BOOTHBAY — As mid-October approaches and the air grows crisp and cool, Mainers and tourists alike are noticing one thing missing from the autumn atmosphere: The trees aren’t as colorful. 

At the Fall Foliage Festival in Boothbay this weekend, hundreds of people milled around the Railway Village Museum, enjoying hot apple cider and browsing goods made by local vendors. But all around the festival, the trees were still green. 

“There hasn’t been much color,” said Paula Wood, who is visiting Maine with her husband Anthony. “We’re definitely disappointed in the foliage.” 

Wood and her husband traveled from Missouri to see the famously vibrant colors of the Northeast. Although they’re enjoying their time on the East Coast, Wood said she is missing the bright red and orange leaves she expected to see.  

“We were surprised, but I’ve heard that Maine hasn’t gotten much rain,” Wood said. “That’s how Missouri is right now too, so our foliage isn’t as beautiful as usual.” 

The drought that has plagued Maine since early August could be impacting the vibrance of the foliage this year. 

In an interview with the Press Herald last month, Jon Palmer, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service Office in Gray, said a drought could cause the colors to change quicker, and they might not be as bright as in previous years. 

“If we have a wetter summer, where we have really moist soil moisture, we can see lighter and brighter colors in the fall,” Palmer said.

A lack of bright fall leaves could also be impacting tourism across the state. Each year, Maine welcomes legions of “leaf peepers” from throughout the country and even the world, all looking to catch a glimpse of stunning fall foliage. 

Jay Hopkins, co-owner of Wildwoods Bakery in Nobleboro, said he has noticed fewer tourists visiting the state this fall. 

“It’s been a late season all around,” Hopkins said. With less vibrant trees, Hopkins said he “doesn’t expect” to see more foliage, or more tourists. “We’re probably not going to have much foliage this year,” Hopkins said. “Everything is already starting to drop.” 

Micah Cram, a Skowhegan resident, said he has also noticed fewer tourists. 

“I think it’s because the colors aren’t changing as quickly,” Cram said. “We haven’t seen it yet.” 

Other Mainers, like Boothbay resident Shannon Schmelzer, disagree. Schmelzer, who owns a food truck in Boothbay, said her business has been “really busy” in the last few weeks. 

“Tourists are here, but I think they’re looking for foliage,” Schmelzer said. “Colors are better the further north you go right now.” 

In the next two weeks, Schmelzer expects to see even more tourists flocking to the Boothbay area as the colors begin to change. She could be right. 

According to a Maine fall foliage report from the state website, areas like Boothbay were experiencing “high” foliage conditions as of Oct. 8, but hadn’t reached “peak” yet, while areas like Fort Kent were already past peak. 

But even without vibrant fall colors, Schmelzer said she would expect to see tourists this time of year.

“October is still really nice, so we have a lot of tourists,” she said. 

For couples like the Woods, this is true. 

“We love it here anyway,” Paula Woods said. “We love Maine.”