You may not believe it but Harvest on the Harbor is already right around the corner for 2019! How is that possible? As always, Maine’s premier food and dining festival is back and better than ever. Keep reading for 5 reasons you should attend this year!
1. Opening night on Thursday: Benefits Full Plates Full Potential, Chef + Farmer Harvest Dinner
If you want to do a world of good, buy a ticket for Thursday evening’s opening night event. It’s an incredible 3 course meal, served with pairings of Liquid Riot beers and delectable desserts to end.
Tickets are $165 per person and proceeds benefit Full Plates Full Potential, which is dedicated to ending childhood hunger in Maine. Truly a great cause to start Harvest On The Harbor!
2. Take the day off work and attend the Maine Lobster Chef Competition
On the second day of Harvest on the Harbor, things definitely start to heat up. First up, it’s the Maine Lobster Chef Competition at 11:30 am.
Look, if you can get the day off from work to attend, it’s more than worth it. Who doesn’t want to spend their afternoon filling up on a ten-course lobster luncheon prepared by some of the state’s best chefs?
Last year’s winner was Black Tie Company’s Avery M Richter, who is competing to win the title again. Other competitors include chefs from Central Provisions, Noble Kitchen + Bar, Cook’s Lobster & Ale House, EVO, and many more!
Tickets are $95. Trust me, it’s a great time if you love lobster and you enjoy seeing talented chefs think outside the box with Maine’s favorite crustacean!
3. Get in a boozy mood for Straight Up!
You know how Thursday is thirsty Thursday? Well, during Harvest on the Harbor, you might want to call Friday boozy Friday because of this boozy affair. Straight Up Maine Distillers Boozy Bash is a great time!
Portland has exploded in the last few years, and when people think beer and food, it’s one of the first places you think of. But what you’re forgetting is the distilleries!
Maine is home to some of the countries (and the world’s!) best distilleries, and this event is all about showcasing them. You may be familiar with a few like Stroudwater Distillery or Maine Craft Distilling, but there are so many more right under your nose!
Come check out Straight Up for Maine’s best distilleries, along with perfectly paired food pairings, live music, and just a great time.
Last I heard, they were offering BOGO tickets for this event, using promo code BOGO. That means you can get 2 tickets to Straight Up for the price of 1, which is just $55! Talk about a steal!
4. Bloody Mary’s, Tacos, and Oysters, Oh My!
Yes, there’s a lot going on Saturday for Harvest on the Harbor. It starts off on a very tasty note with breakfast tacos AND bloody Mary’s.
Besides stuffing your face with breakfast tacos (because you will) there’s also a competition aspect with popular restaurants in the area competing to see who has the BEST Bloody Mary. And of course, the only way to know is to drink them all and cast your vote accordingly!
Oh, and if you love coffee? There’s an event for you as well! The Fusion Coffee Lab is a curated class, lead by Coffee by Design. They’ll help you find your perfect cup of coffee and roast levels that are custom just for you!
This class is hosted by Coffee By Design and includes a 1 lb bag of your own custom roast, as well as a swag bag. Tickets are $40.
Further on in the day, oyster lovers are encouraged to gather at Maine Oyster Fest. Oyster Fest features over two dozen of Maine’s oyster farmers that you can meet and slurp oysters with.
If you’re any kind of oyster lover, this is your event! A General Admission ticket is $65, getting you in at 3:30 pm and includes a dozen oysters to enjoy. For the true oyster lover, there’s the Boom Shuck a Lucka Experience for $90, which includes 20 oysters, early admission at 3 pm, and an oyster introduction.
Both tickets also include Austin Street beer, Zardetto prosecco, eighteen twenty wines, Bulleit bourbon, Oban, Lagavulin, and Singleton scotches, plus live music courtesy of Pat Cowell and the Soul Sensations. It’s a jam packed day but it’s sure to be a good (and tasty!) time!
5. Sunday finishes up with the Market on the Harbor and VIP Market Prosecco Brunch
Everyone loves Market on the Harbor, but this year, things have been taken to an extra level. Brunch, anyone? Hopefully if you wanted to attend, you bought your tickets already, because the new VIP Market Prosecco Brunch is now sold out.
For those of us who can’t make brunch, there are still tickets available for Market on the Harbor. With three different entry times to Market on the Harbor, more people than ever before can enjoy what is my favorite part of Harvest on the Harbor.
It’s a great event for eating and drinking, and picking up a little something too! Maybe it’s for you, or maybe it’s for someone special in your life. But whatever you find at Market on the Harbor, you’re going to love it.
Entry times this year include:
Noon-4 pm, for $35
1 pm- 3 pm, for $25
2 pm- 4 pm, for $25
Whether you attend one HOTH event or make it to all of these amazing events, you’re going to have an amazing time experiencing some of the great food and beverages that our delicious city has to offer. See you there!
