Each year we search for activities and experiences that offer guests a special touch of the Maine experience. Blue Hill is convenient for exploring the small coastal villages and coastline of the secluded and beautiful peninsula or for day-tripping to Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, Camden, or Downeast Maine. Hiking, biking, boating, sightseeing, concerts, galleries, antiquing, lighthouses, and island exploring are all area activities. Help with planning fabulous vacations is a specialty of the inn and available to all guests before and during their stay. Below is just a selection of special events. Specific dates are listed for some events, while others are available throughout the season. Most of the calendar events require advance reservations.

May
May 15-17. The Wings, Waves, and Woods Festival, Deer Isle, offers “birding by land, by sea, and by art.”

June
June 11-14. Acadia Birding Festival, Mount Desert Island, is an annual celebration of the return of summer's songbirds. Bird walks, peregrine watches, boat tours, garden walks and gallery tours abound.

June 19-21. Lupine Festival, Deer Isle, includes a "Lupine by Sea" boat ride, a Lupine Loop driving tour, lots of musical entertainment, and garden tours.

June 20. We have partnered with Capt. Bill Baker at Old Quarry Ocean Adventures for “an eco-tour with the innkeeper” on Saturday, June 20. Start with the fabulous inn breakfast at 7:30 a.m. By 8:15, we'll be on the road heading for Stonington, with our fleece pullovers in hand. From 9 a.m.-noon, we'll be in Capt Bill's capable hands as he shares his knowledge about the natural history of the area as we cruise through the archipelago. We might see seals, seabirds, porpoises, eagles, osprey, an active quarry, Stonington Harbor, Mark Island Lighthouse (and hear its fabulous foghorn), the schooner fleet, and much of the 60 islands of the Stonington archipelago. Capt Bill will discuss natural history topics including the geology of the area, the history of the granite industry, other local history, lobster and fin fishing, and the local wildlife. We'll even get to haul a couple of Capt Bill's lobster traps on our way in. I'll bring the snacks and a picnic lunch. We'll be back on land early afternoon, leaving you time to explore Deer Isle's great hiking trails and shops. Package rates vary with room selection.

July
July 3. Blue Hill Pops, Blue Hill, is held in the George Stevens Academy gymnasium (across the street from the inn. A benefit for the Bagaduce Music Lending Library, this annual musical festival of "Sounds Around Blue Hill" features the Bagaduce Pops Singers, violinists Trond Saeverud and Kelsey Hudson, the New Trad Jazz Quintet, and Flash in the Pans Steel Band.

July 4. You’ll find small town patriotism from Stonington to Castine to Bar Harbor.
July 12. Lobster Boat Races, Stonington, answers the question, “How fast can they go?”
July 19. Fishermen's Day, Stonington, has family fun on the Stonington Fish Pier with crafts, slippery cod contest, whacky boat races, great music and lots of food!
July 24-26. Deer Isle Jazz Festival, Stonington, has events at the Opera House.

August
August 21. The Innkeeper’s Garden Party, Blue Hill Inn, is a summer celebration with an evening fete in the inn’s gardens, where twinkling lights, bubbly beverages, and delicious treats abound. Polka dotted attire required.

September
Sept. 3-7, Labor Day Weekend, the Blue Hill Fair
is an old-time country fair that was the origin of the fair in Charlotte's Web, written by the frequent inn guest E. B. White. Sheep dog trials and oxen and horse pulls are just a few of the many events. The fair is held at the Blue Hill Fairgrounds about five miles from the inn.

September 11-14, Lighthouse Tour Package, Blue Hill Peninsula, is a three-day, three-way Maine lighthouse tour weekend. When you check in on Thursday or Friday, you'll receive a package of information about Maine lighthouses, including a state map with the history of each lighthouse. Explore the region in your car for one leg of your package. On Saturday, September 12, head off for a boat ride from Old Quarry Ocean Adventures in Stonington for a tour of seven lighthouses, including Robinson Point Light, Isle au Haut; Saddleback Light, remote; Brown's Head Lighthouse, Vinal Haven; Goose Rocks Light, Fox Island Thoroughfare; Heron Neck Light; and Mark Island Light, Deer Isle Thoroughfare. Then, for the third leg, see lighthouses from the air with a flight from Acadia Air Tour. You will fly past Egg Rock Light the Bear Island Light and over some of Acadia’s most beautiful spots. Lodging for this three-night lighthouse extravaganza stay begins at $420, depending of room selection. Inn staff will assist with all your sightseeing plans.

Sept. 25-27. The Common Ground Country Fair, Unity, is a celebration of rural life. It features demonstrations, Maine organic produced foods and crafts and livestock exhibits.

October
Oct. 15-18. Foliage, Food, and Wine Festival, Blue Hill, celebrates fall at its best with fine food and wines. The inn is proud to team with local restaurants and purveyors, including the Arborvine, for this festival. Events have included wine dinners, beer and sparkling luncheons, lobster bakes, and cider and artisanal cheese tastings. Blue Hill art galleries and museums will host open houses and local producers will host a farmer's market. The event culminates Sunday with a festival of live music and tastings from local purveyors, including Black Dinah chocolates. Of course, all the local hiking trails will beckon—October in Blue Hill is stunning. Inn packages vary depending upon events and rooms selected. The Blue Hill Inn partners with the team at El El Frijoles and Maxx from the Blue Hill Wine Shop to offer you fantastic food, fascinating pairings, and the excellent hospitality the inn is known for. Last year’s event sold out quickly. (Make your reservations for this weekend early as space is limited.)

Off-Season
Off-season availability of the Cape House Suite and Studio, November-May
The Cape House Suite, a small apartment with living room/bedroom area, fully equipped kitchen, large bath, wood burning fireplace, and deck is available year-round. The Studio is a smaller version, with a kitchenette, large bath, and bedroom/sitting area. We leave the kitchens stocked with breakfast goodies and snacks as well as the inn’s great coffee. Check the reservation calendar for availability and rates. Please call for rates for extended stays.

Activities
Blue Hill and surrounding areas are filled with people who do not like to be bored in the winter! We crosscountry ski, we snowshoe, we play duplicate bridge, we attend classical music concerts, we listen to poetry and watch plays. Penobscot Bay Press keeps the calendar current.