Great time at Market on the Harbor. I got lucky and got a complimentary ticket to this event. So much great food and awesome wine and beer, Black cherry soda from Eli's was so refreshing. Coffee by Design always great, wicked whoopies gave out a great little gift bag. Izzy was there from Izzy's cheesecake, the pumpkin one was my favorite. So much good food all set up in 2 huge tents, was well organized and had a good flow. Really clever revamp of the fortune cookie by Shuckie a cook that looks like a scallop shell with a message inside. I head the moose sliders were really tasty. So much fun. read more

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This kind of event usually makes me really happy. The opportunity for the public to meet, greet, taste and connect with local chefs and makers is a wonderful thing. Last year, there was a looong line to get in leaving a whole bunch of people standing in the pouring rain, I was excited to return this year, figuring the entry process would have been tweaked and streamlined... This year, I was once again lucky enough to get a complimentary ticket to this event. It was a warm and sunny morning, no rain AND I got there early so there was little to no line. Curiously, there was also no sign or indication whatsoever that this event was taking place from the street. Anyway, as we waited, several event staffers came around checking ID's and placing wristbands. About 10 minutes before the 11am start, a woman came out to make an announcement. She whistled very loudly and let the crowd know that we needed to be in 2x2 lines for entry, otherwise we would be slowing everything down. She kind of "apologized" for her intense tone by saying she was just a "loud" person etc... It was actually kind of awful, it felt like the people waiting in line (most of whom had bought tickets), were a bunch of unruly teenagers pushing to get into the school dance for the free pizza. NOT a great way to welcome the paying public into an event. Once inside, it was easy to shake the entry experience and interact with the vendors. Some highlights: Sip of Europe-Delicious merengue/marshmallow cookies Black Tie Catering-A chicken cone and mini apple pie tacos! Linda Kate caterers-Excellent clam chowder and brownies Springdale Farm-Carrot cake cream cheese-bought a big one to take home! Leonardos-Smoked gouda pizza!!! Seacoast coffee-Thank you! The vendors were delightful and excited to share their offerings, and on that note, there was one other problem. The live music was WAY too loud! I am a person who is generally fine with loud music, but this was so loud that it was impossible to have a conversation with the vendors, which is the whole reason that people come to this event. I am a big supporter of local music and am in no way suggesting that this band was not talented or picking good songs. Often musicians on the stage can't tell how far their sound levels travel, if there is live music at all of the Harvest on the Harbor events, maybe hire a sound person? Your clients and performers will thank you! Bravo to all of the chefs and food innovators in this town! It is a gift to this city and state to have so much creative talent working to bring quality, local food to the people! read more

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The Lobster Chef of the Year competition was one of the best events I've ever been to. Last year, it was at the Portland Complex and consisted of walking around a room and taking samples, often waiting in line, and awkwardly mingling with those around. The food was decent, but the concept didn't work. Frankly, it was average at best and not worth the $100. Warp to this year, and they got it right. The venue was moved to O'Maine Studios on Danforth street, which I hadn't heard of. It's a professional teaching kitchen, movie studio, and basically everything else imaginable. This was a seated affair and the room would have fit in great at a wedding. Then things got crazy. There were 9 lobster courses and a three hour open bar. Think lobster cheese tacos, bisques, lobster toast, lobster bolognese, and other inventive dishes. Stephen Richards of the Boothbay Harbor Inn won the peoples' choice award, and was my favorite as well. It was lobster tempura on steroids. By the end of the event we were in a food coma and quite tipsy from Moscow Mules, Bloody Mary's and top shelf wine. Harvest on the Harbor learned from their mistakes last year and created the best event of the week, and (gasp!) probably the year. Thanks Steff for the invite! read more

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So many treats, so little time... I was lucky enough to attend the Maine Oyster Fest and the HOTH Market this year (2019). Both were outstanding events. If you are an oyster aficionado you will think you died and went to heaven with 30 tables full of beautiful Maine oysters to choose from, accompanied by lemons and a variety of mignonette and cocktail sauces. With Prosecco, Wine and Bourbon stations to accompany, it truly is a fantastic experience. The HOTH Market was a feast for the senses, with stations serving everything from homemade potato chips, vegan ice cream sandwiches, chocolates, candied bacon, mushroom pasta, lobster ravioli, and more, to showcasing products such as specialty sea salts, locally made hot sauces, hand printed dish towels, aprons, napkins, Sea Bags, oyster opening contraptions, jewelry and a whole lot more. Bourbon, sparkling Rose, Prosecco, and other interesting beverages were also available. This was a great venue to do a bit of early holiday shopping or to at least get some good ideas, as well as a great way to spend a few hours on a Sunday afternoon. read more

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This year (2018) I went to two Harvest on the Harbor events. "On The Rocks" and "Marketplace". I've been attending HOH for years and this year's did not disappoint, may have been the best year yet! Having the majority of Maine's Best under one roof is an experience you just don't get anywhere else, and being able to enjoy this opportunity is a MUST!! There were a lot of people I spoke to who traveled across the country to vacation in Portland just for this very event! Both events I went to were exceptional, the abundance of delicious food and drinks were glutinous and amazing and I wouldn't have wanted it any other way. I cannot wait to go back next year! Pro tip: UBER to HOH events! You will eat and drink way more than you expect you will and will need a ride home! read more

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Wonderful event!! I had so much fun at the booze bash! The vendors were awesome, there were the right amount of people there, not too overcrowded, plenty of food and drinks to go around. The band was great and the marching band and circus performers were a nice added touch to the event! I'm glad it was in Brick South this year too instead of the tent on the water. It's a tough year to do that, so where it was inside a building this year, it was very comfortable. Parking was easy too. Would definitely go to this event again! read more

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Harvest on the Harbor Happh hour "on the rocks" was held under a big tent down on the Portland waterfront. It was laid out well and easy to get around. The drinks were terrific and the owners of the distilleries were there to interact and answer any questions we might have. I really wish there had been more food to pair with the drinks though. Terrific time read more

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Market on the Harbor is one of favorite fall events, and this year did not disappoint. I enjoy the variety of offerings. The ability to try as much as I want of everything, and if you want even purchase more to take home. Last year I had Bear for the first time and this year Moose meat, what a great adventure. Although this years space was a bit more cramped than last year, parking was definitely a win this year. And the apple cider doughnuts to welcome us as we waited for the doors to open were a nice touch. read more

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The oysterfest portion of HOTH was phenomenal. So many different oyster farms with friendly people willing to chat about their oysters and the process it took to grow and harvest them. There were farms from all across Maine and it was fun to try and compare all of the regions in one place. While you do get tickets to try a certain number of oysters, the farmers are very generous and relaxed, so you can expect to get more than your fair share of oysters to sample, if you're interested. The event space was beautiful and decorated with string lights, a colorful stage, truck full of fall produce, a giant welcome sign with seating area and a few picnic tables with lovely faux fur throws to make it feel cozy. There was a wide variety of drink options for whatever mood you were in- Prosecco or sparkling rose, strawberry rhubarb wine, Austin Street Brewing beer, or whiskey. My personal favorite pairing with all of the oysters was the sparkling rose, but the whiskey cocktail with cider was also a wonderful treat. The live music was great entertainment and you could also learn to shuck oysters if you were feeling brave! Overall, this was a great part of HOTH for any oyster lover! read more

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This event always lives up to the hype. Portland shows off Maine's local distilling talent. So many quality liquors of all types and flavors. I particularly loved the Wiggly Bridge tequilas. The band was also super fun. Playing funk soul rock tunes that you can't help but to jam to. People really should make Harvest on the Harbor an annual tradition. read more

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Typically I am semi-dubious of food/wine/beer festivals- tickets usually cost a small fortune, lines are long and the expo center decor is usually unfestive and boring Harvest on the Harbor was a truly pleasant surprise. There were two large rooms divided in half by a live band . Lots of lounge and sit-down cafe tables were sprinkled about adorned with gorgeous little centerpieces which were happily shared by strangers, excitedly asking eachother where their delicious looking samples came from. I was shocked that so many of my favorite local establishments and a plethora of many I had never heard were crammed into one building and offering such generous sample sizes... and all you can eat. Leonardo's pizza was actually giving out full slices! My favorite was MW's Catering Macaroni and Cheese. Seriously, I must've gotten 5 samples! Everybody was talking about it. Fantastic. I also loved the Honey Exchange booth. The honeycomb was so good and they brought bees with them! It was awesome. There was beer from local breweries, wine distributors, local distilleries, magazines, news papers, brewery tour groups, and so much more! (Yelp!) It was such a good time and a really fantastic way to taste the local flavor. read more

Harvest On the Harbor - Beautiful - Festivals Near Me - Portland, Maine

Harvest on the Harbor is a basically a weeklong festival for foodies made up of several events. I was fortunate and received complimentary tickets for two of the events: Top of the Crop (3 stars) and Maine Marketplace (4 stars). The 4 stars (really 3.5) is my average rating for both events. Top of the Crop tickets were priced at $65. The event space was huge for the number of food vendors present at the 2015 event. There was plenty of wine, spirits, and beer flowing. However, there wasn't enough food to go around! Attendees looked visibly upset/disappointed (and rightly so) that several vendors ran out of food half-way through the event. The lighting was terrible and I could barely read the posters and flyers describing the restaurant and farm partnerships. The highlights of the evening were The Brewins (band that was rockin' it all night long), fresh oysters from Mine Oyster, and the absolutely perfect potato chips from B.Good. Maine Marketplace tickets were priced at $50. I attended the 12pm session. There were 3x the number of food and drink vendors present compared to Top of the Crop. The food quality was also not as high as the Top of the Crop, but there was plenty to go around. There were lots of sliders, burgers, sandwiches, and carb dishes. Overall, I thought the dessert samples were tastier than the savory samplings. The best desserts were offered by Gelato Fiasco (assorted gelatos) and Maine Gourmet Chocolate (chocolate). My favorite savory bites were from The Black Tie Co. and Our Town Catering and Events. Harvest on the Harbor is a great way to try foods, drinks, and sweets from restaurants all over Maine. However, if you have the time, you are better off visiting one or two restaurants for full meal. read more

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I can't even tell you how many years I have waited to join this event. It seems that every year that I want to go I have a prior commitment or no one else would go with me. This year, it seems the stars aligned. I won the tickets for the Triple-B Barbeque event and it was well worth it! Walking in I was amazing with how they had taken such an industrial place and made it so warm and welcoming! After picking which type of glass I wanted for 2 of the 3 B's (Beer and Booze) we ventured over to check out the array of options. The tables were filled with everything from a Curry Lobster Roll (I know...not barbeque, but hey...its Maine. You have to have Lobster somewhere!), t to an array of all different types of barbeque. Between bites of Smokey goodness and wipes of the napkin you were welcomed with the great taste of beers from local companies! If you were full and needed to "make some room" you were surrounded by amazing music! What better way to make some room and continue that to dance? The added cherry on the cake was that I was finally got to meet Steff, our local Yelp Lady! Let me tell you ladies and gentlemen, she is even cuter in person! I hope this is the beginning of many great "run ins" ! Dear Harvest on the Harbor, You were one of the best Friday night dates I've had in awhile. I will most definitely see you next year! Love, Krista read more

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Review is for Oysterfest. What a cool and overall well-run event this was. We sprung for the VIP which got us in the door a half hour early and two dozen oysters, rather than a dozen. I've never eaten two dozen oysters in my whole life... turns out they can make you pretty full! I thought the price was fair. Running the numbers, it seemed to equal out to about $3.00 per oyster, but by throwing in the free beer, wine, and some bourbon and scotch samples you could definitely get your money's worth. Liquid Riot had some small samples of their saison and fernet, but beyond that for beer it was mostly Shipyard. I would have preferred one of the great micros around here, but I'm sure that would raise the overall price. They at least had a nice selection with Export, Pumpkin and their NEIPA, Finder. Anyways, oysters! It was really cool to be able to talk to all the different oyster farms and farmers. They were all so incredibly passionate about their aquaculture and the regions/rivers where they harvest. Then being able to taste so many different kinds next to each other and taste the subtle differences was really neat too. I found some favorites that I know to look for around Maine now. As I guess would be expected, the shucking was also mostly spot-on. Maybe the early access helped, but I didn't feel like they oversold the event, and there were enough vendors that I didn't encounter any big lines. My last comment is that I really liked the timing of the event. Our VIP access was 3:30 or otherwise the event started at 4:00. It was in a tent near the water, so you wouldn't really want it after dark in a chilly Maine October, but it was late enough in the day I didn't feel too bad about throwing down some brewskis. I hope they stick to a similar format next year, both price-wise and timing-wise. If so, I'll definitely be back. Well done everyone, worth every penny. read more

This was my first time at Harvest on the Harbor and I thought that the Marketplace was a great introductory event. My friend and I had a great time and though there were a few things that probably could have used some tweaking, overall it was a great event. The space at the Portland Company was gigantic so it never felt crowded and we never waited in line for food or drink for more than a minute or two. There was great live music and on the whole, the vendors were really friendly and knowledgeable. I introduced my friend to Spiked Seltzer, a lovely, light, refreshing adult beverage made in Rhode Island. I was already a big fan but after a few generous samples, my friend was hooked. He bought a case the next day! We also really liked the Our Town station. They're a brand new catering operation and they were working their butts off the entire time to produce two amuse bouches - one savory and one sweet. Amazing! We also really enjoyed the baked brie and ginger pear jelly at Grey Goose Gourmet And the hard rootbeer at Coney Island Brewing is a must buy as is the non-alcoholic Barritts Ginger Beer. Love! We started at Fajita Grill and they were giving out an entire meal's-worth of samples. The food was decent but it was gone long before the end of the session. The most amusing and probably our favorite stop was North Spore Mushrooms.They cultivate their own mushrooms and I think they partake of them too, if you know what I mean. We also really enjoyed the pumpkin bisque from Rudy's and the fabulous truffle butter from Casco Bay Butter. YUM! Get this stuff, like now. Other standouts: we went back at least four times to the guy mixing cocktails with Cold River Vodka. Wow. The grapefruit concoction he was making by hand on-site was to die for. My friend and I debated whether we felt we got $50 worth and he felt strongly that he did. I'm a little on the fence. Marketplace was meant to showcase the many different regions of Maine and highlight their best products and I didn't really see the theme well-executed. There was certainly enough room for additional vendors/stations and I would have liked to see more variety (two Mexican places, two mushroom places and more wine (most not produced in Maine which confused me) than you could shake a stick at. Maybe it's hard to figure out where a vendor fits when there are so many events? In any case, it was a great time, there was plenty of food, and I would love to return next year! Great opportunity to get people into town to eat and drink!! read more

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really disappointing. the distilleries were very good. the food served was lacking and one dimensional. nothing but charcuterie board. definitely not worth the $75 ticket! read more

Disclaimer: i received 2 complimentary tickets to Sustainable Seafood Soiree, which is a part of Harvest on the Harbor festival. It was a 3 hr long dinner event with a focus on seafood, the first hour was wine, local crafted cocktail, and h'oeuvres. The last two hours was a 3 course sit down dinner, finished by local coffee. This particular event was more on the fancier side of the whole series: attire casual chic (lots of dress and suits), location well-decorated, live musicians, open bar, impeccable service, and of course all of the above come with a pretty hefty price ($150/person). I think the ambiance alone deserves 5 stars: it's the perfect excuse to dress up and ready to be pampered in great drinks and food. I believe they arrange transportation for you as well, which was such a thoughtful touch for people to really enjoy their time there. It feels like a fancy mixer event, but you really don't have to talk to strangers if you don't want to. My friend and I struck a conversation with a couple who came from D.C, and ended up having a really great time with them during the dinner time. Now let's get to the food and drink part: - Cocktail hour (5 stars): really great cocktails using local ingredients. I had a cider rum, and it was so good. All h'oeuvres used seafood ingredients, and they were mostly stunning, some even better than dinner. - Dinner: first course was herb rubbed dogfish by DiMillo, second course Miso Glazed Pollock by Sea Glass Restaurant, third course Maine Scallops from Five Fifty-Five, and dessert date stick toffee pudding from also Five Fifty-Five. I think this is where Harvest on the Harbor fell short from the price tag. I only really liked the Miso Glazed and plan to pay a visit to Sea Glass in the near future. The sear on the Maine Scallops with on-point, but the rest of the dish didn't go well with it. I also didn't think other dishes was on-par with the rest of the event. I also want to point out to the organizer that finding the event was a huge challenge. Originally, my Google calendar invite pointed me to the location on Commercial Street (which i think is the default location of the whole series). I drove there, found nobody. Then, I went to your website to check the location again, and it pointed me to the Fore Street location. I went there, got lost in the midst of warehouses, and luckily bumped into 2 guys who pointed me to the Danford Street (the correct one, at last!). So I check the event listing on the main website again, and you have to scroll down to the very end to find the Danford location. Inconsistent listing on the same page. Apparently I wasn't the only one who had this trouble, so you may want to make sure you update the whole site if there is a change in the location. read more

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Disclaimer: I received a ticket for free to the event I attended. That being said, had I paid 40 bucks for this ticket- I would definitely be a bit grumpy. I'm happy to pay forty (or more!! Charge me more money if it will make it better!!!) bucks for an event, I want to actually get more than a thimbleful amount of drinks and several gallons of awkwardness. This was my first year attending any of the Harvest in the Harbor events. While I wouldn't rule it out again if I scored free tickets, I definitely wouldn't recommend that people spend full price. Hey, at least the people I hung out with were cool!! Of our nineteen stops, only a few of them offered actual bites. All but maybe three of them were desserts or sugary treats. Instead of highlighting local vendors, we were offered Magners, Angry Orchard, and the like. Exceptions to this rule were the always amazing Tomaso's and the reliably delicious Flatbread. I was also impressed by Vena's Fizz House (always amazing) and Maine's Pantry- a great new find. I can say that all of these businesses were great experiences, but I also know that at least three of the four were because the businesses are amazing in general and the owners put in the effort on a regular basis (regardless of a tour or not). Additionally, a few of the businesses were unenthusiastic about their participation and it was a bit awkward. TBH, I would give the above four five stars and the rest a solid two star. I think the issues here could have been resolved with some communication and cohesive planning, AKA please stop with the donuts (or dough-doughs.. hahaha, Steff). While I can see that some organization was put into this event, it definitely has a bit more to go to be a strong recommendation. If you won the lottery and had a free Sunday, this might be fun. If you're a local and on a budget, let's just go hit some Sunday funday spots on our own and #party. read more

This review is for Top of the Crop. This was a new event that was put on to showcase the Maine food scene with an emphasis on farm to table operations. The venue was in a large warehouse, directly adjacent to the Eastern Promenade trail/bike path. As a few others have already mentioned, this freshman event was poorly planned/managed as food seemed to run out well before the end. I will say that the vendors that came put up some pretty tasty bites. There were delicious, fresh oysters, pumpkin grits with some fancy cheese and cured meat, smoked pork on top of polenta/corn bread, and tons of great drink vendors (none of them ran out of booze). While I had a great evening, I think I would've been a bit let down if I had paid full price for this. I did get in free on a complimentary ticket, but $65 is a lot to stomach when the food available barely satisfied. I definitely left hungry, but I did have a great time with the food and drink samples that I did have. Hopefully next year's event will do a better job. read more

Such a fun event! Left SO full. The highlight was the moose meatballs. :) The venue space was so beautiful, so many great vendors, and a great band. Had a lot of fun and definitely hope to return next year. read more

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I can't express my love for food and bev more than spending several nights in a row being served some of the best from around the state. Harvest on the Harbor is a foodie's Christmas, with about the same pricetag, but you can pick and choose from several events over the course of four days to keep the cash flow low. The Grand Tasting was wonderful. I do think that with how popular the event is getting, to either find a larger venue or cut about fifty tickets. You didn't have space to comfortably walk anywhere, let alone the vendor four feet ahead of you. Some of my favorite stops were Azure Cafe (lobster claw and potato on a skewer), The Brunswick Inn (AMAAAAAZING, lobster, mango & cucumber atop a crustini), Piccolo served a decadent beet and dark chocolate cake with a mascarpone and white chocolate mousse -- had seconds and I don't even like chocolate that much. The Inn by the Sea, from Cape Elizabeth, which happens to be one of my favorite restaurants in the area, served up a wonderful crab cake, enough to bring me back about three times, or until they ran out I believe. The amount of brewers, distilleries, and wineries were insane. At first, we couldn't even find a vendor with food. Seemed more this year than in the past. I do not remember the name of the company, but they were serving a cider that had only apples and zero sugar added -- tasted like apple juice, but the alcohol content was thru the roof. I also had the privledge of attending the Big Eat Two Saturday afternoon, the best Harvest Event by far (personal opinion). This was hosted at the Portland Company Complex on their first floor. The middle doors were open to the back room and separated by a great band. My favorite bites were Grandy Oats nuts (and awesome tshirts), the moose meatball, the different bites topped with Snappy Carrot "dip," the Brunswick Inn's vegan chili, the sushi company who delivers, among a million more. I couldn't believe how many different hard cider companies there were! The atmosphere was fun & lively, without being hectic. The anticipation of each new restaurant or company kept impressive smiles on everyone's faces. There was one booth that had a "decorate your own" sugar cookie set-up. They were pretty fancy! ;) Basically, I can't wait until the next Harvest on the Harbor followed by years to come. Everyone should go. Now. read more

Scored some free tickets to the Rock N' Roast BBQ on Sunday. While the event was certainly delicious with plenty of beer, wine, and food to go around, if I had paid for the event I might have been slightly disappointed in the lack of differentiation in food offerings. There was a lot of pork. Granted, it is one of my favorite foods, pulled pork is not a food group in itself. Now if the event was billed as a pulled pork cook off, sure, I would have tempered my expectations. The Asian BBQ Lamb bun from David's that won the award at the fest was by far my favorite food. Second favorite was the ample serving of butternut squash sausage from Thirsty Pig. Loved that it was topped with an apple vinegar slaw. The pulled pork and chicken from Alabama BBQ was quite worthy, with its slow roasted flavor not needing any of the bbq sauce. I wish there was more brisket! Or maybe some slow cooked bbq beans... or some cornbread. I actually asked someone jokingly if they had any cornbread by chance in their purse. You need some starch to cut that grease in your stomach. read more

Harvest on the Harbor was an exciting event, i voluntered at the saturday event. Hair of dog. we were given corn tortia shells, scrambled cilantro eggs, and roasted pork, and beans. There were many topping options available. The food was comforting, the atmosphere was lively with music from a upbeat band playing New orleans style jazz. The bloody marys were the topping. J's Oyster bar made the best Bloody Marys read more

This event is phenomenal! Always lots of different events to choose from to fit your taste/interest. The vibe is laid back and fun, and the food is always great! We continue to look forward to our several hour drive from NY each year to attend HOTH! read more

Having a grest time with the best bbq , brews, and blues of msine. Love Black Cat Road live blued and all the local food and drink. read more

Harvest On the Harbor - Black Cat Road killing it - Festivals Near Me - Portland, Maine

Our 2nd time was somewhat disappointing. Too many major corporate participants (Whole Foods, J. Lohr, Tom Gore, etc.). NO Seafood at all. Absolutely none, even though "on the Harbor" and in ME. Very little local restaurant representation from Portland itself, few local wineries, no honey at all. Where was Hannaford if big corporate food was the theme? At least they're somewhat New England. In Summary, again NO SEAFOOD in a town/state known for seafood. 2016 was not one of the better festivals. read more

This review is for Top of the Crop. As a past planner for food bank related events, this one was at best, subpar. From the misinformed front door personnel, to the ill prepared food vendors, this event was in need of of a professional. The "nice" port a potties were locked so everyone was doomed to the ones that hadn't been serviced in three weeks (per the sticker on the door.) The alcohol outnumbered the food, but the morsels you could find were so dwarf you had to make two rounds around to feel like an eaten an appetizer. The offered options were mostly the cheapsest the chefs could find; it felt like they were bullied to participate. By comparison, the Maine Event on Saturday was superb and it was obvious the new event was headed by a not very well guided newbie. It was a waste of money and if I didn't already love Portland and its foodie options then I would have thought that I needn't visit the city again. Thank God i had visited the city before and knew it has much more to offer. This event made me reminisce my time Oklahoma City where people cared how others perceived their events. read more

WAY overpriced.... And too many 'national' wine & beer tables. Sam Adams/Constellation Brands/ J. Lohr ??? Give me a break. Lot of good local food producers though some of it very tasty. So good event if it was $20... At $50 I feel ripped off. I mean it was in old empty warehouse, someone's make' na lot of money on this and it's not the vendors read more

Enjoyed the new space with high ceilings. Bands were too loud in front room. Food excellent. Plenty of choices to taste.