Discover Skowhegan: Festivals, Trails, and Art

Skowhegan combines recurring events with walking and hiking opportunities, public art, and a historic cottage. This mix makes the town an interesting destination if you don’t want to center your stay on just one activity. In August, the Skowhegan State Fair takes center stage; walking trails, sculptures, and local history offer other points of interest. When looking for a vacation rental in Skowhegan, you can first consider whether a festival, time outdoors, or art and history will be the focus of your trip.

Events with different highlights

The Skowhegan State Fair takes place every August and has been held without interruption since 1818. Its program includes entertainment, harness racing, and a demolition derby, as well as craft exhibits, livestock demonstrations, vendor stalls, games, and rides. Competitions and demonstrations are combined with opportunities to browse and take part. If you’re interested in several aspects of the festivities, this gives you a clear reason to plan your stay in August.

Horse shows are also held at the Skowhegan Fairgrounds on nearly every summer weekend. The annual Maine Artisan Bread Fair, held at the same venue, offers a different focus: breads, pastries, wood-fired pizzas, Maine-made foods, and baking demonstrations. Details of the offerings may change. Compared with the wide-ranging State Fair, the Bread Fair focuses on baked goods and Maine-made foods. If one of these events is the reason for your trip, check the specific dates before booking.

A stroll or a longer hike

The Skowhegan River Trail/DeBe Park is a paved, ADA-compliant walking path through the woods, with views of the Kennebec River Gorge. The adjacent Philbrick Trail offers the opportunity to take a longer hike from downtown via the pedestrian bridge. The two trails offer different experiences: one is described as a paved walking path with woodland views and vistas of the gorge, while the other offers the possibility of a longer hike. When planning your day, you can choose between these different ways to get outdoors.

Public art and local history

The Langlais Art Trail currently includes 21 sculptures by Bernard Langlais, displayed in public places throughout Skowhegan. Residents and visitors are invited to see the various works around town. One striking figure is the Skowhegan Indian: it is 62 feet tall, stands on a 20-foot-high pedestal, and depicts a traditional Abenaki fisherman. Its dimensions give the work a distinctive scale, while the description identifies its subject.

The Skowhegan History House Museum & Research Center offers another way to explore local history. It is an 1839 cottage in the Greek Revival style. Its year of construction and architectural classification provide two specific points of reference. Together with the sculptures, it broadens the view of Skowhegan beyond its events: public art and historic architecture stand alongside seasonal festivities as distinct interests.

Choose the right reason for your trip

Your reason for traveling is a helpful starting point when looking for a vacation rental in Skowhegan. A stay around the State Fair or the summer horse shows has a different seasonal focus from a trip centered on a walking path, a longer hike, art, or local history. First, consider which of these sides of Skowhegan you’d like to make the focus of your stay.

Explore other destinations: Caratunk, Norridgewock, New Portland, Dennistown, Jackman, Madison.

Return to the regional travel overview: Somerset.