Updated 10/27/17: Ogunquitfest 2017 was a big success and a fun autumn weekend was had by all in Ogunquit, Maine.
The winner of the Ogunquitfest Autumn Display / Scarecrow Contest was the team of Hartwell House Inn (with artist Charlene Taubert at the helm). Charlene created a sprawling display on both sides of Shore Road near the entrance to Perkins Cove (including the areas outside of Thompson Green, The Thompson Farmhouse (1750), and the Hartwell House Inn) including seasonally appropriate depictions of the Peanuts Gang and other beloved cartoon figures. Her displays were exceedingly popular, stopping traffic and creating photo opportunities for visitors along the Perkins Cove stretch of Shore Road.
Here is a video of Charlene Taubert’s Hartwell House Inn display:
Here are photos of a great many of the displays (but not all of them) from throughout the town:
Related: Click here for a photo gallery of the Ogunquitfest 2017 High Heel Dash in Perkins Cove!
Original Ogunquitfest 2017 Post:
If you’re looking for an autumnal weekend getaway where you can stroll the streets of the most walkable small town in coastal Maine; a place almost out of a Normal Rockwell painting, where small businesses decorate to celebrate the season and there are a wide variety of fun fall events occurring around the clock – then you’ll want to head to Ogunquit, Maine on the weekend of October 20-22, 2017 for their 14th Annual OgunquitFest celebration!
Walk beneath canopies of colorful fall foliage and observe the creativity and whimsy of the colorful autumn-themed displays that workers at local businesses have created for the annual Fall Decorating Contest. There will be ballot boxes in several locations throughout the town (Ogunquit Camera Shop with Crickets Corner Toys & Kites, Village Food Market, Inc., the Ogunquit Welcome Center, Perkins & Perkins Wine and Cheese Shop, and under the tent at the Autumn Bazaar) where you can drop off your ballot and vote for your favorites!
Make it a point to stop by at the Hartwell House Inn (at 312 Shore Road, just outside of Perkins Cove) to have a look at the impressive OgunquitFest display Innkeeper/Artist Charlene Taubert and her team have been diligently working on – and if you happen to be looking for a romantic Maine B&B (with incredible breakfasts) to spend the OgunquitFest weekend at, the Hartwell House Inn certainly fits the bill!
Stop in at the Main Beach parking lot for an Autumn Bazaar featuring over 75 vendors selling unique items certain to put you in the early mind of holiday shopping! On Saturday from 10-1pm, there’s even an Antique and Classic Car Show where you can see some sweet rides and also vote for your favorite right in the same parking lot!
There are lots of activities planned for the young ones – from the Great Pumpkin Patch Presentation and the Children’s Fall Story Hour at the Dunaway Center, to the Trick or Treat at the downtown shops, through the OgunquitFest Obstacle Course on the Beach, or the Children’s Costume Contest, and many more!
Here are a few images from the High Heel Dash in Perkins Cove a few years ago:
What else is there to do during OgunquitFest? Spooky Haunted Theater Tours at the Leavitt Theater! A Whoopie Pie Eating Contest at the Old Village School Playground! Wine Tasting at the Perkins & Perkins Wine and Cheese Shop! Waiter Races at the end of Beach Street! The beloved High Heel Dash at Perkins Cove! Even an Oktoberfest Gala with Brats, German beer and Bavarian music (featuring the return of Opa’s Oompah Band) at Cornerstone Pizza!
And that’s just a few of the highlights of OgunquitFest – truly an unforgettable celebration of the season happening throughout the best beach town in New England!
Click ‘Play’ below to see a video from a prior year’s OgunquitFest Event:
Continue below for a calendar of OgunquitFest events:
Name: 14th Annual OGUNQUITFEST
Date: October 20, 2017 – October 22, 2017
Website: http://www.visitogunquit.org
October 20-22:
All weekend: Retail signs puzzle throughout Ogunquit! Solve the clues to be entered to win a prize. See the OgunquitFest brochure. If you are familiar with geocaching, you might want to take advantage of the many caches in the area while you are here for the weekend. You can find more information about Ogunquit caches (and log them when you find them) at geocaching.com.
LOVE FOUR PAWS FUNDRAISER all weekend, Junebug’s Beach House, 16 Shore Road. Buy a cool, “Dogs to the Rescue” t-shirt for yourself, while helping dogs and cats in need. Available in S- XXL. Just $25 and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to Animal Welfare Society in Kennebunk, Puppy Love, Inc. in Harpswell, and Chihuahua Rescue in Wells. While supplies last, each fundraiser tee purchase earns a FREE Wag More, Bark Less or My Dog Digs the Beach Car Magnet. (while supplies last)
Friday, October 20, 2017
HAUNTED THEATRE TOURS 4-6:30pm, Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main Street, Ogunquit. Tours running continuously. The $5 entrance fee is waived for participants of OgunquitFest. Presented by Ogunquit Parks and Recreation.
TRICK OR TREAT 5:30-7pm, Downtown shops. Presented by Ogunquit Parks and Recreation. Stop in a participating shops to get a treat!
HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA MOVIE 7pm, Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main Street, Ogunquit. Children’s movie presented by Ogunquit Parks and Recreation. Free for trick-or-treaters and their parents!
Saturday, October 21, 2017
AUTUMN BAZAAR 9am-4pm, Main Beach parking lot. Find that one-of-a-kind special item from one of our 75 vendors – get an early jump on your holiday shopping! Non-perishable food donations being accepted for local food pantry or pet food for the Animal Welfare Society. While you are there, join in the Painted Pumpkin Pursuit or guess the number of gourds at the Chamber of Commerce booth to win a prize!
ANTIQUE & CLASSIC CAR SHOW 10am-1pm, Main Beach parking lot. Vote on your favorite classic car! Winners announced at 12:30pm. Free admission. Rain date: Sunday, 10am-1pm.
DOGTOBERFEST BEACH STROLL & SOCIAL 10-11am, Main Beach. Walk your dog on the beach, socialize with other dog owners while your dog meets new friends, and enter to win great prizes. Dogs must stay on leash!
GREAT PUMPKIN PATCH PRESENTATION 10-11am, Dunaway Center, School Street. An autumn delight for kids of all ages. Pumpkins, paints, markers, and stickers supplied. No carving please.
CHILDREN’S FALL STORY HOUR 11am-noon. Dunaway Center, School Street. Listen to local storyteller Diana Abbott tell tales of spooks and haunted happenings.
WHOOPIE PIE EATING CONTEST 12-1pm. Old Village School Playground, School Street. Who can eat Maine’s favorite treat the fastest without using their hands? Adult and children’s divisions. Rain location: Dunaway Center, School Street.
COOKIE DECORATING 12-2pm, Abbott’s Creamery. Join in the fun!
WINE TASTING 2-5pm, Perkins & Perkins Wine and Cheese Shop, 478 Main Street. Featuring great wines for fall.
PUMPKIN CARVING CONTEST 2-4pm, Cornerstone, 228 Main Street. SoMe Brewing and Cornerstone will host a Pumpkin Carving contest on the Patio of Cornerstone Come show your chops at pumpkin carving. Voting will take place the next day at the Oktoberfest Gala and the winner will receive a hat or shirt from our friends at SoMe Brewing in York.
OGUNQUITFEST OBSTACLE COURSE 2:30-3:30pm, River side of Ogunquit Main Beach. Let the kids run off some energy in our Halloween-themed Obstacle Course on the beach. There may be a great special guest appearance that you won’t want to miss! Weather permitting.
RIVER RALLY 2:30-4pm, Ogunquit Footbridge, end of Ocean Street. Meet at the Footbridge, put in and paddle to the Beach Street bridge and back. It’s not a race, just good fun. Kayaks and SUPs welcome. There may be a great special guest appearance that you won’t want to miss! Ages 18+. Weather permitting.
HAUNTED THEATRE TOURS 4-8pm, Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main Street, Ogunquit. Tours running continuously. $5 admission.
DJ JODI’S TEA DANCE 4-9pm, MaineStreet. Women’s dance party featuring two DJ’s in two rooms at Ogunquit’s nightclub.
GHOSTLY TOURS 6-8pm, Ogunquit Heritage Museum, Obeds Lane. Stop in for a ghostly walk through Ogunquit. Tours by the Ogunquit Heritage Museum. Bring your flashlight – it’s dark out there! $5 adults, children under 10 free. Weather permitting. Parking available at Obed’s Lot (entrance to lot is on Cottage Street).
DUELING DRAG DIVAS 9:30pm. MaineStreet. Hilarious drag show featuring Chi Chi Rones and Jo Anna.
Sunday, October 22, 2017
AUTUMN BAZAAR 10am-3pm, Main Beach parking lot. See Saturday description.
CHILDREN’S ENTERTAINMENT AND COSTUME CONTEST 10-11am, Ogunquit Village School, Cottage Street. Win prizes for great costumes! Juggler, music, and more! Rain location: Dunaway Center, School Street.
COSTUME PARADE (also part of DOGTOBERFEST) 11am step-off, Ogunquit Village School, School Street to Main Beach. Costumed kids, adults, and canines welcome! Rain location: Under the tents at the Main Beach Parking Lot. Weather permitting.
DOGTOBERFEST POOCH PAGEANT 11:30am (or immediately after the Costume Parade), Main Beach Parking Lot. Let your dog strut its stuff at the Pooch Pageant. After walking in costume in the parade, your dog deserves the opportunity to win a fun doggie prize and the bragging rights of “Ogunquit’s Best Dressed Dog”!
WAITER RACES 12pm, end of Beach Street. See if you can make the cut! Waiters will race down Beach Street and back around an obstacle course and holding a full tray! Contestants must make it around the course without spilling in order to win the prize! Anyone can participate. Weather permitting.
OKTOBERFEST GALA 12-4pm, Cornerstone Artisanal Pizza & Craft Beer, 228 Main Street. Featuring homemade Brats, German beer and Bavarian music featuring the return of Opa’s Oompah Band!
HIGH HEEL DASH AND WALK-OFF 3pm, Perkins Cove. Watch the hijinks as brave souls race around Perkins Cove in high heels! Better yet, join in the race! Heels must be at least 2” high. Don’t have any? We have some you can borrow. Prizes awarded for Best Time, Highest Heel and Most Outrageous Costume! Proceeds from registration will go to Frannie Peabody Center (peabodycenter.org). Please note that Perkins Cove Road will be closed to traffic from 2:30pm until the end of the Dash (approximately 3:30pm).
HAUNTED THEATRE TOURS 4-8pm, Leavitt Theatre, 259 Main Street, Ogunquit. Tours running continuously. $5 admission.
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