celebrations in Kennebunkport Archives - Maine Stay Inn and Cottages

Posts Tagged ‘celebrations in Kennebunkport’

Easter Sunday in Kennebunkport

March 29th, 2013 by mainestayinn

Hippity-hoppity-hippity-hoppity Easter’s on its way… to Kennebunkport! Easter Sunday really is right around the corner, and all corners of town are gearing up to celebrate. Although Kennebunkport might be a quaint little town with just over 3,000 people, there are a surprising number of churches that are open for Easter services (and even more that open once the weather gets warmer). Here are a selection of congregations – I hope I didn’t miss too many!

Literally steps from the Maine Stay Inn lies the Village Baptist Church, and while it’s known for its musical performances, many people know it as the steeple-less church. I was certainly curious about the sudden removal of the belfry (have you ever seen that before? Because I sure haven’t!), and learned that in November 2008, it was determined that the bell tower had grown structurally unsound after a history of improper care. The original bells were removed, and the church has been working on raising the funds to have a new tower built. They’re getting close, and it will be a very exciting day when a new steeple goes up and the historic bells ring again!
If you continue along Maine Street and onto North Street, you’ll find the First Congregational Church just before you reach a picturesque horse farm (with a Christmas tree farm in its infancy).
Just behind the Dock Square parking lot, with lovely views of the inlet, South Congregational Church is home to a United Church of Christ congregation and is one of the most iconic structures in downtown Kennebunkport.
Just across the bridge, you can partake in services at the Sea Road Church, an Adventist Christian congregation. It’s probably one of the few recently constructed churches in the area, but it’s strong, closely knit congregation would indicate otherwise.
Those looking for a Catholic mass have two great options in the area. Some enjoy the unique atmosphere at St. Anthony’s Franciscan Monastery, occupying 70 acres along the river, and outdoor services when the weather permits, while others choose to pop over to St. Martha’s on Route 1 in Kennebunk.
You’ll also find the First Church in Kennebunk, a Unitarian Universalist congregation with a community, rather than biblical, focus.

But if you’re not religious or are simply traveling with youngsters, there are two fun Easter egg hunts happening this weekend, one on Saturday at the Messiah Christian Church in Wells, and one on Sunday at Loranger Middle School in Old Orchard Beach. Whether your celebrating with us in Kennebunkport or at home, we’re wishing everyone a happy and healthy Easter!

Tags: celebrations in Kennebunkport, Holidays in Kennebunkport Maine, Things to do in Kennebunkport
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Kennebunkport Festival 2013 is Coming!

March 28th, 2013 by mainestayinn

Each year during the first week of June, an exciting food, wine, and art festival comes to town and this year is no exception, as we welcome the Kennebunkport Festival 2013! So for six full days (or as few or many as you would like!) you can indulge in the finest dining prepared by chefs from the most renowned restaurants in the state. But it

Sunset from the bridge during Kennebunkport Festival 2012

gets even better, because while you can choose from events at local fine dining restaurants or at incredible private residences throughout Kennebunkport that are open exclusively for these events. More interested in the adult beverages? There will be cocktail parties at different restaurants each night, a casual event featuring local beers, as well as the Grand Tasting, featuring products from Cellardoor Winery and Nappi Distributors.

There is one thing, though, that sets this event apart from other food and wine festivals, and that is the incorporation of the arts into this celebration that embodies some of the best parts about Kennebunkport. So while this quaint village offers a plethora of stunning galleries for your year round viewing pleasure, during this week, some of the most talented artists gather their works for viewing all together with phenomenal edible works of art at your fingertips to enhance your viewing pleasure. Worried about splurging on one of the Art of Dining experience during your first Kennebunkport Festival experience? Don’t worry! Because there is plenty to enjoy without committing to an elegant dinner. Consider the Historic Inns of Kennebunkport‘s Second Annual Garden Parties, any of the luxe cocktail hours, or even Brews and Tunes, a beer tasting with live music from local artists. But if you still aren’t ready to commit to tickets, you can still enjoy the wonderful weather that graces Kennebunkport during early June, the amazing restaurants, stunning galleries, and other events held throughout town that aren’t part of the official Kennebunkport Festival 2013. We’re really looking forward to this celebration and hope you are too!

Tags: celebrations in Kennebunkport, Kennebunkport Festival, Things to do in Kennebunkport
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Celebrating Easter and Passover at a Maine Bed and Breakfast!

March 26th, 2013 by mainestayinn

This is one of the few times of year when two major faiths are celebrating holidays – Passover and Easter – and we think that there’s no better place to enjoy the festivities than at a Maine bed and breakfast! So not only is Spring really here, but millions of people around the world are celebrating (not to mention enjoying the amazing edible confections!). And despite the fact that Kennebunkport is a small village, there are churches of all denominations in town and nearby communities, as well as a synagogue just a few miles away in Biddeford, so no matter your faith,

A view of Cape Porpoise Harbor from Pier 77

there are plenty of opportunities to observe, if you so choose. If you’re at all like me, though, the thing you look forward to most is enjoying some great meals, and fortunately, most restaurants will be in full force on Easter Sunday. But if you are looking for something a little more upscale to celebrate, you might consider Pier77, Cape Arundel Inn or One Dock. All of three offer great views of the water (although One Dock is really more known for its views of town, instead of the bits of the inlet). Not ready to commit to an elegant supper or set reservation time? Don’t worry! Great staples like Federal Jack’s and Alisson’s Restaurant are serving just a short stroll from our Maine bed and breakfast.

No matter your religious preferences, many folks have dietary restrictions at some point throughout the year, and we’re happy to accommodate your needs in any way possible. So if you’re fasting during the day and need breakfast before sunrise or need to head out for early services, we’re happy to deliver a cold breakfast the night before for you to enjoy whenever you like. And if you can’t eat leavened products, grains, or animal products, we’ll happily oblige, just be sure to give us a little warning, so we can prepare a tasty breakfast that meets your needs. We want to make your experience at our Maine bed and breakfast a great one, during Passover, Easter, and throughout the year!

Tags: celebrations in Kennebunkport, Easter, Holidays in Kennebunkport Maine, Kosher for Passover
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A Look Back on Historic Inns of Kennebunkport Events in 2012

January 12th, 2013 by mainestayinn

It’s about that time of year when the innkeepers of the Historic Inns of Kennebunkport gather to look back on the joint events we held in the previous year and put together a plan for the coming year’s functions. And I can honestly say that there wasn’t a single gathering that wasn’t a blast! So that’s where you come in – we’d all love feedback on your favorites and what sounds like the most fun to you!

During the month of February, the Historic Inns of Kennebunkport, along with the restaurants, shops and galleries have created “February is For Lovers,” a month-long celebration of romance in the area. And while there are no specific dates or parties, all of

Historic Inns of Kennebunkport Garden Parties during the 2012 Kennebunkport Festival

us team up to inject romance into your stay all month long! And in March we had events up the wazoo. Despite warm winter weather, we held our annual maple syrup weekend with tours of a syrup farm and maple infused recipes. A few weeks later, we held our annual cookie tour – a traveling open house of all of the Historic Inns featuring each property’s signature cookies. At the Maine Stay Inn, we offered our incredible chocolate chip delights, as well as gluten-free dairy-free treats to cater to food-allergy afflicted visitors (but they were so delicious that everyone chose to indulge as well!). Several of the inns, the Maine Stay included, are also part of a group of select bed and breakfasts called Select Registry, and this group produced a progressive dinner. As guests from all the inns migrated from inn to inn, they enjoyed complimentary soups, salads, desserts, and and an assortment of beverages and small nibbles while socializing with other visitors. Such fun!

Later in the spring, we held a traveling Garden Party that coincided with the Kennebunkport Festival, a celebration of fine food, fine wine, and fine art. Guests enjoyed open houses at each property, hors d’oeuvres, sweet treats, an assortment of adult beverages, as well as specialty teas and refreshing drinks. But, because we wanted everyone to indulge without worry, we provided complimentary limousine services between all of the Historic Inns of Kennebunkport. And best of all, there was a live music performance being held on the town green that provided a great musical backdrop for many of the parties!

Fast forward a few months, and the group offered a great celebration during Veteran’s Day with food, drinks, and art displays available for all of our guests to enjoy. Then, during Christmas Prelude, the Historic Inns of Kennebunkport held their annual charity open house – a festive afternoon activity with tasty nibbles at each property and a chance to tour each inn and a few guest rooms! But this year, we brought back our new favorite event. ”A Walk to Bethlehem” reenacts Mary and Joseph’s search for an inn, featuring candle-lit caroling, selected readings, and, of course, a fun filled barn reception when the manger is finally found. Barnyard animals and costumes make the experience extra special.

Phew! The Historic Inns of Kennebunkport really have been busy in the past year, but now we need your help for suggestions for new events and whether we should make changes to any of our past favorites!

Tags: celebrations in Kennebunkport, Historic Inns of Kennebunkport, Kennebunkport events
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Celebrating New Year’s Eve in Kennebunkport

January 6th, 2013 by mainestayinn

As many of you know, New Year’s is a big deal at the Maine Stay Inn, and this year was no exception! It’s a great opportunity for visitors to enjoy a winter wonderland in Kennebunkport and have the option to be as relaxed or as social as they want. Plus, getting to celebrate with friends, both new and old, is always a great experience. Many of our regular New Year’s Eve guests

We lit up Kennebunkport with our fun New Year’s Eve celebration!

decided to forgo a fancy dinner out and chose to enjoy lunch around town, before returning to the inn for an evening of fun, food, and firework watching (on television, of course!). Because we know that dining out on New Year’s Eve can sometimes be more of a to-do than folks are in the mood for, at our Kennebunkport bed and breakfast, we offer hearty foods throughout the evening. Finger foods, appetizers, munchies, and some heartier dishes mean that many people enjoyed their “dinner” at the inn, while others just popped in for a nibble before or after their evening reservations. And while we couldn’t wait until midnight to break out an assortment of delectable desserts, we certainly noshed on more as the clock hit 12! In fact, we almost missed the dropping of the ball, because we were all enjoying the hysterical old-school games we played throughout the evening.

On New Year’s Day, we served (and delivered to quite a few cottage suites) a four-course brunch. Yes, I do mean a real brunch! We started serving around 11 am, but many guests lingered into the early afternoon, enjoying a leisurely meal and a chance to socialize with other visitors. But for folks who prefer to enjoy an intimate meal with their partner, they can always choose breakfast delivered to the Cottage Suites or Deluxe Fireplace Suite 12 in the main house. All of us could not have asked for a more wonderful group of new and old friends to start the new year with in Kennebunkport, and hope that all of you had the opportunity to ring in a happy and healthy 2013 with special people in your lives.

Tags: celebrations in Kennebunkport, Holidays in Kennebunkport Maine, new year's eve
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Christmas Prelude One of World’s Best Christmas Festivals

December 13th, 2012 by mainestayinn

Now, all of us in Kennebunkport have known for ages that Christmas Prelude is incredible, but just yesterday, AOL SKYE released their list of the Best Christmas Festivals in the World- and guess who was on the list?!!? You guessed it! Although I suppose that the title gave that away, but how cool is that? It’s kind of hard to believe how any Christmas celebration could top ours, but when

Bob Dennis Christmas Prelude fireworks photograph

Check out this incredible shot of the Christmas Prelude fireworks by Bob Dennis of Port Images!

you see that historic cities like London and Nuremberg hold several of the spots, Kennebunkport’s Christmas Prelude (just celebrating it’s 31st anniversary) is a mere baby by comparison. What an honor!

A couple of years ago, reporters announced that over nine thousand people gathered in Dock Square, just steps from our Kennebunkport Bed and Breakfast, to watch the ceremonial lighting of the Christmas tree, but somehow this festival has maintained a charming, and intimate feeling. It’s hard to believe that just over thirty years ago, Christmas Prelude was conceived as a fun event for local shopkeepers to say thank you to the community for their patronage throughout the year and it now finds itself among the top 14 Christmas Festivals in the entire world. Now it’s our turn to say “thank you” to those very store owners for their continued efforts to keep this great event locally run (not to mention the fact that they are a pleasure to work with). It has stretched to encompass two weekends of holiday cheer, and this year’s celebration was no exception – not even when the second weekend was graced with a little bit of rain. And with fireworks over the Kennebunk River inlet, who would miss it? We’re getting ready to fill you in on the details of the second annual Walk to Bethlehem – a reenactment of Mary and Joseph’s search for an inn, complete with livestock, wise men, and, of course, innkeepers. While you’ll have to wait a touch longer for the cute pics, we just couldn’t wait one second longer to share the exciting news about Christmas Prelude as one of the world’s best Christmas Festivals!

Tags: celebrations in Kennebunkport, Christmas Prelude, Holidays in Kennebunkport Maine
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An Intimate Maine Bed and Breakfast Wedding

October 20th, 2012 by mainestayinn

While the typical “wedding season” is drawing to a close here in New England, I am preparing to go to several in the coming weeks, which has gotten me thinking about planning an intimate wedding at a Maine bed and breakfast. No, I’m not telling you that I have one on the horizon – I promise! Over the last few years, and certainly over the Maine Stay’s 150-plus year history, we’ve had the pleasure of hosting quite a few small, intimate weddings. And each of the happy couples chose a different location to exchange their vows, which just goes to show that Kennebunkport is a great spot to ensure that your wedding will be unique. But if

The view from Colony Beach

you are working on plans for your nuptials and need some inspiration, here are some ideas we loved and a few more that we think would be fantastic!

If you’re planning a warm weather wedding, a beachfront destination is almost a no-brainer. But chances are that you’re looking for something that feels like a secret cover, and fortunately there a a few spots near our Maine bed and breakfast that might just fit the bill! So consider Colony beach, which boasts a convenient location on Ocean Avenue with a small size that makes it feel like something just for you. Plus, there’s parking (though limited) that won’t be difficult to navigate with heels. If you’re party is really petite, keep heading out Ocean Ave, and during low tide you’ll find a quiet cove just beyond St. Ann’s Church. With stone steps leading down to the water’s edge, the bride can make a picture perfect entrance. But if you’re looking for something a little more pastoral, consider one of the area’s private beaches that have been kindly opened to the public. However, if the crash of surf isn’t a requirement and the presence of quiet waters will suffice, we’ve always thought that the waterfront coves near downtown Kennebunkport could be incredible!

Sometimes smaller wedding parties enjoy the ambience of one of Kennebunkport’s more sophisticated weddings, and those with private party rooms are an even better option (and work great for very small groups). For example, the upstairs dining room at Pier 77 Restaurant is a fave pick, especially with it’s waterviews. Plus, the lighthouse backdrop and sunset exposures just screams Maine wedding! More than a few brides have taken advantage of the intimate dining atmosphere and glorious gardens at On the Marsh Bistro. Less traditional brides have opted for quirky Bandaloop’s small Bohemian-chic style, and since it’s walking distance (even in heels) from our Maine Bed and Breakfast, it works well for guests post-wedding toasts too!

So whether you’d like to test out a tried-and-true favorite or tap our minds for some innovative ideas, everyone at the Maine Stay Inn is happy to help make your big day one for the picture books, so give us a holler!

Tags: celebrations, celebrations in Kennebunkport, maine weddings, Things to do in Kennebunkport
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Babymoon-ing at a Maine Bed and Breakfast

August 3rd, 2012 by mainestayinn

What could be more romantic than spending your babymoon at a Maine Bed and Breakfast? Turns out that quite a few couples have recently decide that “nothing” is the answer to that question! All of us at the Maine Stay are so lucky to share in this exciting event, as they prepare for the arrival of their (usually first) bundle of joy. It is such a treat for us to pamper mom and dad before the boxes of Pampers arrive.

Recently, though, I have had the privilege of helping these moms and dads-to-be decide on what room or suite best fits their needs, and here are some of the trends I have found:

King beds are, well, king! As mommy gets closer to her due date, it seems like she really appreciates a little extra space. And
Dig in to a sweet treat during your babymoon!

while that’s not always the case, most of these lovely ladies have jumped at the chance for a king bed instead of the queen they have at home.
First floor is preferred, and fortunately for the Maine Stay Inn, 13 of our 17 options are on the ground floor. It’s nice not to worry about a windy, spiral staircase when you can’t quite see your toes anymore!
Breakfast in bed is a hot commodity! Unlike your average Maine Bed and Breakfast, guests in our cottage suites have the option of having our gourmet breakfast delivered straight to their door. Of course, they are always welcome to join us in the dining room or on our large wraparound porch, but with opportunities dwindling to enjoy a leisurely breakfast in bed, most expectant parents seem gung-ho about living up this luxury.

And at our Maine Bed and Breakfast, visitors celebrating their babymoon can choose to have a delicious, healthy, and a tad bit indulgent snack delivered to their door in the evening. They can pop the cork on their chilled bottle of sparkling apple cider (alcohol-free, of course!) and settle in for an evening of relaxation. It’s a great treat to have waiting for you after a day of exploring Kennebunkport and the beauties of Southern Maine. So put your feet up, relax, and let the Maine Stay Inn pamper you during your babymoon experience!

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Honeymooning at a Maine Bed and Breakfast

April 1st, 2012 by avadmin

If you’re looking for a romantic Maine bed and breakfast to celebrate your honeymoon, look no further than the Maine Stay Inn! Kennebunkport is an incredible wedding destination, speckled with charming chapels, intimate coves, quiet beaches, and, of course, romantic Maine bed and breakfasts! Many of our honeymooners enjoy traditional vacation activities like visiting our

Indulge in a relaxing soak during your honeymoon to a Maine Bed and Breakfast!

spectacular beaches, taking scenic strolls, and going whale watching. But just as often they put an intimate, romantic twist on things. Think sunset Schooner rides, horse-drawn carriage tours, ocean-front picnics, and candle-lit dinners. The possibilities are endless and make for an unforgettable getaway to start off your life together!

The Maine Stay has rooms and suites for any style and taste, but a few are particularly popular with homeymooners. For those looking for a more traditional bed and breakfast experience the Deluxe Fireplace Suite #12 is incredibly popular. Enjoy a gas fireplace, jacuzzi tub, and Victorian opulence in this spacious suite on the first floor of the main house. Those preferring Contemporary decor often lean toward Romantic Cottage Suite #2 with its crisp, clean lines, warm neutral tones, and modern fixtures. The California King bed, gas fireplace and jacuzzi tub certainly help kick the romance up a notch. Plus, here you can have breakfast delivered right to your door! Our most recently renovated suite, Romantic Cottage Suite #5, is sure to quickly become a top choice for couples honeymooning at our Maine Bed and Breakfast. Falling somewhere between contemporary and traditional in style, there’s no way but to relax once inside – California King bed with a custom-made headboard, plush sofa, and gas fireplace grace the main room, while the spa-inspired bathroom suite offers a large shower with body jets and a double whirlpool tub with a television strategically placed to watch while soaking (not to worry, there’s a second television in the bedroom). No matter what you choose, however, options abound for honeymooners in a Maine Bed and Breakfast!

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Welcome to Maine Stay Inn, a Kennebunkport Bed and Breakfast Inn and Cottages.