Spring in Maine

Spring in Maine arrives quietly, then all at once—snowbanks shrinking back into the earth, river ice loosening its grip and pine forests humming with new life. It’s a season defined by transformation, when Mainers dust off their gardening tools, seasonal restaurants reopen and outdoor adventures feel both grounding and full of possibility.

Spring Skiing, Fishing and Outdoor Recreation

Spring skiing is one of the state’s best-kept secrets—and March through early April is often the snowiest stretch of the year. At Sugarloaf, the annual Reggae Fest (April 10–12, 2026) transforms the mountain into an open-air celebration with bass-forward grooves, warming sunshine and soft turns. Sunday River keeps the momentum going with Shipyard Brew Haus’ Spring Fest (late March), blending après-ski beers, live music and that unmistakable end-of-season energy.

As the snow recedes, rivers swell and the season shifts to new pursuits. Spring fishing hits its stride in May, when warming waters draw trout and landlocked salmon toward the surface. Anglers of all skill levels can learn the craft in Freeport through L.L.Bean Outdoor Discovery Programs, which offer through fly-fishing classes beginning in March and running through spring’s prime conditions.

Nature’s reawakening is just as vivid on Maine’s farms and waterways. At Pineland Farms and Nezinscot Farm, fields, gardens and trails reopen for tours, tastings and family-friendly experiences. By May, Glidden Point Oyster Farm tours resume, offering a behind-the-shell look at fresh Maine oysters. And for wildlife lovers, spring offers some of Maine’s most sought-after sightings: puffin cruises take to the water beginning May 1, whale watching tours ramp up by mid-May, and the annual Wings, Waves & Woods Festival presented by the Island Heritage Trust celebrates the migration of hundreds of bird species across the island-studded bays of Downeast Maine.

Cultural Events and Art Museums

Year-round institutions such as the Farnsworth Art Museum, Portland Museum of Art, Maine Maritime Museum, Bowdoin College Museum of Art, Center for Maine Craft and the Children’s Museum + Theatre of Maine offer indoor inspiration while the weather shifts. But by mid-April and early May, a wave of seasonal reopenings begins.

The Ogunquit Museum of American Art reopens its oceanfront galleries in mid-April, Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay welcomes guests back to its 300 acres on May 1, and the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor resumes its in-person exhibitions celebrating Wabanaki culture and history. Cultural events—including the Maine Jewish Film Festival and Wabanaki Film Festival in March and Open Studio Saturday in April—add even more color to the calendar.

Food Festivals and Seasonal Restaurant Openings

Spring also brings a fresh chapter to Maine’s culinary landscape. Alongside the year-round dining scene, many beloved seasonal restaurants reopen in May, from the shorefront serenity of Aragosta at Goose Cove to the lakeside charm of Bresca & the Honeybee ice cream shop. Food lovers can also experience Maine’s terroir and traditions through seasonal celebrations such as Maine Restaurant Week (March 1–12, 2026), Maine Seaweed Week (April 24–May 3, 2026), and the down-to-earth Aroostook County Fiddlehead Festival (May 16, 2026), honoring one of Maine’s quintessential spring ingredients.

Spas, Saunas and Wellness Retreats

And when the season calls for quiet? Spring is an ideal time to slow down and reset. The growing sauna culture in Maine offers Finnish-inspired heat therapy in forested retreats and waterfront settings, while welcoming spas and wellness centers across the state provide restorative treatments rooted in nature’s rhythms.

At Glidden Point Oyster Farms, slip into a wood-fired sauna, step out for an invigorating ice-cold river plunge and reward yourself with the briny sweetness of fresh Maine oysters harvested just steps from where you sit. On the Kennebunk River, the floating Sea Sauna brings Scandinavian tradition to the Pine Tree State: a cedar-scented, wood-fired sanctuary bobbing gently on the water, where each cycle of heat and cool leaves you clearer, calmer and deeply refreshed.