Culture

celebrating the release of 'Life and Art'
Richard Russo. (Photo by Elena Seibert)

BELFAST — Left Bank Books, in downtown Belfast, invites the public to meet internationally acclaimed author Richard Russo at a talk and book signing on Thursday, May 15, at 6:30 p.m. The free…

the abused and unhinged heroine
A scene from Strauss's "Salome." (Photo by Evan Zimmerman / Met Opera)

ROCKLAND — A live broadcast from New York City’s Metropolitan Opera of Strauss’s one-act tragedy Salome will be presented 

opening reception May 3
Matt Jones, Dawn V, 2025. Oil on canvas. 20h x 16w in. (Photo courtesy The Parsonage Gallery)

SEARSPORT — The Parsonage Gallery launches its third spring season with two new solo exhibitions by Matt Jones from New…

set in Maine, including deep in the heart of western Waldo County
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MONROE — Thursday, May 8, at 6 p.m., The Monroe Community Library invites the public to an author event with acclaimed Maine mystery writer Gerry Boyle.

Gerry Boyle is the author of 17…

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WARREN — Warren Public Suppers will be held monthly through the summer at Second Congregational Church, 252 Main Street, Warren.

The suppers will be Thursdays, at 5:30 p…

John and Rachel Nicholas. (Photo courtesy John and Rachel Nicholas)

ROCKPORT — On Saturday, May 24, at 7 p.m., The Good Trouble Project will host its Spring fundraising concert to benefit Out Maine. The featured performer will be Jud Caswell and be hosted by local…

 Jane Hirshfield. (Photo by Curt Richter)

CAMDEN — The third annual Camden Festival of Poetry will take place May 13 - 17, 2025.

The Festival opens with a Tuesday evening reading from 6 - 8 p.m., at the Camden Public Library,…

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SEARSPORT — Maine author of On Harbor's Edge, Kate Hotchkiss, will speak Saturday, May 3, from 1 - 2 p.m., at Anodyne Bookshop. The event is open to the walk-in public and free of charge…

'little did she realize the time and resources that would be needed for this project'
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BELFAST — Join the Belfast Free Library and the Wawenoc Chapter of the Maine Genealogical Society on Wednesday, May 21, at 2 p.m., in the Abbott Room of the…

founded in 1972 in Bath
(Photo courtesy The Apprenticeshop)

ROCKLAND — The Rockland Public Library presents Lance Lee, Thursday, May 8, at 6 p.m. This event is free and open to all.

Lance Lee will…

The first weekend in May is pottery weekend in Maine! The annual Maine Pottery Tour, set for Saturday, May 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sunday, May 4, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. This beloved…

Battle of Mobile Bay: Of 18 northern vessels, one was the gunboat 'Kennebec,' launched in 1861 in Thomaston'
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Peter Clifford of Northport was a friend as well as a fount of information about all things maritime. Maine lighthouses, lost propellers, shipwrecks, he and I corresponded and visited often. We…

Stephen Florimbi stands next to his winning painting, “Coming and Going.” (Photo courtesy Maine Boats, Homes & Harbors)

Producers of the 2025 Maine Boat & Home Show has selected the painting “Coming and Going” by Rockport plein air artist Stephen Florimbi for the 2025 show poster.…

charging headfirst into a historic battle to restore her tribe’s press freedoms
'Bad Press' film still. (Photo courtesy Strand Theatre)

ROCKLAND  — The documentary film Bad Press will be screened Saturday, May 17, at 5:30 pm., at the Strand Theatre. The film screening and post-film…

Kenya Hall. (Photo courtesy Underground Lounge)

BELFAST — Portland-based Kenya Hall and her trio bring a night of soul, funk, and unfiltered energy to Belfast’s Underground Lounge. This…

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ROCKPORT — Mother's Day evening, May 11, at 6 p.m., the Hyssong family will be in concert at West Rockport Baptist Church. A love offering will be taken.

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CAMDEN — Adam Swanson will provide a piano concert Wednesday, May 7, at 1 p.m., in Hammer Hall. The music historian is the only four-…

“Alternatives” by Katharine Cartwright. (Photo courtesy Katharine Cartwright)

A painting entitled “Alternatives” by Spruce Head artist Katharine Cartwright is now on exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution’s Museum of Natural History in…

the release of 'Skin and Bones and Other Mike Bowditch Short Stories'
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BELFAST — Paul Doiron, internationally acclaimed author of the hugely popular Mike Bowditch series set in Maine, will be at Left Bank Books, in Belfast, on Tuesday, May 13, from 11 a.m. until 1 p.…

Jaap Helder, PORT CLYDE REVUE, 30” x 30”, acrylic on panel, 2024. (Photo courtesy Triangle Gallery)

ROCKLAND — Two new exhibitions will open at Triangle Gallery during First Friday ArtWalk in Rockland, May 2, from 4 to 7 p.m. 

"Jaap Helder: Paintings 2020 - 2025" will be shown from May 1…

(Photo courtesy Searsmont Town Library)

SEARSMONT — Searsmont Town Library's Board of Trustees, Library Director and dedicated volunteers are preparing for the 35th annual Book & Bake Sale to take place this year…

reception May 2
Paper cutting by adult student Gabrielle Wicklow. (Photo courtesy Rockport Public Library)

ROCKPORT — From May 2 through 30, the Rockport Public Library will host a show of artwork created by students in the Five Town CSD Adult & Community Education program. The…

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CAMDEN — Love trees? Love poetry? The Camden Conservation Commission and Camden Public Library invite the public to celebrate their…

Ann Boover leads a bird walk at Beech Hill. (Photo courtesy Friends of Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge)

Bird Time on the Coast,” a program of the Friends of Maine Coastal Islands National Wildlife Refuge, returns this year.…

'A Moon In All Things' launches April 22 just in time for Beltane
Jennifer Elwell Comeau. Photo courtesy CA Smith

Sometimes, an author's life story can be just as interesting as the novel she creates.

Jennifer Comeau's debut historical fantasy novel, A Moon In All Things (12 Willows Press),…

No stage experience is required
(Photo courtesy Waldo Theatre)

WALDOBORO — The Waldo Theatre in Waldoboro announces audition dates for its upcoming community theatre production of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, the Tony and Drama Desk Award…

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DAMARISCOTTA, BAR HARBOR, BUCKSPORT, PORTLAND — At a time when the Israeli military— after a brief ceasefire— has resumed its assault on Gaza and Palestine, the first annual Maine Palestine Film…

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BELFAST — A reception with reading and refreshments will celebrate Waldo County Youth poems, Monday, May 5, from 4 - 5 p.m., at Belfast Free Library.…

Vacation Arts Activities, April 23
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LINCOLNVILLE — Lincolnville Community Library celebrates its 10th anniversary with an open house, April 26, from 2 - 5 p.m.

The library will also be holding Spring…

'the definitive biographical portrait of the ambitious and innovative—and until now misunderstood—woman'
Natalie Dykstra and her novel. (Image courtesy Camden Public Library)

CAMDEN — Camden Public Library welcomes award-winning author Natalie Dykstra for a book talk on her latest title, Chasing Beauty: The Life of Isabella Stewart…

(Image courtesy of Moosey Productions)

CAMDEN — Camden Public Library, Native Gardens of Blue Hill, and Wild Ones Midcoast Maine join together to present a film screening of The Buzz on Native…

the beginning of Maine’s 400 year tradition of quality shipbuilding
Virginia. (Photo courtesy Camden Public Library)

CAMDEN — Join Matt Blazek, director of Educational Operations with Maine’s First Ship, for a fascinating presentation about the 1607 pinnace Virginia,…

Capital City Improv. (Photo courtesy Watts Hall)

THOMASTON — Get ready for a night of fast-paced, off-the-cuff comedy as Capital City Improv takes the stage at Watts Hall Community Arts on Friday, May 16, at 7 p.m. Located at 174 Main Street in…

the suffering, terror, and often the hope that pushes a person to leave one’s country
”Flight”, wc 16”x20”, by Jean Kigel. (Photo courtesy Jean Kigel)

TENANTS HARBOR — Jackson Memorial Library presents "Displacement," a poignant series of immigrant portraits by Jean Kigel, from May 1 through early June. The…

featuring one of the actor's most famous stunts
Steamboat Bill, Jr. (Photo courtesy Rockland Public Library)

ROCKLAND — The Rockland Public Library presents a film screening, Thursday, May 1, at 6:30 p.m. This event is free and open to all.

Join RPL for a screening of the 1928 silent…

Event poster artwork by Joan Hantz, Windsor Street Design

BELFAST and CAMDEN — The Penobscot Bay Orchestra, now in its 4th season, presents 

Neil Pearlman and Giovanni Kiyingi. (Image courtesy Bagaduce Music)

BLUE HILL and BROOKS — Bagaduce Music will present two special concerts to unite accomplished and innovative traditional musicians. Ugandan folk singer, songwriter…

celebrating the releases of their new books
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BELFAST — Left Bank Books, in downtown Belfast, invites the public to a free talk, Thursday, May 1, at 6:30 p.m., at the bookshop, when poets Andrea Ballou and Pam Alexander celebrate the release…

Lime City. (Rockland Historical Society photo)

ROCKLAND — Maine-based artist collective and string quartet Halcyon will present Lime City, a silent film accompanied by…

pushing the boundaries of traditional furniture making and exploring new and exciting ideas
Tristan Zak, 3-Drawer Cabinet on a Stand, 36”x36”x12". (Photo by Lin Elkins)

ROCKPORT — “Current Student Work” opens Friday, April 18, at the Messler Gallery of the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship in Rockport. The opening…

(Photo courtesy Camden Hills Regional High School)

Camden Hills Regional High School is celebrating 25 years of productions on the stage of the Strom Auditorium. Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka, a musical featuring students in…

March 14, 2025 marked the 100th anniversary of the first live trans-Atlantic long-wave radio broadcast, from London to Belfast, Maine
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BELFAST — “Hello America, the Story of the Experimental RCA Radio Station in Belfast” will be the topic of the Belfast Historical Society’s meeting, Monday, April…

Joanna Clark (aka Jurassic Jo) and dino pal. (Photo courtesy Strand Theatre)

ROCKLAND — Join the crew of Jurassic Jo’s Hatchery and Conservation for the musical adventure Jurassic Jo’s Dino Show,…

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ROCKPORT — The Camden Hills Regional High School (CHRHS) Jazz Ensemble wrapped up a successful festival season with a standout performance at the prestigious UNH Clark…

Matt Storin. (Photo courtesy Camden Conference)

Former Boston Globe editor and past Camden Conference president Matthew Storin is returning as president, to guide the Conference forward into…

Boothbay Railway Village Museum

Saturday, May 10

Festival events begin at the Harbor Theater's screening of "The Train" (https://youtu.be/guShTdbHjL8) - Free admission courtesy of BRVM. RSVP to the theater to attend at…

'a glimpse into the calming beauty of the world around us'
"Forest Carpet" by Erica Qualey. (Photo courtesy The Craignair Gallery)

SPRUCE HEAD — The Craignair Gallery invites the public to the Opening Reception of an exhibition of fine art entitled “Maine Reverie:…

Adam Ezra. (Photo by Dirk Prußak)

ROCKPORT — "Get ready to crank up the volume and feel the rhythm of giving!" said Children's House Montessori, in a news release.

Children’s…