On the Water in 2026
Pumpkin regatta, oyster festival, and the spring alewife run — dates, places, and what fills up.
Damariscotta's big days on the water — the pumpkin regatta, the oyster festival, and the spring alewife run. Dates are checked against each event's own page; past dates drop off on their own.
In season
Recurring series currently running or about to start.
- Alewife run at Damariscotta MillsDamariscotta Mills
Roughly mid-May to mid-June 2026
Runs through Sunday, June 14
Damariscotta Mills Fish Ladder, between Damariscotta Lake and Great Salt Bay
Hundreds of thousands of alewives climb the historic stone fish ladder, roughly mid-May to mid-June — most reliably from Mother's Day through the first week of June.
Coming up
Dated events. Past dates drop off this list automatically.
- Pemaquid Oyster FestivalDamariscotta
Sunday, September 27 at 11:00 a.m.
Mine Oyster, 16 Wharf Street, Boothbay Harbor
Celebrates the Damariscotta River oyster farms and working waterfront. The 2026 festival is held in Boothbay Harbor (it has historically been at Schooner Landing in Damariscotta). 11 a.m.–6 p.m.
- Pumpkinboat RegattaDamariscotta
Sunday, October 11 at around noon (start follows the high tide)
Municipal Parking Lot waterfront
The race itself. The start follows the high tide, so it runs around midday — check the festival page closer to the date.
Where to find more
This page lists what we’ve verified, not everything that’s on. These are the calendars and accounts locals actually use: