The Bearfest is the State of Maine’s coolest, friendliest, and most fun public outdoor art event of the year. Over forty Maine artists have each decorated, adorned, re-created, embellished, bejeweled, and painted over 50 larger-than-life-size bears. The Bearfest is a hands-on, touchable art event, proving that art doesn’t have to be "serious" to be good.

The BEARFEST is FREE to everyone, every day, all day.

Where is the Bearfest?

The Bearfest is celebrated on the streets, in the parks, in the stores, and on the sidewalks of downtown Belfast, Maine, as well as "across the bridge" at businesses in east Belfast.

Belfast is a small (pop.7,100) town located on Penobscot Bay in mid-coast Maine. The town is renowned for its 18th-century Greek Revival, Queen Anne, Victorian, and Italianate homes, as well as its historic brick downtown—including the 19th-century Opera House, site of the first roller skating rink in the U.S.!

Why Bears? (Why not moose?)

The decision to "do" bears was really a process of elimination. We didn’t want cows (the copy-cow thing). Lots of folks lobbied for moose (naturally), but they lost out for several reasons: the artists weren’t wild about their "canvas"—lots of legs and antlers, but not much body; moose molds cost three times more than bears; moose molds cost more to ship than bears; and moose antlers are invitations to vandals. The Belfast Bearfest was born!

Who is putting on the Bearfest?

A large group of volunteers, businesses, organizations, and individuals have contributed generous financial support and major gifts of in-kind donations to make the event happen.

How were the artists picked? Do they get paid?

The Bearfest organizers sent out calls for artists’ proposals to arts organizations, galleries, and individual artists. Artists submitted their designs and organizers selected those that best met the event’s design standards and criteria. A few artists, whose work was known to organizers, were specifically asked by Bearfest organizers if they were interested in "doing" a bear.

The variety of artists participating in the Bearfest is simply astonishing. They have received degrees in fine arts from schools in New York City, St. Louis, Baltimore, Boston, Ithaca, Chicago, Hartford, and Dartmouth. Some of their specialties include photography, articulated sculptures, fiber arts, portraiture, collages, and soft-sculptured furniture. Their backgrounds include a specialist in the field of environmental education; a gallery owner; several graphic designers; two radio personalities; a singer; a mechanical engineer; an upholsterer; and an antique wooden boat restorer.

Collectively, the artists represent the very best of Maine’s diverse, creative, and extremely talented art scene.

What happens to the bears at the end of the Bearfest?

We’re glad you asked! This is the best part of the entire event. At the conclusion of the Bearfest, all of the bears will go up for auction—both via a live auction and via our web site. Proceeds from the auction will be donated to local charities.