Yes, it's here! The guide to the 56th annual Windjammer Days Festival, June 24-30, has arrived at the Boothbay Register. 

The first thing you’ll notice is the new cover design, which we feel delivers better representation of the myriad of events this festival is all about: the windjammers, street parade, fish relay race, lighted boat parade, fireworks and, of course, those rabble-rousing pirates of the Dark Rose. 

Inside, there’s Bill Pearson’s feature on the festival’s youngest grand marshal, Page Brown; three pages showcasing the windjammers (all 16 of them); event and shuttle schedules, and a table of contents to help you get right to the events you don’t want to miss:  kids’ activities from the new Boothbay Sea & Science open house to the longstanding events: Wee Mateys at the Boothbay Harbor Memorial Library, the Boothbay Region Land Trust and Kids’ Alley tents, the Maine State Aquarium and the pirates.

The contests during Windjammer Days are always entertaining: the lobster-eating contest, relay races and the tug of war across the harbor; and the One Design boat races are beautiful to watch.  New this year: The Windjammers Got Talent talent show replaces the Miss Windjammer Pageant to include boys and girls. There are a lot of talented youngsters in this region. And the Rocky Coast Road Race always draws a large number of participants from near and far, including vacationers!

Tours are planned at the U.S. Coast Guard Station, Nathaniel Wilson’s Sail Loft; and of some of the visiting schooners, specifically the Adventure and Harvey Gamage on June 29 and the Ernestina-Morrissey reception at Bristol Marine where the restoration of the grand dame of Grand Banks fishers is ongoing. TheMust Roos pirate ship also offers tours. Just remember to count heads before and after you board!

The parades - antique boat, street, lighted boat …  … they’re in there! Another parade (yes, it's in there) is The Blessing of the Fleet, on the first day of the festival, which brings the local and commercial vessels front and center to be blessed by local clergy for a safe and plentiful season. All of the vessels will parade through the inner and outer harbor a few times.

And speaking of parades, the Gathering of the Fleet (formerly the Parade of Sail) is on Wednesday, June 27 between 1 and 3 p.m.; the local and visiting windjammers arrive in the harbor. Before and during the Gathering, local boat companies are offering special trips out to see the majestic beauties sailing in Linekin Bay and in the outer harbor. It’s the next best thing to actually being a passenger aboard Heritage, American Eagle, Eastwind, Boyd N. Sheppard, Actress, Sycamore, Lynx, Lewis H. Story, Harvey Gamage, Lazy Jack, Alert, Ardelle, Adventure, True North, Mary E or the Jenny Ives! 

Down on the waterfront in the Whale Park, Artist’s Alley features art, fine crafts, live artist demos, and a silent auction.

History buffs with or without a fondness for the supernatural will enjoy the Red Cloak Haunted History Tours, which offers a special Windjammer Days tour. 

What’s not in there - we ran out of space - but one feature that must have a plug is the music that takes center stage on the stage in the park.  There’s a fantastic lineup of local and regional musicians: Amber Jones & Paul Johnson, Work Trucks, Capitol, Pat Colwell & the Soul Sensations, Don Brewer Blues Project, Dyer Neck Gang, The Spaceheaters, the Windjammer Princesses, Delta Knights Duo, Dave Gagne Trio, and Junction 27. Rock, pop,  blues, Americana, country, country rock, swing, R&B, a little jazz … what’s not to like?

Photos in the Guide, and there’s a lot of ‘em, are by Kevin Burnham, Art Mayers, Lisa Kristoff, Suzi Thayer, William Pearson, Joseph Charpentier, Katrina Rickermann, Robert Mitchell, Mike Leonard and Sue Mello.

Be sure to pick up your copy, or copies, of the Guide brought to you by the festival enthusiasts at the Boothbay Register! You can also see the Guide online at www.boothbayregister.com and on the Register’s promotional page. Just click and you're there.

And while you’re online, be sure to visit the official festival website: www.boothbayharborwindjammerdays.org