Skowhegan and the surrounding area offer a host of delightful annual events, from the time-honored (our state fair dates to 1818!) to the newly established (the first annual Somerset SnowFest took place in February 2019).
To view events for a specific month, click on the links below:
February
Somerset SnowFest
Main Street Skowhegan and Lake George Regional Park teamed up to present this celebration of all things winter! Activities include dog sled rides, a box sled race, an ice-fishing derby, skating, tubing, and the Northeast's only equestrian skijoring competition, featuring a horse and rider pulling an alpine skier or snowboarder down a course of jumps and gates!
FMI: Somerset SnowFest
Fairfield Chocolate Festival
Like chocolate? You won't want to miss this delicious winter diversion in nearby Fairfield featuring 30 vendors with an array of goods and crafts, including at least one chocolate offering per vendor. Drawing approximately 600 attendees every year, this event also offers music, entertainment, food, door prizes, children's activities, and more. Held on the Saturday preceding Valentine's Day (or on Valentine's Day itself when it falls on a Saturday).
March
Maine Maple Weekend
On the fourth weekend in March, sugarhouses around the state open their doors to the public with free maple syrup samples and demonstrations on how pure Maine maple syrup is made. Many farms offer games, activities, treats, sugarbush tours, and much more!
April
Skowpendous
This free family event is typically the third Friday evening in April. It usually includes kid-friendly music, a climbing wall, children's crafts and activities, free raffles, wood-fired pizza, healthy snacks, and more. Held during National Child Abuse Prevention Month, Skowpendous helps raise awareness of and support for prevention of child abuse and neglect. Click on the link below to go the KVCAP Family Enrichment Council Facebook events page—they post a Facebook event for Skowpendous each year.
FMI: KVCAP
May
Memorial Day Parade
This parade features floats and walkers including community bands, little league teams, community organizations, and retired military personnel. Typically starting at 10 a.m., the route proceeds south on Madison Avenue, travels downtown, and turns onto Water Street before ending at Skowhegan Veterans Park beside the municipal building.
FMI: Skowhegan Area Chamber of Commerce or 207-474-3621
June
Build Maine Conference
Build Maine brings together all people participating in the act of building our towns and cities. The builders, funders, elected officials, engineers, lawyers, planners, finance institutions, and rule-makers converge throughout the year to share best practices and aspirations for moving Maine forward within the political and economic climates of today.
FMI: Build Maine
July
Concerts in the Park
A tradition for more than 20 years, the Concerts in the Park series features live music at Coburn Park's gazebo Sunday afternoons in July and August. Bring a blanket or some lawn chairs, pack a picnic, and enjoy an idyllic summer day in one of Skowhegan's loveliest spots.
FMI: Coburn Park
Kneading Conference
Celebrating bread and the local grain economy, this two-day conference brings together professional and home bakers, chefs, cooks, farmers, grain researchers, maltsters, food entrepreneurs, and wood-fired oven enthusiasts to educate one another about the art and science of growing and milling grains and baking artisan breads.
FMI: Kneading Conference
Maine Artisan Bread Fair
Featuring more than 60 vendors, this annual fair offers delectable breads and pastries, handmade pizzas baked in a wood-fired oven, books and equipment for home baking, kitchen linens, pottery, Maine-made foods, and more, all against the backdrop of live music at the Skowhegan State Fairgrounds. The bread fair also offers demonstrations ranging from scything to bread baking. Professional bakers are on hand to answer questions, and a children’s area helps make the event a true family affair.
August
Concerts in the Park
A tradition for more than 20 years, the Concerts in the Park series features live music at Coburn Park's gazebo Sunday afternoons in July and August. Bring a blanket or some lawn chairs, pack a picnic, and enjoy an idyllic summer day in one of Skowhegan's loveliest spots.
FMI: Coburn Park
River Fest
River Fest is Skowhegan's annual multi-day celebration of recreation and life on the Kennebec River. In addition to honoring its roots with popular, time-honored activities such as Moonlight Madness—when downtown closes to traffic and teams race beds on wheels—River Fest also gives a nod to the future, showcasing the potential of the Kennebec River Gorge as the home of the proposed Skowhegan River Park. Join in the fun—from raft rides to fireworks, classic cars to kids' activities, glow sticks to golf, there are lots of ways to celebrate.
FMI: River Fest
Dinner in the Park
On the Saturday of River Fest (see above), enjoy a farm-to-table dinner under the stars in beloved Coburn Park.
FMI: Dinner in the Park
Skowhegan State Fair
The Skowhegan State Fair is the nation’s oldest consecutively running agricultural fair. More than a week long, the fair includes live music, carnival rides, demolition derbies, tractor pulls, livestock showings, harness racing, and more.
FMI: Skowhegan State Fair
New Balance Tent Sale
Usually coinciding with the Skowhegan State Fair in mid-August, the popular New Balance Tent Sale is a great opportunity to purchase quality sneakers and other gear at bargain prices! The sale is held outside of New Balance on Walnut Street.
FMI: New Balance Factory Store or 207-858-6551
Madison Anson Days
This annual late-August event celebrates and showcases the charming nearby towns of Madison and Anson. Enjoy four days of fun, food, and entertainment including a parade, fireworks, old-time games, a chili cook-off, rides, cotton candy, music, and more!
FMI: Madison Anson Days
September
Skowhegan Craft Brew Festival
On the Saturday of Labor Day weekend, an array of Maine craft brewers, local food vendors featuring farm-to-table fare, live music, and more combine to make an unforgettable close to summer.
November
Small Business Saturday
Join us in Skowhegan on the Saturday after Thanksgiving to take advantage of discounts at more than 35 local stores! Make purchases at participating local businesses and get your name entered into a drawing for one of two or more prizes (past prizes have included $50 and $100 gift cards to locally owned businesses!). The more businesses you shop at, the more chances you have to win. Show Skowhegan-area businesses some love and shop small!
December
SKOW-Whoville
It kicks off with a Whoville parade the first Friday in December and continues Saturday with a host of free activities and treats, including hot cocoa, visits with the Grinch, cookie decorating, holiday crafting, holiday movie screenings, and the popular Grinch scavenger hunt!
FMI: SKOW-Whoville
Festival of Trees
Local businesses and organizations decorate trees for the Skowhegan Regional Chamber of Commerce Festival of Trees. Stop by during the season to enjoy the festive ambiance.
