Wanderlust World Wanderlust World If you plan to visit Maine in April, be prepared for the "Mud Season". While locals may grumble and tourists may stay away, this can actually be good news for the spirited traveler. Off-season visits mean fewer crowds and all-around better rates, as well as some pleasures only to be found during the spring.
By April, Maine Maple Sunday has already come and gone, although by April, Maine's maple season is in full swing. Visit Travel Maine for details on farms where you can buy syrup or even take tours during the bustling spring months.
Maine is one of only a few states to celebrate Patriots' Day. Observed on the third Monday of every April, this civic holiday commemorates the Revolutionary War Battles of Lexington and Concord. While Boston celebrates with the Boston Marathon, in Maine, the events tend to be local and often include colonial re-enactments, crafts and live music. The coastal town of Ogunquit has hosted a celebration since 1990. Visit Ogunquit's town website at ogunquit.org.
Information on Patriots' Day festivities is posted on the town calendar of events.
In Boothbay Harbor, a maritime community bound by rocky coastline and first incorporated in 1764, the end of April marks the annual Fishermen's Festival. Highlights include a Miss Shrimp Pageant and many fisherman-themed games, such as lobster trap hauling and lobster crate running. On a more sober note, the weekend-long festival includes a memorial service for those fishermen lost at sea and a blessing over the town's large fleet of active vessels.
Bowdoin College has opened its doors to the public each April since 2007 for the Wabanaki Arts Festival, a celebration of Maine's Native American heritage. Wabanaki brings together the traditions of four of Maine's Native American tribes--the Maliseet, Micmac, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot. Several drum and dance groups perform and artisans of all kinds showcase their work.