Here's what's new at York and Ogunquit beaches in 2022: Shops, eateries, shows and more

Summer 2022 will see a slate of new businesses open at York Beach, a new Pride week in Ogunquit and the return of some normalcy to some of the area’s most popular events.

Short Sands Beach in York is seeing a new restaurant in Nick’s, as well as a new surf apparel shop.

Ogunquit will celebrate the 40th anniversary of its founding this year, two years belated due to coronavirus. Meanwhile, the Ogunquit Playhouse, a staple of the town, kicks off its 90th season.

Here’s a look at what to expect in the two southern Maine vacation towns in 2022:

New attractions at York Beach

Business owners are looking forward to another year at Short Sands Beach, with some new restaurants and shops popping up for the 2022 season.

The Italian restaurant 1652 has closed. Owner Bill Shaheen is now turning it into Nick’s Beachside Grille with the help of his partner Patti Krukoff-Bernier. The menu will feature items like burgers, salmon, steak and the special corn chowder called Nick’s Crowder.

Hotelier Joe Lipton has built a new rooftop deck at his Stone’s Throw Hotel and Restaurant, offering more outdoor seating. The restaurant, attached to the Stone’s Throw hotel, is open Thursday through Monday until June 7, when it will be open seven days a week.

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Lipton is also working on a new restaurant at the ViewPoint Hotel, which he said will be open for “pop-up” openings to host special events like fundraisers and chef invitationals. He said renovations to the ViewPoint and his other hotel, the Nevada, will take place over the course of the next year and will be ready for 2023.

York Region Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Holly Roberts said this summer is expected to be busy. She said she’s already fielding calls from tourists looking for help in booking rooms at popular hotels like the Anchorage Inn, Union Bluff, York Harbor Inn and the Stage Neck Inn.

“Last year it was absolutely crazy around here. It sounds like it’s probably going to be that way again this summer,” Roberts said.

The Fourth of July fireworks will be on Short Sands Beach July 3, the Sunday of the holiday weekend, at approximately 9 p.m. Fireworks will also be seen July 2 at York Harbor Beach. Concerts will be held each weekend in Ellis Park from July 1 through Sept. 3.

York Trolley Company offers private tours

The York Trolley Company, which Nick Papin has owned and operated since 2004, will be available for two different tours this summer.

The first is a one-hour narrated tour featuring the town's "hidden gems," and the second one is shorter and geared toward kids. The rides will also be available for private charters like weddings, family celebrations, company outings, proms and other events this summer.

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The company's beach trolley service, which gave rides from Short Sands to Long Sands Beach and back, will no longer be part of its offerings, Papin announced in March. He said he is looking forward to the coming season for tours and private events, however, recently posting a selfie on his Facebook page last week at the front of a bus packed with wedding guests. The trolleys were built by Maine craftspeople and are described as “retro open-air” on the website. Tours are available on a limited basis and can be scheduled at the York Trolley Company website.

Ogunquit Playhouse celebrates 90 years

The Ogunquit Playhouse is celebrating its 90th anniversary season this year, kicking off its season with the regional premiere of Broadway’s “The Cher Show.”

The show tells the story of Cher’s life and will run from May 12 through June 25.

Other shows this season include the world premiere of “The Nutty Professor” musical from July 1 through Aug. 6 and “Mr. Holland’s Opus” from Aug. 12 through Sept. 17.

The season finishes with “Clue,” based on the cult classic film and Hasbro game, running until Sept. 22.

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The Playhouse is not requiring proof of vaccination or masking at this time, they said on their website. However, they say they respect all audience members who choose to wear masks for their own safety. They also encourage unmasked patrons to be respectful when interacting with staff and volunteers who will be masked for union and health regulations.

New rides at Old Orchard Beach's Palace Playland

Palace Playland is celebrating its 120th season at Old Orchard Beach this summer, opening May 28 at 12 p.m.

The beachfront amusement park is introducing a new ride – the Cliff Hanger, which they say will be the only ride of its kind in New England.

“Guests will have the sensation of soaring like a superhero more than 40 feet over Old Orchard Beach” in the new ride, according to Palace Playland. The ride will be open to guests later this spring. Also new to the Playland will be the Monopoly Roll-‘N-Go, T-Rex Laser, Nitro Trucks, and King Kong of Skull Island, a new virtual reality game.

“We love bringing new thrills and excitement to our guests as we celebrate 120 years of providing quality family fun at New England’s only beachfront amusement park,” said Paul Golder, the park’s president.

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The rides at Palace Playland will first operate on weekends only, then go daily starting June 17.

Playland’s Arcade, which has over 200 games ranging from vintage to state-of-the-art, is already open for the season on weekends and will open daily starting June 10.

The park will also continue its tradition of having fireworks on the beach every Thursday at 9:45 p.m. weather permitting.

Ogunquit Beach celebrates 40th birthday, first Pride event

A 40th-anniversary bash was set for 2020 to commemorate Ogunquit’s 1980 separation from Wells as its own municipality, but the coronavirus pandemic hampered those plans.

“This is our 40th-anniversary party that’s been three years in the making,” said Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Alice Pearce.

Bonaire, a celebration of Ogunquit, will take place June 11 in a closed-off section of Shore Road. Pearce said the day will celebrate three areas of pride for Ogunquit – music, its fishing heritage and its LGBTQ+ community.

Live music will take place on a stage all day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. with the Mallet Brothers from Portland headlining. Adjacent to the music area will be a traveling circus group set up in the Ogunquit Village School playground, and an art walk will take place starting from Perkins Cove to the downtown. There will also be an LGBTQ+ history scavenger hunt, and fireworks.

“It’s going to be a huge day,” Pearce said.

The chamber is also introducing a new LGBTQ+ Pride week from June 1-5, which will kick off with a pride flag raising at Veteran’s Park, followed by a barbecue. Maine Speaker of the House Ryan Fecteau will speak at the opening ceremony. The following night will feature a pride night at Ogunquit Playhouse, and Pearce said the chamber is finalizing plans for an arts festival. Sunday will feature a drag brunch hosted by Nikanos.

Pearce said some of the local hotels have been preparing for the 2022 season with renovations, like the Blue Shutters Inn and the Sea Chambers Motel. Also new this year is the Batson River Fish Camp, a restaurant opened by the owners of the Batson River Brewing and Distilling.

Mr. Gay Ogunquit returns

Maine Street Bar has been hosting Mr. Gay Ogunquit for about 20 years each Labor Day Weekend, but the event goes back much further than that, according to Maine Street Bar co-owner Eddie Gayhart.

“It used to be called the Gay Speedo Contest,” said Gayhart, referring to the days when the contest was run by The Club. When that popular spot closed down, Gayhart said Maine Street picked it up and gave it a new name out of respect to The Club’s years of stewardship.

“It’s something that’s been carried on,” Gayhart said. The annual contest has contestants line up in Speedos down by the gay section of the beach, “Section G,” introduced one by one.

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“They have to do a little dance in their Speedo, run down to the water, jump in the water, come back,” Gayhart said. Categories include “Best Basket,” “Best Arms,” “Best Legs,” “Best Chest,” and overall best. Judges then rate each contestant from 1 to 10, and around 6 p.m. the new Mr. Gay Ogunquit is named at Maine Street.

The event has drawn contestants from around the world during one of Ogunquit’s busiest weekends.

“It’s a tradition, and I enjoy doing it,” said Gayhart. “People who come to Ogunquit know what it is, and they look forward to it.”

York Days to feature sailing championship

York Days returns from July 29 through Aug. 7 with activities and events throughout the nine days, this year including the Maine State Sailing Championships Aug. 1 and 2.

The York-based Agamenticus Yacht Club won first place in the 2021 contest, meaning their hometown gets to host the following year’s event.

“We don’t host a regatta often, so that’s pretty exciting,” said Liz Cooper, special events coordinator for the York Parks and Recreation that puts on York Days.

This year will see a return to some normalcy for York Days since the coronavirus pandemic affected public gatherings in 2020. She said it will be the first time in a couple years that a movie will be played on Long Sands Beach to kick off York Days.

“Pre-COVID we had those on the beach, had two to three hundred people,” Cooper said. “I’m excited for that to go back to normal.”

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York Days offers a wide range of activities each year, like the annual York Days 5K on July 31.

July 30 will feature the Plein Air Paint Out, in which artists paint pieces while outdoors at Mount Agamenticus. Cooper said she is also excited for the York Days Craft Fair, scheduled for Aug. 6 and 7 and which has grown each year from 50 vendors one year, then 60, then 70.

Also on the menu is "Christmas in July," for which the historic Nubble Lighthouse will be lit up with white Christmas lights, and holiday music will be played July 31.

Parks and Recreation takes over Beach Bonfire event

Labor Day weekend will see a two-decade tradition return under new management, as Walter and Jennifer Woods of Graystone Builders of Maine have turned over the Beach Bonfire benefit to the town Parks and Recreation.

The Bonfire, set for Sept. 3, was first launched 20 years ago to raise money for the New York Fire Department in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. The excitement and success of the bonfire inspired and motivated the Woods family to make the event a tradition to raise money for different charities and foundations. Since the first year, the bonfire has raised more than $100,000 for those charities.

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Now, the Woods have decided to pass the torch to Parks and Recreation, allowing them to take a break while keeping the tradition alive. Parks and Recreation will be partnering with the York Community Service Association to raise money for the YCSA’s Food Pantry. The bonfire will feature live entertainment, delicious concessions and raffles with the bonfire and grills igniting at 6 p.m. The festivities last until 10 p.m., or when the food sells out.

“I was really excited to be asked and approached,” Cooper said. “It was an easy ‘yes,’ but not only is it a fun event. It brings the community together.”

This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Maine beaches: Ogunquit and York restaurants, stores opening in 2022