Maine Lobster Festival opens today with free admission

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ROCKLAND – They talk tons when they talk lobster at the 56th annual Maine Lobster Festival. Some 11 or possibly 12 tons may be sold this year during the five-day event in Rockland.

But that’s not all that’s going on during the celebration, and the thousands of people who will visit have a range of choices.

Following is a schedule, from today through Sunday:

Wednesday, July 30: Home Town Day (free admission).

9:30 a.m. Merchants Showcase Open Juried Art Contest, Main Street. (Art will be displayed in the windows of Main Street businesses throughout the festival.)

11 a.m.-11 p.m. Free shuttle service between free parking at Rockland District High School (400 Broadway, Route 1A) and the festival grounds.

Noon. Gates open.

Noon. King Neptune and Court arrive, flag ceremony, Chamber of Commerce.

Noon-5 p.m. Photography exhibit, Art Tent.

3:30 p.m. New Horizon, U.S. Air Force Stage Band, Main Stage.

5-8 p.m. Chris Rogers Combo, jazz, Eating Tent.

6-8 p.m. Pole Star Hotel, rock, North Tent.

8 p.m. Coronation of the 2003 Maine Sea Goddess, Main Stage.

8:45 p.m. Rocktopus, North Tent.

10 p.m. Festival closes for night.

Thursday, July 31: Admission through Saturday: $5, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.; $10, 3-10 p.m.; $2 for ages 6-12; 5 and under free. Limited seating for evening concert in reserved section is $25, including festival admission. For ticket information, call 596-0376.

7-10 a.m. Pancake breakfast, Eating Tent.

9 a.m. Gates open.

10 a.m. Trickster Fox – juggling, stilt walking, festival grounds.

11 a.m. Lobster serving begins, Eating Tent.

11 a.m.-11 p.m. Free parking shuttle service.

11 a.m. Marine Tent displays and demonstrations.

12:30 p.m. New Horizon, Main Stage.

1:15 p.m. Sean McGowan, jazz guitar, North Entertainment Tent.

2 p.m. Kate Schrock, acoustic soul, North Entertainment Tent.

3:15 p.m. Sean McGowan, North Entertainment Tent.

4:30 p.m. Kate Schrock, North Entertainment Tent.

5-8 p.m. Stan Catell Combo, jazz and Dixieland, Eating Tent.

6-9 p.m. Mystic Vibes, reggae, North Tent.

7:30 p.m. Don Campbell Band, country, Main Stage.

8:30 p.m. Lee Ann Womack, Main Stage.

10:30 p.m. Festival closes.

Friday, Aug. 1: Limited seating for evening concert in reserved section is $20, includes festival admission.

7-10 a.m. Pancake breakfast.

9 a.m. Festival gates open.

9 a.m. Registration for children’s parade, Eating Tent.

9:30 a.m. Maine Seafood Cooking Contest and demonstrations, North Entertainment Tent.

10 a.m. Professor Paddywhack, juggling, stilt-walking, one-man band.

10 a.m. Demonstration, Marine Tent and Middle Pier.

10:30 a.m. Lobster preparation demonstration, North Entertainment Tent.

10:30 a.m. Children’s parade awards and photos, Main Stage.

11 a.m. Lobster serving begins.

11 a.m.-11 p.m. Free parking shuttle service.

11 a.m. Island Institute presentation, Marine Tent.

11:30 a.m. Seafood Cooking Contest judging, North Entertainment Tent.

12:30 p.m. Seafood Cooking Contest awards, North Entertainment Tent.

1 p.m. Maine Hysterical Society, Main Stage.

1:15 p.m. Dan Merrill, acoustic, North Entertainment Tent.

1-4 p.m. Open house, U.S. Coast Guard station, Tillson Avenue.

1 p.m. Awards for Merchants Showcase Open Juried Art Contest display, Main Stage.

2:30 p.m. Crossing North, acoustic guitar, North Entertainment Tent.

3:45 p.m. Dan Merrill, acoustic, North Entertainment Tent.

3 p.m. Coastal program demonstration, Marine Tent.

4 p.m. Bill Chinnock Band, R&B, Main Stage.

4:30 p.m. Crossing North, North Entertainment Tent.

5-8 p.m. Leila Percy & Friends, jazz, Eating Tent.

6-9 p.m. Erica Brown & The Bluegrass Connection, North Entertainment Tent.

7:30 p.m. Jon Pousette-Dart, Main Stage.

8:15 p.m. Devonsquare, Main Stage.

9 p.m. Orleans, Main Stage.

11 p.m. Festival closes.

Saturday, Aug. 2: Limited seating for evening concert in reserved section $25, includes festival admission.

7-10 a.m. Pancake breakfast.

8:30 a.m. Lineup for parade, Rockland District High School.

9 a.m. Festival gates open.

10 a.m. Parade, Main Street.

11 a.m. Lobster serving begins.

Noon-11 p.m. Free parking shuttle.

Noon. Atlantic Challenge, near city floats.

12:30-5 p.m. “Host your own Fishing Show,” North Tent.

1-4 p.m. Open house, U.S. Coast Guard station, Tillson Avenue.

1:30 p.m. Blindfolded Rowboat Race, waterfront.

2 p.m. Parade awards, Main Stage.

2 p.m. “Fish Talk,” Marine Tent.

5-8 p.m. Fred Woodard Trio, jazz, Eating Tent.

6:30 p.m. Steelin’ Thunder, steel band, North Tent.

7:30 p.m. The Boneheads, Main Stage.

8:30 p.m. The Neville Brothers, Main Stage.

11 p.m. Festival closes.

Sunday, Aug. 3: Admission $5 all day; $2 ages 6-12; free 5 and under.

7-10 a.m. Pancake breakfast.

7 a.m. Registration for Fun Run and 10K Road Race, Main Stage.

7:30 a.m. Children’s One-Mile Run, Main Street entrance to festival grounds.

8:30 a.m. 10K Road Race, Main Street entrance to festival grounds.

9 a.m. Gates open, contests sign-up at information booth.

10 a.m. Road Race awards, Main Stage.

10 a.m. Windjammer Chorus, barbershop quartet, North Entertainment Tent.

11 a.m.-11 p.m. Free parking shuttle.

11 a.m. Lobster serving begins.

11 a.m. Historical society demonstration and talk, Marine Tent.

11:15 a.m. Windjammer Chorus, North Tent.

11:30 a.m. Cod Fish Carrying Contest, Main Stage.

Noon. Children’s Lobster Eating Contest, ages 8-12, Main Stage.

12:30 p.m. Little Lobster Diaper Derby, Main Stage.

1 p.m. Marine Tent activities.

1:15 p.m. Inanna, percussion ensemble, Main Stage.

2 p.m. William Atwood Great International Lobster Crate Race, waterfront.

3:15 p.m. Innervisions, reggae, Main Stage.

4:30 p.m. Crate Race awards presentation, near Eating Tent.

5 p.m. Wreath commemorating fishermen lost at sea; King Neptune & Court return to the sea, waterfront.

6 p.m. Festival closes.