The Downeast Chapter of the Traditional Small Craft Association (TSCA) is proud to host and along with the National TSCA co-sponsor the Festival. The Blue Hill Maritime Heritage Festival is scheduled for Saturday, August 9, 2025. We are planning a fun summer day by the bay, with a lot of maritime and historical related activities: boats, and boat building demonstrations, art on the lawn, sea shanties, seafood and more. If you'd like to participate, sponsor or volunteer let us know. Come join us for that fun summer day by the bay.

If you have a business or belong to an organization that would like to participate please fill out and submit: Exhibitor Contract(PDF)

Festival Content: Content should relate to Blue Hill Peninsula’s maritime heritage, Blue Hill Bay and its ecology.

There is no admission fee for the Festival. Donations to help fund the Festival will be accepted and appreciated. Contact Info@BHMHF.org if you're interested in making a tax deductible contribution to help support the Festival.

The Festival will be held in Blue Hill's historic village, centered on the scenic waterfront. Various activities will be occurring throughout the day, such as boat building demonstrations, wood carving, traditional boats on display, kiosks of organizations supporting or involved with the bay. On the water there will be more boats, many offering rides. Musicians will be adding to the maritime atmosphere with sea shanties and fiddle tunes.

New this year: the Welcome Table will now be at the Shaw Institute parking lot on Water Street along with the Traditional Small Craft Association. Volunteers will provide information about Festival. There will also be hats and shirts available for purchase. Paul Gartside, acclaimed boat designer and builder, will be signing his books from 11-noon and 1-2 at the TSCA table.

Behind the tables, WoodenBoat School will have a boat on display that is undergoing restoration. A great opportunity to see how traditional wooden boats are built and maintained. Also in that parking lot and new this year Natural Resources Council of Maine will be joining us as will Friends of Blue Hill Bay, a Festival sponsor. Reed Hayden will be demonstrating his wood carving skills.

Festival activities start on Water Street. At the Blue Hill Historical Society's Holt House there will be ship captain's artifacts on display along with other items depicting Blue Hill's history. Meet Eliza Ann Scott who, along with her husband, Capt. Melatiah Kimball Chase, and sometimes their children, sailed around the world in the late 1800's. Also, Cooper Smallidge will be demonstrating wood working tools and projects from that era.

Across the street from the Holt House, Charlie the shark will be directing folks to the Shaw Institute. They will have their new200 gallon touch tank, displays and docents explaining their environmental work and offering a microscopic look into the waters of our bay.

SeaLoft is across the street featuring women's apparel, home goods, and Blue Hill/Maine inspired gifts for all.

Art on the Lawn-Next to SeaLoft tents with local artists will have nautically inspired art to show and for sale. There will be some demonstrating and painting plein air.

Emerson Park will be packed with exhibitors. Penobscot Marine Museum will be returning bringing their popular photo booth. Far and Away Maine nautically inspired gifts will be joining us this year. Captain Lee and Windrose Productions will have nautical books and DVD's.

At the Town Wharf, The Downeast Chapter of the Traditional Small Craft Association will have boats on display and in the water, many offering rides. Hewes & Co. Marine Division will be explaining their CNC business, Wilson Museum with their rope making machine and very popular toy boats and pool, and Maine Maritime Academy will be under the big tent. On the wharf Chase Small Craft, Brooks Boat Design, George Stevens Academy, and the Apprenticeshop will have a Whitemore peapod on display.

The Fire House will be open from 10am -2 pm.

Check out our participant page for the most current information.

Boats On display (D) available for rowing (R) sail (S)

St Ayles Skiff - Blue Hill Community Rowing, R
Calendar Island Yawl 16' R, S
St. Lawrence River skiff, R
Nutshell Pram, R
Wyman 13 rowboat, R
Deblois Street Sailing and Rowing Dory, R, S
Compass Skiff 10, CSC, D, R
Echo Bay Dory Skiff, CSC, D, R
Points East Pram, CSC, D, R
Michalak Oracle 16' Rowboat, R
Drake 17, D
Adirondack Guide Boat D
Herreshoff 17 D
Beachcomber Alpha Dory 21 D
North Haven Peapod D
Penn Yan Runabout D

Music - 2025 update - We have an great line up of musicians scheduled to play at "The Window of the Sea Wind" sculpture by Hitoshi Tanaka in Emerson Park.

10:00 AM - Waterbound

11:00 AM - Leftovers

12 PM - Stephen Sanfilippo

1 PM - Gordon Ward

2:30 PM - Castlebay

Food

The Blue Chill - Handmade Ice Pops
Tree & Sea Gelato
Tapley Cove Oyster Company
Darlings Ice Cream for a Cause
Flanders Bay BBQ

In town options: Main Street is a very short walk away.

Hill's Homemade Market & Cafe 40 Main Street- Click here to see Hill's Festival Specials!
Blue Hill Wine Shop 138 Main Street
Blaze 66 Main Street - Beer garden, full menu
The Fish Net 162 Main Street - Lobster rolls, clams, fish sandwiches
Devils Half Acre Beer Garden 14 Mill Street - Beer, snacks, small meals
Siam Sky 8 Mill Street - Thai, Sushi

Parking

If you, your business or organization, would be able to provide volunteers please contact us at Info@BHMHF.org.