Cultural Events
Plan your trip to include one of our annual community events or festivals.
Rolland F. Perry City Forest encompasses more than 680 acres of wildlife habitat and working forest in Bangor, Maine, and features more than 4 miles of access roads and more than 9 miles of trails for running, hiking, biking, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing. It is owned by the city of Bangor and open throughout the year.
Bangor Public Library’s Local History Department provides information on Bangor, the Penobscot Valley, the State of Maine, and New England. Rotating exhibits feature archival photographs and documents.
Bangor Pride is a month-long celebration of our LGBTQ+ community culminating in a weekend of dance parties, a parade, a festival with vendors and so much more. Check out the full lineup!
With three length options to choose from, the Bangor Gran Fondo Hincapie is fun for all cyclists. It offers epic views of the Penobscot River and Bay! This is the Ultimate Cycling Experience for the rider looking for their next adventure, challenge, and a taste of Maine during the summer!
As the premier arts and culture destination in Central Maine, the annual Downtown Bangor Sidewalk Art Festival on the first Saturday in July, highlights the artists and arts organizations located in the Bangor Region. With musical and theatrical performances and a children’s activity area, the event is a full day of fun for the whole family.
Arguably Bangor’s most dynamic and well-attended parade, the Festival of Lights Parade, put on by The Rotary Club of Bangor, Maine, draws thousands of spectators to watch the dazzlingly lit floats, dance teams and marching bands pass through historic downtown on their way to light the Holiday Tree located in the heart of the City. Mark your calendar for December 7th Festival of Lights Parade 2024, themed “The Magic of Rotary”
Take a walking tour of some of Bangor’s most prominent public art from past and present
First Friday Art Walks are monthly community events featuring local artists and venues located Downtown Bangor, Maine’s historic downtown shopping, dining, arts and commerce district. These Art Walks are produced by volunteers in cooperation with the Bangor Art Society and dozens of local businesses. Art walks typically include a mix of visual, musical, and performing arts spread throughout Downtown Bangor.
Venues and artists change every month, so check back for the latest month’s offering!
Bangor’s music scene can be found almost anywhere, and you can hear almost anything from bar bands to Irish sessions, weekly jazz, and indie talent, you’ll find something you’ll love at one of the city’s many smaller, more intimate venues.
Providing Summer Organ Concerts, Educational Tours, and Community Outreach since 1992. St. John’s Organ Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and appreciation of E. & G. G. Hook’s Opus 288 (1860) built for St. John’s Roman Catholic Church in Bangor, Maine.
Relax, enjoy a drink and listen to the sounds of live music and stay tuned for all things “Hollywood Presents”. The Sound Stage Lounge hosts musical acts every Saturday for a night full of fun and singing along! Talent includes musical duos, DJs, musicians and more.
The Bangor Band is one of the oldest continuous community bands in the United States. They have performed at various venues throughout the greater Bangor area every summer since their first season in 1859.
The 195th Army National Guard Band is comprised of musicians from all over the state of Maine and offers a wide array of performing groups, including a full concert band, marching band, brass quintet, sax quartet jazz combo and a rock group.
There are many outdoor trails to be found within Bangor. Check out the self-guided tours and learn all about Bangor! The City maintains a number of trails for recreational use. Use Bangor Area Trails to find great riverfront strolls, solitary walks in the woods, challenging single-track for mountain biking, and winter trails for cross-country skiing.
Mount Hope Cemetery is America’s second oldest garden cemetery, reflective of the 19th century move towards romanticized natural environments. Littered with ornate tombs and sculptures centered around pathways and parks, Mount Hope Cemetery is a great place to visit the graves of Bangor’s most notable figures and even the pet cemetery on which Stephen King based his novel.
The Maine Science Festival in Bangor is the first and only science festival north of Cambridge, MA. With more than 70 events and activities over five days, it’s a celebration and exploration of the national and world-leading science emanating from Maine. Mark your calendar for the 10-year celebration festival to be held March 9-23, 2025.
The Orono Bog Boardwalk is a premier destination in the Bangor/Orono area for persons wishing to experience the beauty and fascinating plants and animals of a Maine bog. The 1-mile boardwalk loop trail begins at the forested wetland edge in the Bangor City Forest, and after 800 feet crosses the Orono town line into the portion of the Orono Bog owned by the University of Maine. Along the way the boardwalk passes through a wide range of changing vegetation and environments on its way to the open, peat moss carpeted center of the Orono Bog.
An interactive map showcasing the vibrant artistic scene in downtown Bangor. This can be used as a self-guided tour of Downtown Bangor’s murals, sculptures, and monuments.
Bangor Beautiful was created in 2022 with a mission of making Bangor a more beautiful place to live through public art, trees and gardens, and other beautification efforts. They were founded by artists and community members who have volunteered for projects around the city over the last decade, from planting hundreds of flowers and trees to creating the popular “Greetings from Bangor, Maine,” “Paul B., Bangor Wants You,” and Kenduskeag Stream Trail murals.
There’s no better way to spend the 4th of July than in a bright, art-filled community where the annual parade passes down historic streets, live music fills the waterfront, and a perfect day closes with fireworks sparkling in the sky, mirrored in the beautiful Penobscot River below.
As the premier arts and culture destination in Central Maine, the Downtown Bangor Partnership seeks to highlight the artists and arts organizations located in the Bangor Region. Visitors are encouraged to stroll the streets of the entire Downtown area to explore its public art, permanent statues and numerous galleries. Downtown also offers a variety of shops and restaurants!
The Maine Honey Fest in Downtown Bangor lands at the Waterfront Park on World Honeybee Day. This event is an agricultural festival with beekeepers, local honey, craft vendors, food trucks, music and unique pollinator and nature exhibits and activities.
There are a variety of vendors offering unique products and delicious food trucks. Check out the event calendar for the night markets and more.
First Fridays in Downtown Bangor is a MUST visit event. This celebration in our historic downtown shopping, dining, arts and commerce district is held on the first Friday of every month and gives visitors a chance to experience the work of local artists hosted by Downtown businesses. This celebration of art and artists, held in our historic downtown shopping, dining, arts and commerce district, is held on the first Friday of every month.
New Renaissance Singers is a well-established, non-audition, multigenerational chorus serving Central and Eastern Maine. We welcome all who share a love of singing, and believe that in uniting our voices in song we can nurture a love of music in our community and beyond.
Providing Summer Organ Concerts, Educational Tours, and Community Outreach since 1992. St. John’s Organ Society is a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and appreciation of E. & G. G. Hook’s Opus 288 (1860) built for St. John’s Roman Catholic Church in Bangor, Maine.
Divisi, a select choir comprised of local vocalists from all facets of the community (local music teachers, private instructors, high school students, college students and beyond), performs works from contemporary choral composers such as Eric Whitacre, Joshua Shank, Eric William Barnum, John Tavener, Arvo Paert and more. The mission of the group is to foster an understanding and appreciation of this style of music and within that capacity, to also benefit our community through our music.
The Challenger Learning Center offers “hands-on, minds-on” learning experiences that are out of this world! We merge the power of imagination with the excitement of discovery, using many of the same techniques employed by NASA.
Founded in 2004, Challenger Maine is a nonprofit organization and part of a worldwide network of 40 Challenger Centers established to honor the crew of the space shuttle Challenger by continuing their educational mission to learn, to explore, and to inspire.
Through state-of-the-art NASA Mission Control simulations and hands-on STEM programs and camps, we engage visitors through teamwork, problem-solving, and confidence through immersive STEM experiences.
More than 680 acres of working forest and wildlife habitat are just minutes from Downtown Bangor in . This Bangor’s Rolland F. Perry City Forest offers over 9 miles of interconnected, relatively gentle, non-motorized trails. It’s an ideal for walking, running, biking, snowshoeing, and cross-country skiing—plus 4 miles of access roads.
Look for abundant wildlife, a grassy overlook, and trail connections to the Orono Bog Boardwalk and nearby preserves. Owned by the City of Bangor and open year-round, it’s a practical, everyday escape into the woods.
The Bangor Police Department Museum contains hundreds of authentic police items dating back to the 1700s. Special displays include mannequins dressed in actual uniforms, a scrapbook of news articles going back to the early 1800s, and a mobile one-person jail cell called a “tramp chair.”
It’s also home to the widely known “Duck of Justice,” which gained national attention for its humorous appearances online. The museum is free to visit and is open by appointment or by requesting access during regular business hours.
The International Cryptozoology Museum is the spot to visit to spy on your favorite “cryptids” like sasquatch, the loc ness monster, and mermaids. See for yourself the evidence that created the myths we love.
Ten Bucks Theatre is home to Bangor’s only acting ensemble and performs classic productions, hosts a 24-hour New Play Festival, and their ever-popular annual Shakespeare production.
Some Theatre Company seeks to inspire, and create a theatrical space where creativity sparks, boundaries are pushed, and community thrives. They utilize bold storytelling and create theatrical experiences that instill empathy and ignite conversation.
Bangor Community Theatre has been providing live theater, musical theater, and theatrical opportunities to the citizens of Bangor and Eastern Maine for over 70 years. Their entirely volunteer organizations bring crowd-pleasing performances several times a year.
Robinson Ballet is a premier performance company and dance school that engages the community through dance, with several productions a year. Check out their professional productions, including the annual Nutcracker performance
Bangor Ballet offers beautifully danced and elegantly costumed productions with an emphasis on classical ballet. The repertoire includes 19th and 20th-century ballet classics, family-friendly story ballets, and new works by contemporary choreographers.
The Cross Insurance Center is a 5,800-seat multi-purpose arena in Bangor, Maine, United States. The expanded arena holds up to 8,500 people for larger concerts and features an attached 2,000-person convention center.
The flagship museum for the University of Maine Systems, the Zillman Museum, is a world-class contemporary art museum featuring a selection of exhibits from living artists that change quarterly and a permanent collection that focuses on art since 1945. The museum is open to the public and offers FREE admission to all.
The Sohn’s Gallery features shows that rotate quarterly and sell pieces from the featured collection.
The Bangor Public Library is thrilled to welcome local and regional artists to its galleries. With exhibits in four galleries that change every two months and “Meet the Artists” events at the start of each exhibit change.
Home to an impressive collection of land transportation ranging from antique cars and fire trucks to snowplows and trains, the Cole Land Transportation Museum even has an antique train station inside. It is also home to an impressive collection of military vehicles.
The Maine Discovery Museum helps people of all ages discover the world around them through creative exploration and science. Come visit their interactive displays.
The Bangor Historical Society is the most recognized authority on Bangor’s history and heritage through the stewardship of artifacts, documents, and sites. Visit their museum or take one of their signature tours to learn more about this unique community.
The Wabanaki Youth and Cultural Center in Downtown Bangor will provide a unique local attraction for families with a range of child ages. Visit the Traditional Foods Café, an outdoor walkway to the Penobscot River, a Mount Katahdin rock climbing wall, a cozy cave corner, complete with faux trees and an indoor forest, a Penobscot River epoxy floor installation, and a Youth art gallery.
Mount Hope Cemetery is America’s second oldest garden cemetery, reflective of the 19th century move towards romanticized natural environments. Littered with ornate tombs and sculptures centered around pathways and parks, Mount Hope Cemetery is a great place to visit the graves of Bangor’s most notable figures and even the pet cemetery on which Stephen King based his novel.
Bangor’s professional theater company, Penobscot Theatre, has been entertaining Bangor for over 50 years. Housed in the historic 1911 Egyptian Art Deco Bangor Opera House, Penobscot Theatre produces plays that bring new and local productions to the stage, as well as popular musicals and comedies.
Bangor is the muse that inspired many of Stephen King’s stories, and Stephan King’s tours can take you on a trip around town to view that famous storm drain, a pet cemetery, and even Stephen King’s home. This is the tour of a lifetime for King Afficianados.
Hannibal Hamlin, Abraham Lincoln’s Vice President of the United States, is one of Bangor’s most notable historical figures. He is commemorated with a bronze statue designed by Charles Tefft in Hamlin Park.
The Lady Victory War Memorial, in Norumbega Parkway, is one of the most photographed vistas in Bangor. The inscription on her base reads: “Dedicated to all who have made the supreme sacrifice for their country.”
Though some other states claim to be Paul Bunyan’s birthplace, Bangor has his birth certificate on display at City Hall to settle the matter permanently. Visit his 31-foot-high cartoonish replica designed by local artist J. Normand Martin which presides over Main Street.
Be sure to stop and capture a “selfie” at the downtown Umbrella Sky installation, which is part of an international art project Inspired by Mary Poppins and located in cities around the world, from Bahrain to Montreal! It is a great link for visitors to meander around the corner and visit the shops and restaurants on Cross Street.
The Bangor Public Library’s Children’s Department is a place for children to get lost amongst the kiddie-sized stacks. With cozy reading nooks, computers with child-friendly games and activities, and interactive toys and displays, it is a place for kids to explore. Be sure to check out their extensive free activities and programming while you are in town.
The Maine Savings Amphitheater is a 15,300-person, state-of-the-art, open-air amphitheater located on Bangor’s Waterfront Park, on the banks of the Penobscot River in the heart of the downtown district. Catch your favorite National touring acts with the river and sky as your backdrop.
The Gracie Theatre at Husson University is conveniently located in the heart of Bangor, Maine. This beautiful 490-seat performing arts center proudly serves as a cultural center for the Greater Bangor community, presenting touring artists from around the globe.
Located in Downtown Bangor at the Historic Nichols Block, The Bangor Arts Exchange is a collaborative project of the Bangor Symphony Orchestra and Launchpad. The building, built in 1892, now serves as a performing and visual arts space and includes The Ballroom, a 185-cap performance venue.
Cross Insurance Center brings a variety of performances to Bangor, including Broadway traveling productions and national musical, comedy, and performance troupes.
Open by appointment only, By Design showcases fine arts in a variety of media for sale or enjoyment.
Among the gems in Bangor’s modern public art realm is “Camel Country,” which was designed by Japanese artist Koichi Ogino and completed as part of the Schoodic Art Symposium, an international project that created a sculpture trail across Maine.
Take a self-guided walking tour with highlights from Bangor’s past and present.
