Active working waterfronts towns
Several communities in Downeast Maine have prioritized preserving their working waterfronts to maintain their fisheries economy and heritage and have some form of public space on or near a working waterfront where both visitors and residents can experience the sights , sounds , and smells of a fisheries industry that is still prominent today . Stonington , Jonesport , Lubec , and Eastport are particularly notable for their commitment to working waterfront preservation and public access near the waterfront .
Lobster Boat Races
Lobster Boat Races , an annual event held in fishing communities all along the Maine coast , originated in the sheltered waters between Jonesport and Beals Island in Downeast Maine . Most competing boats are active lobster fishing vessels . The events attract crowds of locals as well as visitors who raft up on their own boats for floating barbeques or line the waterfronts to cheer the racers on . Races include other community events , such as pancake breakfasts and lobster feeds .
Arts , Music , & Handcrafts
Abbe Museum
Native American Festival & Basket Makers Market ; Indian Market ; cultural & historic exhibits , museum store and gallery ; educational programs & community events .
Maine Sculpture Trail
The Schoodic International Sculpture Symposiums held over 4 years produced the Maine Sculpture Trail , a 34-piece outdoor exhibit that spans 200 miles of Downeast Maine . The large granite sculptures are located in coastal community parks and public spaces . An interactive online map and paper map guide travelers to each sculpture . The Maine Sculpture Trail is part of the International Sculpture Trail , which extends into coastal New Brunswick , Canada .
The Tides Institute & Museum of Art
A cross-border arts institution emphasizing the cultural ties between Maine and New Brunswick and New England and the Atlantic Provinces . TIMA programs include a StudioWorks Artist-in-Residence Program , an annual cultural guide online & imprint , 120 spherical panoramas , community programs , and a historical and contemporary cultural collection with a focus on art , architecture and history . TIMA also preserves historic buildings in Eastport and incorporates them into their arts programs .
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