Rest Stops? Not for These Competitors

Bar Harbor’s Bed Racers Went Full Throttle, Saturday

Nov 09, 2025

BAR HARBOR—It’s not every day a piece of toast runs through Bar Harbor next to a waffle and an avocado, all pushing a bed on wheels.

Or every day that four carless drivers, all geared up and in uniforms, zip down that same street.

Or ever day that Scooby Dooby Doo (and Shaggy too) gallivant through the crowds with fists and paws pumping to Scooby’s theme song.

But Saturday was not every day in Bar Harbor and all of that happened on Cottage Street for just about an hour that morning.

A whole lot of fast-paced rolling joy joined the bed-racing teams. So did cheering fans who crowded the sidewalks and overflowed onto the street for the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce’s annual bed race.

Racing inspired Witham Hotel with a bit of a blow-out

“It’s so cute!” one woman said.

“I love this.”

“Wow. Just wow.”

“Is this real? How is this real?”

The annual event is part of the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce’s Early Bird Pajama Sale.

Crowds gathered on the sidewalks of Cottage Street. People leaned out of windows. Others crept further onto the short race route as local teams vied for the best time and honor of being bed race champions.

Even before the race began, two runners from the Hadley Point Gang were getting warmed up, sprinting up Rodick Street and back down again. It proved a good strategy as the team from the Hadley Point neighborhood took first place again this year.

Witham Family Hotels took a fast second and Camp Beech Cliff also known (for the day) as the Scooby Gang won most spirited. Stay Bar Harbor stayed on brand with a breakfast in bed theme. Acadia Youth Sports had the youngest racer, William, and a valiant effort and great times coming in with a close fourth place. And Acadia Shops epitomized joy as it flew down the closed street. The Bar Harbor Police Department assisted in closing the street for the event.

Past Chamber president Bo Jennings emceed. Deejay Jeff Buffington provided the music the racers ran (and occasionally skipped) to, and Chamber volunteers took times, protected crowds, and determined fouls.

It was the 30th annual Early Bird Pajama Sale and 16th annual Bed Race.