April 26, 2025 | Portland, ME
A free, one-day expo of seaweed food, art, and fun on the Portland waterfront!
Join us Saturday, April 26th, from 11am to 4pm at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute for a can't miss seaweed celebration with friends, family, and farmers! Explore our seaweed marketplace, try delicious seaweed samples, join a hands-on demo to ID local seaweeds, get inspired by local seaweed artists, and learn directly from Maine's seaweed experts in one of our community panels. Seaweed Saturday is hosted in partnership with the Maine Seaweed Council.
Event details
Date & Time: April 26, 2025, 11 am to 4 pm
Location: Gulf of Maine Research Institute, 350 Commercial St, Portland, ME (Map)
Admission: Free. No ticket required. All ages.
Panels: Register free for a panel discussion.
Marketplace
Find everything from seaweed soaps to kelp pizza crust! Explore our one-day, one-of-a-kind marketplace featuring over 40 Maine seaweed businesses, farms, artists, and innovators, offering delicious and sustainable seaweed products to sample or take home.
Hands-On Demos
Join us for hands-on demos and activities throughout the day, including:
- Seaweed ID workshops with Maine Sea Grant
- Cooking demos from Maine chefs and farmers
- Natural seaweed art and textile dyeing from local artists and makers
- A real, interactive kelp line straight from a Casco Bay kelp farm (!)
- Ocean-inspired kids activities run by 4-H and marine education experts
Seaweed Panels
Join us in GMRI's beautiful Cohen Center for four seaweed-focused panel discussions throughout the day. Learn about seaweed’s role in combating climate change and supporting coastal communities, and about the new products and innovations that are shaping Maine's seaweed sector and working waterfronts.
Panels are free to attend, but space is limited. Online pre-registration for each panel is open now!
Food Trucks & More
Stop in for lunch or a snack at one of the on-site food trucks serving up seaweed-inspired takes on lobster rolls, oyster pairings, dumplings, ramen and more.
On the lawn outside, you'll also find picnic tables and our activities tent with additional exhibitors and touch tanks.
Event FAQs
2025 Seaweed Panels
Join Maine's seaweed experts in GMRI's Cohen Center to explore seaweed innovation, science, and the future of our working waterfronts. Each 50-minute panel will feature expert insights, audience Q&A, and a speakers corner to connect with panelists afterward. Space is limited, so we recommend pre-registering to secure your spot!
Kelp the Planet: Seaweed’s Impact on Climate & Changing Coasts
Explore the science behind seaweed’s role in combating climate change. This panel will highlight cutting-edge seaweed research happening in Maine and discuss the trends and changes affecting our marine resources in the Gulf of Maine.
Seaweed Sustainability: History, Management & the Future of a Coastal Tradition
Learn about Maine’s deep-rooted tradition of seaweed harvesting and the efforts shaping Maine’s seaweed future. Hear stories of Maine's seaweed past and dive into long-term collaborations and management for sustainability.
On the Water: Seaweed Farmers & Wild Harvesters Panel
Hear firsthand from Maine’s seaweed farmers and wild harvesters as they share their on-the-water expertise, challenges, and lessons learned. Learn about the the skills, traditions, and innovations driving Maine's seaweed fisheries & aquaculture.
Beyond the Shore: Innovation & Seaweed Products in Maine
What is seaweed used for, anyway? Explore the growing range of seaweed products from Maine, including foods, organic fertilizers, biostimulants & more. Learn how local entrepreneurs are turning seaweed into market-driven innovations.
Hosts & Sponsors
Event Space and Venue
Gulf of Maine Research Institute
350 Commercial St, Portland, ME 04101
GMRI is a nonprofit organization based in Portland, Maine, focused on marine science, sustainable seafood, and ocean stewardship. This Seaweed Saturday, join us at GMRI’s state-of-the-art waterfront facility in downtown Portland and learn more about ongoing research and initiatives.
