Gay Friendly Ogunquit

Ogunquit - a New England gay destination - is approximately halfway between Boston, MA and Maine’s largest city, Portland, and is easily accessible from both. Traveling interstate 95 from the north, this gay friendly destination is less than an hour from Portland, and Boston is a mere 1 ¼ hour to the south.

Visitors from miles away can fly into Boston’s Logan International Airport, Portland International Jetport, or the Manchester Boston Regional Airport in Manchester, NH, and be in Ogunquit in less than 1 ½ hours. Visitors can also ride the Amtrak Downeaster from Boston or Portland and disembark in Wells, the town north of Ogunquit. Taxis are available for hire, or hop on a trolley for a special ride.

While visitors are in Ogunquit, the Ogunquit Trolley provides comfortable and convenient service to all of the popular locations in town, with connections to the Shoreline Explorer in Wells and the Shore Road Shuttle to York Beach. Ogunquit is also easily walkable, as it consists of only three main streets and four square miles.


Where to Stay: Gay Friendly Lodging

Ogunquit is home to a large population of gay and lesbian innkeepers. Almost half of all of Ogunquit’s inns and bed & breakfasts are gay owned, and all of the lodging properties are gay-friendly. With a wide variety of accommodations ranging from upscale resorts and cozy B&Bs with personalized service and sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean to basic accommodations for the budget-conscious traveler, Ogunquit offers the perfect getaway for any visitor. Most accommodations are conveniently located on the Trolley Route, and no farther than ½ mile from the beach or the Marginal Way.


Where to go in Gay Friendly Ogunquit

Ogunquit has several outstanding venues for art, including the renowned Ogunquit Playhouse and the Ogunquit Museum of American Art. John Lane's Ogunquit Playhouse, one of Southern Maine's most important cultural landmarks, brings Broadway to the Beach each season. Opening in 1933, the work and vision of Walter and Maude Hartwig brought an outstanding, star-studded performing arts company to Ogunquit. Continuing this tradition even today, they seek to provide his audience with the finest professional theatre in our region.

Called “the most beautiful little museum in the world” by Frances Henry Taylor, Director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Ogunquit Museum of American Art houses a 1,600 piece permanent collection in its 7,500 square foot building. Upon entering the Museum, visitors look directly through the glass wall of its main gallery to the dramatic coast, the ocean, and the far horizon. Visitors are invited to enjoy the Museum grounds, three acres of landscaped gardens, lawn and oceanfront ledge. The grounds include numerous large sculptures, a reflecting pool, and secluded benches for quiet contemplation.

For local history, visit the Ogunquit Heritage Museum. Located on the edge of Ogunquit’s largest park, the museum is housed in one of Ogunquit’s oldest buildings, the c.1780 Captain Winn House, a traditional Maine cape on the National Register of Historic Places. The Museum has four main focuses: the art colony, maritime history, Ogunquit history, and Ogunquit's architecture. Each year a new exhibit features a new aspect of those four focuses.

Ogunquit also features a Fire Museum, hidden in plain sight next to the Fire Station. This free unusual museum houses Ogunquit fire memorabilia including an old steamer engine. There are no public entrances to the building; instead, visitors stand outside and view the displays from large picture windows.

Ogunquit’s most popular places to visit are the three mile long pristine white beach running from the center of town north to Wells and the 1 ¼ mile long Marginal Way along the cliffs running from the center of town south to Perkins Cove. At the portion of the beach between the family-populated main entrances, is an area popularly known as the “G- section”, where spontaneous games of volleyball and other beach sports can be found. Perkins Cove is a quaint quiet working harbor, crowned by the little pedestrian operated drawbridge which allows the fishing and touring boats to slide out of their moorings and farm the sea of lobsters and tuna, while providing unparalleled scenic and educational excursions to the many visitors.

Events and Nightlife
Ogunquit has a well-rounded event schedule with activities for families of all types. February brings Mardi Gras to Ogunquit, with a King and Queen Trivia competition, where entrants are categorized according to outfit rather than gender. The King and Queen lead the “Hat Parade” through the center of town, as participants show off their decadent millinery creations. Ice sculptures, themed dinners and special entertainment round off the weekend.

April brings Patriots’ Day, a holiday celebrating the battles of Lexington and Concord, and commemorated only in Massachusetts and Maine. Ogunquit goes back to its colonial roots, with historical re-enactments, activities and concerts, while blending in the more modern craft show, hay rides, restaurant tastings and petty gambling. The Ogunquit Playhouse also gets involved with backstage tours of the theater, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The people and businesses of Ogunquit work closely with local AIDS service organizations, and have begun to create town-wide events around existing fundraisers. In 2009, Ogunquit instated Cinco de Mayo weekend around the Beach & Bay Run or Walk for AIDS. In fact, during the weekend, this miniscule community had the distinction of raising more money for AIDS than any other community in Maine, including the largest cities.

Art prevails in August, with several fundraising art auctions and the annual Sidewalk Art Show and Sale punctuating the weekends. The Ogunquit Performing Arts Committee continues the artistic theme with their two week long Capriccio Celebration of the Arts. With All Things Art included, this celebration includes concerts, museum showings, poetry readings, book signings, architectural tours, an antique show, theatre performances, a kite festival and much more.

For those who feel that the perfect vacation includes beach, bars, and boys, the Labor Day Weekend Mr. Ogunquit Competition is the epitome of a great time. Favorite drag queens host the Speedo contest on the beach, and after the sun goes down, the party moves inside to one of the local hot spots.

Ogunquit celebrates October with OgunquitFest, a harvest and Halloween themed event. Crowds throng to the Bed Race and the High Heel Dash in between enjoying a bevy of children’s entertainment and activities, craft shows, a haunted house and more. Several of this weekend’s activities are used to raise money for local non-profit organizations, such as AIDS Response Seacoast and Frannie Peabody Center, the area AIDS service organizations.

In December, Ogunquit celebrates the season with a traditional Christmas by the Sea. This event includes a bonfire, tree lightings and caroling, concerts, and the renowned Chowderfest. Retailers throughout Ogunquit enhance the experience with tremendous sales, as they celebrate the end to the busier season. Many of Ogunquit’s shops are gay-owned and operated, and offer everything from high-end art glass and sculpture to gay-themed humor and decor to t-shirts and tourist trinkets.

In between these major events are several minor events, and a variety of entertainment at Ogunquit’s gay-owned clubs, MaineStreet, the Front Porch, and Oxygen. MaineStreet features a regular women’s tea dance, a pool tournament, karaoke, dancing, and a variety of drag entertainment. The Front Porch features a nightly piano bar and adult gay comedy. Oxygen features dancing and trivia nights as well as a variety of other entertainment.


Dining in Gay Friendly Ogunquit

Ogunquit is home to a wide assortment of restaurants catering to the discriminating palate. Lobster and other seafood are purchased fresh from Perkins Cove and other area harbors, and several restaurants grow and serve their own herbs and vegetables. All of Ogunquit’s restaurants are independently owned and offer unique culinary experiences. Many are gay-owned and operated and attract a large, but not exclusive, gay clientele. Whether fine dining with a partner or family dining with the kids, visitors can find a variety of excellent options in Ogunquit. Several restaurants also feature nightly entertainment, including bands, comedians, and ballroom dancing.

For Visitor Information
The Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce Welcome Center is located at 36 Main Street, and is open to the public daily during the summer and six days a week in winter. Bulletin boards, brochures and information specialists can answer any questions about Ogunquit and its establishments and entertainment. The Chamber of Commerce website, www.ogunquit.org serves as a clearinghouse for extensive information about the town and its businesses, while www.visitogunquit.org contains detailed descriptions of Ogunquit many events. www.gayogunquit.com is an excellent resource for information on the local scene.

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