Harbor Fest proudly presents A Taste of Local Flavor as the major event in the festivals’ food and beverage category. The three-day event offers a nontraditional food tasting format that takes passport holders on an adventure around town to experience the local flavor of 14 unique establishments: Tastings begin on Friday, September 4 and continue through Sunday night, September 6. Weekend passports include more than 25 tastes and endless live music for $10 per person. Passports are on sale now at all tasting locations.

Tasting Locations: Abacus Gallery, Andrews’ Harborside Restaurant, BoothbayHarbor Inn, Boothbay Lobster Wharf, Capers Deli, Cod’s Head Fish House & BBQ, Eventide Specialties, Fisherman’s Wharf Inn, Kaler’s Restaurant, Mine Oyster, Rocktide Inn & Restaurant, Tugboat Inn & Restaurant, Watershed Tavern and Whales Tale.

Music Locations: Andrews’ Harborside Restaurant, Boothbay Harbor Inn, Boothbay Lobster Wharf, Capers Deli, Cod’s Head Fish House & BBQ, Fisherman’s Wharf Inn, Flagship Inn & Suites, Kaler’s Restaurant, McSeagull’s Restaurant, Mine Oyster, Rocktide Inn & Restaurant, Tugboat Inn & Restaurant and Whale's Tale. The weekend closes with a phenomenal performance at the Boothbay Harbor Opera House: The HillBenders, presenting Tommy: A Bluegrass Opry. Tickets to this show are available at boothbayoperahouse.com

The Competition: Passport holders will have the opportunity to vote for their favorite taste, band, cocktail and Best of the Fest. Maine Distilleries will sponsor a cocktail competition at 11 of the 14 tasting venues. Bartenders will mix their secret recipe using Cold River Blueberry Vodka and tasters (ages 21+) can enjoy their concoctions in a collector’s glass at a special competition price: 4 ounce cocktails without glass for $4 or $8 including glass. Glasses will be available for purchase at all competition locations beginning August 26th. WCLZ will sponsor a Local Music Showcase with Music from 207 Radio host Aimsel Ponti visiting each location to meet the musicians and listen to their music for consideration of future airplay on Music from 207. All tasting locations will compete for the 2015 ‘Best of the Fest’, the people’s choice on which venue provided the most fun, festive and friendly experience.

Harbor Crawl: Festivities kick off at 4 p.m. on Friday with the popular Harbor Crawl, a fun and casual event that invites crawlers to join the entertaining DJ Matt James, as he broadcasts live from the 92 Moose Caboose and the faithful Rocktide Trolley leading the pack to crawl locations: Boothbay Craft Brewery, Two Salty Dogs Pet Outfitters, Fisherman’s Wharf Inn, Mine Oyster Restaurant, McSeagull’s Restaurant, Boothbay Harbor Inn and Rocktide Inn. The Lady in the Red Cloak Haunted History Tours will be along for the ride, as will several Harbor Fest sponsors to include: ‘207’ radio host Aimsel Ponti, BRCTV, Boothbay Register, Lincoln County Magazine, BBHR chamber and Key Bank. The trolley leaves the Rocktide Inn at 3:45 sharp and those who wish to ride should arrive early, as space is very limited and seats are first come, first serve. The Rocktide bartenders will be delighted to assist with pre crawl cocktails and snacks while you wait. Note: Parking is limited and for hotel guests only, so please park offsite.

A Taste of Local Flavor and Live Music Showcase will accompany the 5k & Half Marathon over Labor Day Weekend, as well as activities sponsored by Key Bank and Lincoln County Magazine. The Splash into Science group’s Pancake Breakfast and Carnival, hosted by the BRES 7th grade class, will be held Monday, Sept. 7 at the Whale Park. The breakfast will be held from 7 to 10 a.m. and the Carnival, featuring a cookie walk, goldfish toss, face painting, penny pitch, a ‘hair salon’ offering fun streaks of color, will be held from 1 to 3 p.m.  All ages are invited to enjoy an entertaining day at the park. One hundred percent of the proceeds from the events will benefit the students’ science trip to the Florida Everglades in 2016.

Many of the 17 Harbor Fest lodging partners are offering exclusive packages throughout the festival. Information can be found on the lodging page at boothbayharborfest.com

The Labor Day weekend events kick off a 10-day celebration to showcase local and Maine based businesses. The festival takes place in a variety of locations on the Boothbay peninsula featuring more than 100 Maine businesses, organizations and individuals. Those interested in joining this rewarding collaborative effort can contact Lori Reynolds at bbharborfest@gmail.com or 207-671-7676.

Restaurant Theme Week: The local restaurant showcase will continue beyond Labor Day weekend with the newly added Restaurant Theme Week. Beginning on Monday, September 7, local participating restaurants will delight their customers with 5 days of delicious fun. Themes include: Back to School Party at Kaler’s, 5 Course Oyster Dinner at Mine Oyster, BBQ and Movie on the Driving Range at Boothbay Harbor Country Club, a Laua at Boothbay Harbor Inn, Todd’s Tall Lobster Tails at Boothbay Lobster Wharf, Meat and Mixology at Spruce Point Inn, TGI Steak night at Watershed Tavern, a Board Game Competition at Andrews’ Harborside Restaurant, Reggae at Rocktide and a 1920’s Party at the Whales Tale.

Thank you to our event sponsors who make this festival possible: Ambassadors: Maine Magazine, Key Bank, WCLZ Portland Radio Group, WMTW Channel 8, ONE Event Productions, Captains: Rocktide Inn, Boothbay Craft Brewery, Cold River/Maine Distilleries, Harborfields Waterfront Cottages, Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce, COCO VIVO, Spruce Point Inn, Boothbay Register. Master: Boothbay Region Community Television, 92 Moose. Life of the Party: Topside Inn, Calypso, Tony van Hasselt, Lincoln County Magazine, Coastal Journal.