PechaKucha Night, an evening of visual storytelling, will take place Friday, Oct. 17, at the Strand Theatre, in Rockland. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the program begins at 7 p.m. A reception will immediately follow the event at CMCA on Winter Street. 

Voices at the evening gathering will offer insight into various nonprofit, community-oriented, and educational programs. Topics will range from environmental matters and civic engagement to social services. The audience will also hear from the founders of a local clothing company, a furniture designer, and an artist who creates art from the most unusual of materials: basketballs. 

The PechaKucha format is a unique presentation style where eight individuals share their work, ideas, and creative process with a 20-second-per-image, 20-image slideshow. Each of the evening’s presenters will provide a six minute and 40 second glimpse into their craft. As PechaKucha International frames it, these gatherings are a place to “Share your passion, tell your story, find your people.” 

Participants for PechaKucha Midcoast’s October 2025 edition are: Chris Friden, Town of Camden Historic Resources Committee Chair; Annie Hasselgren, Riley School; Chris Davis, PhD, International Undersea Habitat Program; Tracy Friden and Becky Johnson, Co-Founders of Flatwear Clothing; Geoffrey Warner, founder/designer of Owl Furniture; Hillary Waterman, Community Prevention Coordinator, New Hope Midcoast; Aimee Christian, professor, Boston University, and nonprofit executive, Second Chapters & Civic Engagement; and Kyle Downs, artist. 

The evening’s emcee will be Craig Watson. 

The event sponsor is Midcoast Villager. PechaKucha Night Midcoast Maine’s organizing partners include 2A Architects; Archipelago; Center for Maine Contemporary Art; Farnsworth Art Museum; Magpie Creative; Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors; and the Strand Theatre. Graphic designer for this edition is Tara Morin. 

“PechaKucha Night” was conceived in 2003 in Tokyo as a place for young designers to meet, network and show their work in public. It is now an international phenomenon, with events held in more than 1,200 cities around the world. For more information, visit pechakucha.org. 

For information about presenting or volunteering at one of the local events, email pechakuchamidcoast@gmail.com. PechaKucha Night Midcoast Maine also offers affordable sponsorships for local organizations and businesses; contact the PechaKucha team at the same email address for more information. 

Tickets are $5/General Admission (plus ticketing fee). Advance tickets are available through the Strand Theatre website at www.RocklandStrand.com; any remaining available tickets will be sold at the door the night of the event. Advance purchase is recommended; the event routinely sells out. Beer and wine are available at concessions.

For more information, visit the Strand Theatre website or call (207) 594-0070. 

The Strand Theatre is located at 345 Main St., Rockland.