La Festival de la langosta (Or, Lobsterfest)

Ok, this post is actually about Rockland’s Lobsterfest, held in early August in Maine. (I’m feeling kinda Tican since I’m sitting in Costa Rica as I write this, so the title has a little Spanish influence.) Lobsterfest is a celebration of all things lobster, including lobster rolls, lobster Caesar salad, lobster won-tons, painted lobster pictures, lobster shell art and so much more.

If you want a lobster roll and a funnel cake

Every year, hundreds of people flock to Rockland, ME for the carnival rides, the vendor booths and most importantly, the delicious sea bugs. The wifey and I went because we love carnival food. I had it on good authority that someone was selling chicken and waffles, so we had to get some.

We waited until Sunday, the last day of the festival. I don’t know why more people don’t wait for this day…it’s Family Fun Day and admission is free. I want to spend all my money on food and gifts, not admission.

Lobster crates, chicken and waffles

But I digress. We got to the fairgrounds just as the lobster crate races were starting. For those that don’t know, a lobster crate is where lobstermen store their catches while they wait to take them to market. Lobsters are caught in a trap, or pot.

The crate race consists of 50 crates tied together across part of Rockland Harbor. Contestants wearing any combination of athletic socks, knee high socks, water shoes or sneakers try to run across the crates as quickly as possible before the crate submerges or tips. The goal is to run across as many crates as possible, like this daring contestant. She successfully raced over about 42 crates.

I imagine the crates could be splintery since they’re made of wood. No one we saw ran barefoot, so my theory makes sense. In my head, anyway.

Local first responders raced first, followed by any crazy bystanders who wanted to race. First responders were trying to win donations to their departments.

We watched the race for a little bit, then went off in search of my chicken and waffles. We found them at the Waffle King stand! Straight out of Vermont, the waffle crew was selling a variety of goods: soaps, fruity organic beverages, Smokin’ Bowls hats. Smokin’ Bowls is the name of their food truck, set off of the ramp onto I-91 in Rockingham, VT.

I had chicken and fries in a waffle bowl with maple cream sauce and it was delicious. The sauce wasn’t as maple-y as I would’ve liked but the sweet buttermilk waffle made up for it and created a party in my mouth when paired with the savory chicken. I would order this if I am ever near the Waffle King’s throne again.

Kim loves French fries so she had a large dog bowl-type order of them. Her fries were better than mine.

We also perused the vendor booths for a while, had a beer while we watched more crate races, and grabbed some cotton candy for the girls on our way out.

Rockland’s Lobsterfest is a good balance of tourist allure and local loyalty. Kids of all ages from all over can have fun on the carnival rides. And who doesn’t love lobster?