10 Best Things to Do in Maine in the Fall

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There’s so much to do in Maine in the Fall, that it can be hard to decide what to do, right?

As a lifelong visitor with family and friends in the state, I’ve gathered all the best things for you to consider into a single post.

Keep reading for the ultimate guide to Maine in the Fall.

Check out the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest and Regatta

One of the coolest and most unique Fall events I’ve seen across New England is the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta.

This event centers around, you guessed it, pumpkins!

One of the featured events are massive pumpkins grown by local farms that are transformed by local artists and displayed around Damariscotta and neighboring Newcastle.

Another popular event is the pumpkin regatta, where 4-700 pound pumpkins with motors attached compete in a race in the Damariscotta Harbor.

There’s also a parade, pumpkin dessert contest, a giant pumpkin drop, pumpkin slingshots, and more.

In 2023, the Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta will take place October 6 – 9.

Check out Maine Open Lighthouse Day

If you’ve ever been curious about what a lighthouse looks like from the inside, Maine Open Lighthouse Day is the event for you.

This statewide event works with owners and operators of lighthouses across the state to coordinate tours for the public.

Most tours are free, while some might require a small fee for a ferry.

The list of open lighthouses often varies year to year, so if you have your heart set on a specific lighthouse and see it on the list, make plans to see it while you can!

In 2023, Maine Open Lighthouse Day took place on September 9. 

Check out the Maine Open Lighthouse Day website for additional information, such as the final list of participating lighthouses, and additional fees or rules that apply to specific sites.

Visit the Freeport Fall Festival

Each year, the L.L. Bean campus and surrounding area in Freeport is taken over by the Freeport Fall Festival.

This Autumn event showcases local artists, food trucks and booths, live music, arts and crafts, a scavenger hunt, and more.

In 2023, the Freeport Fall Festival will take place October 6 – 8.

Have fun at the Fryeburg Fair

There’s just something about a fair that screams FALL!

Maybe it’s the apple cider donuts. Or maybe it’s the cute farm animals and massive gourds.

Whatever it is, I always love going to the ones that take place in the Fall, like the Fryeburg Fair in Fryeburg, Maine.

The Fryeburg Fair is the largest in Maine and has been running since 1851. It is also New England’s second biggest fair, with Massachusetts’ The Big E taking the top spot.

This fair features agricultural competitions, delicious fair food, fun rides, games, a parade, concerts, arts and crafts exhibitions, and more.

In 2023, the Fryeburg Fair will take place October 1 – 8.

Shop for gifts at Maine Craft Weekend

Support Maine artists and crafters at Maine Craft Weekend, an annual event that occurs in October. 

The event is less of a destination and more of a statewide occurrence, so if you’re in Maine during Maine Craft Weekend, you’re bound to find an event no matter where you’re visiting.

Most events consist of open studios where you might see demonstrations, hear a lecture, and of course, shop! Sometimes there are a craft and artisan fairs too. 

In 2023, the event will take place October 7 – 8 to coincide with American Craft Week. 

Check the Maine Craft Weekend website for a full list of events scheduled for this year.

Go camping

Immerse yourself in nature amidst the Fall foliage on a weekend camping getaway.

Whether you stay in a cabin, camp in a tent, or glamp in something in between, doesn’t matter! 

The best part is many campgrounds in Maine are located near hiking trails, state parks, and Acadia National Park. 

It’s so easy to craft an entire weekend (or week!) around experiencing the best things to do in Maine in the Fall.

Take a scenic drive

Maine is packed with gorgeous scenic byways that are perfect for a relaxing drive through the Fall foliage.

While any of the state or federal scenic byways in Maine are worth driving to admire Fall foliage, there are a few that I personally recommend.

First up is the Acadian All-American Road which takes users around 40 miles of Mount Desert Island, including Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park.

This route is so good that it is designated an All-American Road, meaning that it’s a model to which other scenic byways around the US are held up to.

The Old Canada Road National Scenic Byway is another route to consider for Fall foliage drives.

This drive takes you right up route 201 from Solon, ME up to the Canadian border. Its northwestern location practically guarantees epic Fall colors in October. 

To see the western part of Maine, take a drive along the Rangeley Lakes Scenic Byway.

This scene drive takes you along state routes 4 and 17, with lots of trails and scenic overlooks along the way. You can even access part of the Appalachian Trail from several trailheads off of this byway.

Last up is the Katahdin Water & Woods Scenic Byway with almost 90 miles of beautiful scenic drives.

This drive starts in Baxter State Park between Upper and Lower Togue Pond and snakes along route 11, ending just outside First Lake.

Enjoy Harvest on the Harbor

Each Fall, Portland, Maine is taken over by the annual food & drink festival, Harvest on the Harbor.

The event features food from local restaurants and farmers, beer, wine, and cider tastings, live music, and more.

In 2023, Harvest on the Harbor takes place October 25 – 28.

Go stargazing at the Acadia Night Sky Festival

Every Fall, Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor is host to the Acadia Night Sky Festival.

The festival includes a variety of activities, such as astrophotography classes, guided sky gazing at Sand Beach, lectures, arts and crafts, and outdoor movie nights. 

Be sure to check out Castine Kayak Adventures for kayaking under the stars in Castine’s bioluminescent bay on several select nights, as well. 

In 2022, the Acadia Night Sky Festival ran from September 21-25. Per the Acadia National Park website, it will not be held in 2023, but is expected to return in the future.

In its place, Acadia National Park hosted free programs as part of Acadia Night Sky Week on September 10-16, 2023.

It’s possible that if the festival does not return that the ANP team will run these programs again next year.

Visit Acadia National Park

Speaking of Acadia National Park, Fall is the best time to visit in my opinion! 

So if you can’t make it up for the Acadia Night Sky Festival, I highly recommend trying to visit another time during the Fall season.

Bar Harbor and Acadia have both jumped in popularity over the past few years, but the crowds are lighter in the Fall – and by extension, more enjoyable!

Plus, if you’re into Fall foliage views, Acadia is full of gorgeous vistas and hikes for you to take in all of the beautiful Fall colors.

For prime foliage views in Acadia, I recommend visiting in mid to late October.

For tips on where to stay, check out my post about the best places to stay in Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor.

What’s your favorite thing to do in Maine in the Fall?

Let me know what you decide to do on your trip in the comments below. 

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About the author

Meg Frost is a Boston-based travel blogger that helps people embrace technology to make vacation planning and traveling wicked easy, affordable, and fun.

She holds an M.A. in Journalism from Northeastern University and B.S. in Communication & American Studies from University of Miami.

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This post was originally published September 3, 2021. It was last updated September 22, 2023.