Moxie Festival

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UniqueLisbon
DatesDates TBA · Usually JulyCheck locally before booking
Duration3 daysListed event span
Crowd-Public scale varies
Best forUnusual spectacle, playful rulesFew American festivals are built entirely
LanguageLocal language; English access variesCurrency: USD
CategoryUniqueFestival type
The story

Moxie Festival in Lisbon

The Moxie Festival has celebrated Maine's official state soft drink each July since 1982, filling downtown Lisbon Falls for a three-day weekend centered on Lisbon High School. Signature events include a parade, a Moxie chugging contest, a whoopie pie eating contest, a car show, a 5K road race, and a lobster feast.

Moxie began in 1876 not as a soft drink but as a patent medicine called Moxie Nerve Food, invented by Augustin Thompson in Lowell, Massachusetts and marketed with dubious claims about curing everything from nervousness to paralysis.
Your trip starts here
What is special

The part that makes it specific.

01

The place changes

Few American festivals are built entirely around a single, still-bitter regional soft drink: Moxie, created around 1876 as a patent medicine flavored with gentian root, became Maine's official state soft drink in 2005 and remains a point of stubborn regional pride even as its national popularity faded decades ago

02

The mystery stays covered

The festival's chugging contest turns an acquired taste into a public spectacle, while the parade and car show pull in visitors well beyond Lisbon's small population

03

The city starts moving

Now in its fifth decade, the festival has outlasted several changes in Moxie's corporate ownership, including its 2018 acquisition by the Coca-Cola Company, making it one of the more improbable brand-loyalty traditions still running in American festival culture

Traditions & symbols

The language of the festival.

What moves first

Living ritual

The festival's core rituals are its Moxie Day Parade and chugging contest

Water and renewal

Living ritual

both built around the beverage's distinctive bitter gentian-root flavor

The sacred route

Living ritual

alongside a whoopie pie eating contest

The local code

Living ritual

and lobster feast that round out the weekend's small-town celebration format

Before you go

Essential information

When to go

Dates TBA · Usually July

Getting around

Use the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.

What to wear

Casual summer clothing suited to a daytime outdoor parade and street festival; comfortable shoes are recommended for the 5K race or extended time walking the festival grounds, with sun...

Safety

Keep valuables light, follow local instructions, and watch how residents use the space before joining in.

Where to stay

Stay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Tickets/cost

Check official or local sources for ticketed areas, paid stands, and same-year access rules.

Language/currency

USD

Family friendly

unknown

Interactive map44.03 N, 70.10 WOpen in Google Maps

Lisbon, ME

Nearest airportPWM — Portland International Jetport
TransportUse the city as a planning base, then confirm the exact venue, route, or meeting point close to the date.
Stay areaStay near the part of the city you will actually use, with a simple return route after the main event.

Your Trip Starts Here

External travel services to turn the plan into a trip — each opens in a new tab.

How to get thereRoutes, times and prices to Lisbon via local transport.Search routesFind a place to stayStays near Lisbon, close enough for the event-day route.Browse staysFind flightsCompare fares into the nearest practical airport for July.Compare faresFestival gearCasual summer clothing suited to a daytime outdoor parade and street festival; comfortable shoes are recommended for the 5K race or extended time walking the festival grounds, with sun protection for the midsummer heat.Shop the kitCheck visa requirementsSee whether you need a visa for United States and apply online.Check entry rulesTravel insuranceCover for trip hiccups, gear and health on the road.Get covered

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FAQ

Quick answers.

When is Moxie Festival?

Moxie Festival is listed for Past edition: 10–12 July 2026. Always re-check the official or local source close to travel.

Where does Moxie Festival take place?

The festival is listed in Lisbon, United States. The map coordinate is a planning reference, not a guarantee of a ticket gate or exact venue.

How long should I plan for?

3 days is the listed festival span. Add time for arrival, local transport, queues, and any route changes during the event.

Is a source linked?

Official source linked. Eventisimus separates source confidence from travel suggestions, so check final details before booking.

Where exactly is it?

Lisbon, ME

Is it family friendly?

unknown

Sources and editorial review

About this guide

This guide is independently written by Eventisimus using publicly available information, official event and organiser sources where available, local tourism references, and additional editorial research. Eventisimus is not the official organiser of this festival and is not affiliated with it unless explicitly stated.

Festival dates, schedules, ticket conditions, access rules, and local arrangements can change. We aim to present useful and accurate information, but travelers should confirm important details with the official event source before booking transport, accommodation, or tickets.

Found something inaccurate or outdated? Email hello@eventisimus.com with the festival page link and the correction.

Official URLmoxiefestival.com
Organizer accessAre you the organizer? Claim this listing →
SourceSource link available
Listed datesDates TBA · Usually July
Source statusOfficial source linked
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