MDI Marathon Weekend to Feature Finish Line Festival and Music Harbor
Oktoberfest Set for October 10 and 11.
SOUTHWEST HARBOR—The Mount Desert Island Marathon will bring over 2,000 runners to Mount Desert Island in mid-October and it will give Southwest Harbor—and the entire island—a chance to celebrate.
Acadia Southwest Harbor-Tremont Chamber of Commerce President Holly Masterson came before the Southwest Harbor Select Board on Tuesday night to discuss the Finish Line Festival, a new part of MDI Marathon Sunday on Mount Desert Island set for October 19.
It will be the second year that the chamber hosts the festival right at the finish line in downtown Southwest Harbor.
“It went very smoothly last year, we think,” Masterson said.
There will be eight food vendors, seven sponsors so far, and one band.
Last year, the event shorted out buildings in town for a bit.
“There was a sort of a panic moment, but we got through it,” Masterson said.
The chamber has a plan with Versant for power this year as well as a back-up plan in case that doesn’t work out.
“This year we’ve been told there’s more than 2,000 runners,” Masterson said.
The chamber is also looking for a new home and hope to stay downtown. They have until April to find a new location.
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND MARATHON, HALF, AND RELAY
The annual running of the Mount Desert Island Marathon, Half & Relay will be held on Sunday, October 19.
The race that first began in 2002 is highly acclaimed and known throughout the nation. The marathon goes throughout the island, beginning in Bar Harbor and ending in Southwest Harbor.
“It has drawn tens of thousands of participants, friends families and spectators over more than two decades,” according to the organizers.
Though there is construction and a small 500-foot detour on the route in the Babson Bridge area in Somesville that has been taken into account by race organizers who have dealt with detours in past years.
In the past decades, according to race organizers, “the event has contributed significantly to local and island based organizations and non profits. Last year’s Beyond the Finish Line charity fundraising, gift giving, scholarships, and grants initiative had an impact on the MDI community that totaled $54,842.”
The MDI Marathon also needs volunteers.
If you are part of a civic group, an individual or plan to come down for the festivities and would like to get involved please visit volunteer.runmdi.org to sign up to help.
MUSIC HARBOR
Along with the MDI Marathon and the Finish Line Festival, the island will also host Music Harbor that weekend.
Though, back in 2023, the Annex in Bar Harbor hosted ten hours of live music three years ago to honor the local musicians that had played at the Rodick Street site all summer, it was not officially Music Harbor. Yet.
Now, in its second official year, the festival’s goal is to host 100 hours of live music, throughout Mount Desert Island, as well as a passport program where the winner will receive a free trip to Music City, Nashville, Tennessee! That trip does not include airfare or ground transportation.
“It’s exciting to bring Music Harbor back for year two,” said organizer Bo Jennings. “Growing on last year’s turnout of locals and visitors alike, doubling our participating venues, and now having over 100 hours of live music over two days, is a testament to the commitment of businesses wanting to provide live music. Baxter Brewing is back as our main sponsor, including the creation of the custom Music Harbor Lager. We also have a lot of great custom merch made by Little Village Gifts. It’s going to be a great weekend of live music, and we hope everyone comes out to enjoy it. Music Harbor is for all of you!”
Music Harbor will be on both October 18 and 19 at the following venues currently: The Annex at Side Street Cafe, Finback Alehouse, Bar Harbor Beerworks, The Nor’Easter Pound & Market, Havana, Brasserie Le Brun, Ivy Manor, Paddy’s Irish Pub (West Street Hotel), Project Social Kitchen & Bar, Currents Seafood & Spirits, Atlantic Brewing Midtown, and Table Salt.
ACADIA’S OKTOBERFEST
The longest running Oktoberfest in Maine will be at Archie’s Lobster earlier in October. The 14th Annual Wine Tasting is October 10 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The 28th Annual Brewfest is October 11 from noon to 5 p.m. at Archie’s Lobster, 90 Tremont Road, in Bass Harbor.
PARKING AREAS FOR THE FINISH LINE FESTIVAL
Golf of Maine Miniature Golf, 55 Main St. SWH
Seal Cove Road Shoppes, Seal Cove Road
Former Northern Lights Clinic, Herrick Road
Old Morris Yacht parking lot, Clark Point Road and Ships Way
Upper town dock, Clark Point Road
Lower town dock, Clark Point Road
Lot behind Southwest Harbor Town office / Police Department
Community Health Centers, Community Way
Dry Dock Inn paid parking lot, Main Street
Post office parking lot, Clark Point Road
Behind Pemetic Elementary School, Maple Lane
LINKS TO LEARN MORE
More about the Finish Line Festival
For an article about the race detour, check out Rebecca Alley’s story in the Mount Desert Islander.