Ahoy, Boothbay Harbor Windjammer Days (WJD) fans! The 61st event is near and the Friends of Windjammer Days are now nailing down the final few details.

The Festival begins Sunday, June 25 and concludes Saturday, July 1. Events include the Blessing of the Fishing Fleet, Boothbay’s Got Talent, Lobster Eating Contest, Cod Fish Relay Races, mayhem with the Pirates of the Dark Rose, Tug of War Across the Harbor (new footbridge permitting), Harbor Aglow and the Lighted Boat Parade, Fireworks, Rock Skipping Contest, Artists’ Alley, activities at Maine State Aquarium (June 28), Crab Cake Cook-off, Vintage Boat Parade & Pier Party (at Bristol Marine), Merry Barn’s “Stories of the Sea and Sea Shanties” with Castlebay, Meet and Greet with the region’s Maritime Explorers we have all been reading about, activities for the kids at Kids Alley, Windjammers For Wee Mateys and the all-new Carnival, and American Ghost Walks tours at night.

Local windjammers participating in the Gathering of the Fleet on Wednesday, June 28 are Eastwind, Applejack and Tyrone, to be joined by visiting ships Heritage, Grace Bailey, Sycamore, Eagle, Isabella, Alert, True North, When & If, Maine’s First Ship Virginia, Thomas E. Lannon, and the new vessel in town, Valora. Capt. Doug Goldhirsch owns the Sharpie schooner, 55 feet overall.

The Oliver Hazard Perry will be docked in the Harbor, location TBD. The Isaac H. Evans, though not sailing this season, will be festively festooned for Windjammer Days at Bristol Marine where she is docked.

Many of the vessels are available for private charter. Visit www.boothbayharborwindjammerdays.org for details. The website is also the place to buy tickets to the Crab Cake Cook-Off (Monday, June 26), Vintage Boat Pier Party (Friday, June 30), and “Come Skip, Tug and Be Merry” at the Chowder House (Wednesday, June 28). Don’t wait. They are going fast!

Chefs from Carriage House, McSeagull’s, Brady’s, and Boothbay Harbor Inn will compete in this year’s Crab Cake Cook-Off. Sharon Rose/WCSH-6, Rob Caldwell/News Center Maine and 207 newscast, and Boothbay’s Cherie “Mumbai to Maine” Scott will judge the tasty morsels. Proceeds will be split evenly between Friends of WJD and Maine Lobstermen’s Association.

The “Come Skip, Tug and Be Merry” at the Chowder House, 22 Granary Way, event tickets include food by the Carriage House restaurant, and more. Visit Maine Association of Lobstermen’s information table while you are there.

Ticket pricing for the Pier Party after the Vintage Boat Parade at Bristol Marine,120 Commercial St., includes one drink ticket, food by Ralph Smith and music by Dave and Chris Gagne; and many of the vintage beauties you ooohed and ahhed over earlier will be docked there. 

Boothbay’s Got Talent, the Festival’s youth talent competition, returns to a live format this year and is outside at Whale Park on Commercial Street. Come to the stage there by 6 p.m. Monday, June 26 and be prepared to have your mind blown by the talent and poise of these young people. 

Street Parade news: The entire staff of Boothbay Region Elementary School will be Grand Marshals in recognition of their perseverance and dedication in the aftermath of the flooding that occurred at the school during winter vacation in February. Street Parade (Wednesday, June 28) applications – for floats, bands, walkers, etc – are at Boothbay Harbor Region Chamber of Commerce at 192 Townsend Ave. You can also download one at https://bit.ly/3zYczDp

Update: The Kayak Poker Run, slated for Saturday, July 1, has been canceled.

In addition to the official WJD T-shirts, light gray stadium micro fleece blankets are 50” x 60” with the Windjammer Days logo in the center. These items, maps, the Boothbay Register’s Windjammer Days guides, signup for lobster eating and relay races, and more will be at the Friends of WJD tent in Whale Park Tuesday, June 27 and Wednesday, June 28.

Check out the local boat company schedules for special cruises out to see the windjammers sailing in Linekin Bay on Tuesday and Wednesday before they are bound for the Harbor.

Stop by Windjammer Emporium on Pier 1, owned by Friends of WJD co-founders Mark and Dianne Gimbel, and the special Windjammers display there. And while you are there, do not miss the impressive presentation of the region’s maritime history that has been in the Emporium since its opening. 

The region’s largest, longest and well-loved festival is almost here. The Boothbay Register’s full-color Boothaby Harbor WJD guide has been published and will be appearing at local businesses downtown. In Tuesday, June 27 and Wednesday, June 28, the guides will be at the Friends of Windjammer Days (FWJD) tent on the waterfront.

To stay up-to-date on all things Windjammer Days, visit www.boothbayharborwindjammerdays.org and the Register’s special page on it at www.boothbayregister.com. Just look for the cover featuring FWJD member Kim Gillies’ photo of the region’s schooners Eastwind and Applejack!