Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta

05/28/2026

🎃🌱 The pumpkin babies are almost all adopted! 🌱🎃

Our very own volunteer Executive Director aka “Pumpkin Granddad” Jed is happy to report that we are almost officially out of giant pumpkin seedlings for the season!

What started as tiny seeds and little sprouts are now heading out into gardens, backyards, farms, and communities all across the region. And honestly, we couldn’t have done it without the incredible support from everyone who came out, shared posts, volunteered, donated, and helped keep this tradition growing stronger year after year.

A huge thank you goes out to Coast of Maine Organics, Mark Doe, and all of the amazing staff at Louis Doe Home Center for the continued support they give to Pumpkinfest and the giant growing community.

There are still a few seedlings left, so make sure to swing by this weekend and help us clear that table!

It’s time to dream big.
It’s time to grow big. 🎃💪🌱

05/25/2026

🇺🇸🎃 This Memorial Day, we pause to remember and honor the men and women who gave everything in service to our country.

Today is more than the unofficial start of summer or a long weekend. It is a day of reflection, gratitude, and remembrance for those who never made it home and for the families who continue to carry that sacrifice forward every single day.

From all of us at Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta, thank you to those who served and especially to those who made the ultimate sacrifice for this nation.

May we never forget the freedoms we enjoy were paid for by the courage, service, and sacrifice of others. 🇺🇸

05/22/2026

🎃🌱 It’s a long weekend… and the pumpkins are still waiting for homes. 🌱🎃

There are still giant pumpkin seedlings available at:

📍 Louis Doe Home Center
📍 Damariscotta Hardware

This weekend is the perfect time to get outside, get your hands dirty, plant something, dream big, and become part of the Great Pumpkin Challenge leading into Pumpkinfest this fall.

Every giant pumpkin starts with a small seedling and someone willing to give it a shot. Maybe this is the year you grow something that makes its way back to the weigh-off and onto Main Street during Pumpkinfest. 🎃💪

The seedlings are completely free. We simply ask that everyone please use the QR code available on the table at Louis Doe’s or Damariscotta Hardware to register your pumpkin plant.

The registration helps us keep track of who has what seedlings, where pumpkins are being grown, and it helps us later in the season when growers bring pumpkins back to the weigh-off. It allows us to connect the pumpkins back to their seed genetics and continue building the story of the growing season year after year.

The information you’ll need is right on the tag with your seedling.

It’s time to grow.
It’s time to grow something REALLY big. 🎃🌱

05/19/2026

🎃🌱 The growing season is officially underway! 🌱🎃

We’re excited to share that there are still giant pumpkin seedlings available for adoption at both:

📍 Louis Doe Home Center greenhouse
📍 Damariscotta Hardware

We’ve continued to have seedlings germinate, which means there are still opportunities to grab one and join the 2026 growing season fun.

As more seedlings head out into communities across the region, we want to send out a friendly reminder to everyone who has picked one up: please take a moment to scan the QR code and complete the registration form.

Even if you participated in past years, we do ask that you fill it out again this season. The information helps us track where pumpkins are being grown, what towns are participating, and helps us share the excitement and stories of the growing season throughout the summer and into Pumpkinfest.

The QR code looks like the photo below, and if you already brought your seedling home, you can still register it online anytime. The information you need will be right on the plant tag that came with your seedling.

https://forms.gle/qGKveJomiQLsVfsy6

Thank you again to everyone helping spread giant pumpkin fever across Maine. We can’t wait to watch these little seedlings turn into giants over the months ahead.

Happy growing! 🎃💪🌱

05/17/2026

🎃🌱 What an incredible Seedling Sunday!

A huge THANK YOU to everyone who came out today and helped make this year’s Seedling Sunday Giveaway another amazing community event.

Not only did we have an incredible turnout, but we were also treated to absolutely beautiful weather all day long a perfect way to kick off the 2026 growing season. ☀️🌱

As of today, we have officially given out over 250 giant pumpkin seedlings! 🎃💪

For anyone who couldn’t make it, don’t worry — there are still some seedlings available at:

📍 Louis Doe Home Center greenhouse
📍 Damariscotta Hardware

We just ask that everyone please take a moment to use the QR code and officially register your seedling adoption so we can help keep track of all these future giants throughout the season.

And most importantly… don’t forget to post photos as your pumpkins grow and tag us along the way. We love watching these little seedlings turn into giant pumpkins over the summer.

Thank you again to the Doe family, Coast of Maine Organics, the Maine Giant Pumpkin Growers Association, our volunteers, and every grower helping keep the giant pumpkin tradition growing strong here in Maine. 🎃🌱

05/17/2026

🎃🌱 TODAY IS THE DAY! 🌱🎃

Seedling Sunday is finally here!

Today is your chance to come adopt your future giant pumpkin plant and officially kick off the 2026 growing season with us at Pumpkinfest.

📅 TODAY — May 17th
⏰ 9 AM – 1 PM
📍 Louis Doe Home Center

Whether you’re a longtime grower or trying this for the very first time, we’re excited to help get these little pumpkin babies into their new homes.

As we’ve done in past years, at pickup you’ll fill out a quick online Google form that helps us keep track of the seedlings and follow their journey through the season.

📱 A QR code will be available onsite for easy signup.
🙋 If you’re not familiar with QR codes or online forms, no worries at all — we’ll have staff there ready to help, along with backup paper forms if needed.

🌱 Amazing giant pumpkin genetics
🌱 Growing advice and community support
🌱 Soil support from Coast of Maine Organics
🌱 Breakfast sandwiches and lunch from Truckin’ Good Food

One small seedling today… could become a giant on Main Street this October. 🎃💪

05/16/2026

🎃🌱 TOMORROW is Seedling Sunday! 🌱

Tomorrow is the day to come adopt your future giant pumpkin plant and officially kick off the 2026 growing season!

What starts as one tiny seedling tomorrow could become a giant sitting on Main Street during Pumpkinfest this fall.

Whether you’re a seasoned grower chasing personal bests or a family looking to grow your very first pumpkin, Seedling Sunday is all about community, fun, and keeping the giant pumpkin spirit growing here in Maine.

📅 Sunday, May 17th
⏰ 9 AM – 1 PM
📍 Louis Doe Home Center

🌱 Giant pumpkin seedlings
🌱 Growing advice and tips
🌱 Incredible genetics from Maine growers
🌱 Soil support from Coast of Maine Organics

And to make the day even better, Truckin’ Good Food will be onsite serving up breakfast sandwiches and lunch.

Really… what more do you need?
Seedlings, community, and good eats. 🎃🍳🌱

A huge thank you to the Doe family for hosting this tradition once again and to the Maine Giant Pumpkin Growers Association and all the volunteer growers who help make this possible year after year.

Come pick your plant. Dream big. And start growing something amazing. 🎃💪

05/14/2026

🎃🌱 In the giant pumpkin world… genetics matter. 🌱🎃

One of the biggest keys to growing giant pumpkins is starting with strong genetics. Every seed carries the history of the pumpkin it came from size, growth potential, color, plant vigor, and years of growers working to improve these incredible plants generation after generation.

What makes our Seedling Sunday Giveaway so special is that all of the seeds being used come directly from pumpkins grown right here in Maine during last year’s season. These genetics were generously donated back to Pumpkinfest by growers who believe in helping the next generation of growers get started and continuing the momentum of this amazing event year after year.

That means when you pick up a seedling, you’re not just getting a pumpkin plant you’re getting a piece of Maine giant pumpkin growing history and a community standing behind it.

Without the dedication of volunteer growers and the ongoing support of the Maine Giant Pumpkin Growers Association, our Seedling Sunday Giveaway would not be what it is today, and honestly, neither would Pumpkinfest itself.

A huge thank you to the Maine Giant Pumpkin Growers Association and all the growers who continue to donate seeds, knowledge, time, and support to help keep this tradition growing stronger every single year.

🎃🌱 Reminder — Seedling Sunday Giveaway is THIS SUNDAY! 🌱🎃
📅 May 17th
⏰ 9 AM – 1 PM
📍 Louis Doe Home Center

Every giant starts with a seed… but behind that seed is a community. 🎃💪

05/14/2026

Louis Doe is offering a boost to your seedlings! Adopt a seedling this Sunday and give it a healthy start with Coast of Maine soil and fertilizer!

We will be hosting Damariscotta Pumpkinfest & Regatta for Seedling Sunday, this Sunday May 17th 9-1pm

05/12/2026

🌱🎃 It starts this small… 🎃🌱

As we head toward Seedling Sunday, now is the perfect time to really focus in and think about where your giant pumpkin plant is going to live this summer.

A giant pumpkin seedling may look tiny right now, but don’t let it fool you. That little plant is going to want room to run. Most giant pumpkin plants will easily take up a space around 15 feet by 30 feet—sometimes even more.

☀️ Giant pumpkins LOVE full sun
💧 They need consistent watering
🌱 Rich, healthy soil with lots of organic matter is key
🌬 Good airflow helps reduce disease pressure
🚫 Avoid low wet spots that stay soggy after rain

The more sunlight and healthy soil biology you can give that seedling early on, the better your chances are of growing something truly impressive by fall.

Every giant starts as a tiny sprout pushing through the soil for the very first time.

🎃 Seedling Sunday Giveaway
📅 May 17th
⏰ 9 AM – 1 PM
📍 Louis Doe Home Center

Huge thanks again to the Doe family for hosting and to Coast of Maine Organics for supporting the giveaway with donated soils.

Now’s the time to dream big… and start planning your patch. 🎃💪