 10 among the publication’s list of 10 best music festivals in the U.S. The No. 1 music festival is the Joshua Tree Music Festival in California.

For the 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards lists, USA Today travel experts select 20 nominees in topics from food to lodging, destinations to things to do. Then the publication asks readers to cast votes to determine the top 10.