Maine’s 2023 June Update

June 2023

Summer Theater

Maine has a vibrant summer theater schedule at some venerable venues that have delighted visitors for years. The Ogunquit Playhouse is one of the last of the Straw Hat Circuit, the New England theaters that gave birth to summer stock. The Hackmatack Playhouse in Berwick, Theater at Monmouth, and the Maine State Music Theater in Brunswick offer Broadway-style shows. Check out the Boothbay Opera House and the century-old Lakewood Theater in Madison, the country’s longest-running summer theater. Go to Visit Maine for more details.

Bates Dance Festival 2023

The Bates Dance Festival will present four performances in July at Schaeffer Theater on the Bates College Campus. Thematically, several featured performances tackle race-related issues, including Black love, the racial dynamics associated with postmodern dance itself, and the continuum of Jazz within Black culture. Performances will include A.I.M by Kyle Abraham –– An Untitled Love, Gerald Casel / GERALDCASELDANCE –– Not About Race Dance, LaTasha Barnes Presents The Jazz Continuum, and Vanessa Anspaugh –– mourning after mornings. The Festival will include concerts, works in progress, artist talks, and other events. The Bates Dance Festival runs from July 7–29, 2023, with tickets on sale June 1, with a sliding scale from $5–$25 to make performance accessible to all. Go to Bates Dance Festival.

Windjammer Cruises

The Maine windjammer fleet has an active roster of sailings this summer, breezy multi-night excursions in Penobscot Bay that show off the best of coastal Maine. But less well-known is that many of those sailings are built around a single theme to unite like-minded sailors. For example, some cruises focus on photography, yoga, and the Perseid Meteor Showers, while others feature wine tastings and live music. The Maine Windjammer Association is the best source for this summer’s themed cruises and Maine Windjammer Cruises offer trips on two different schooners.

Whitewater Rafting

The past winter brought a deep snowfall to Maine, which naturally translates to a fantastic spring rafting season. The challenging whitewater of the Penobscot, Kennebec, and Dead Rivers will keep thrill-seekers happy for the next few months. Book now for prime rafting periods with leading outfitters like Northern Outdoors, Northeast Whitewater, North Country Rivers, and Penobscot Adventures to find the perfect river trip. Go to Visit Maine for more info.

Open Farm Day

Some of Maine’s family farms offer an open house for the public every year. This year’s date is on July 23, 2023, and close to 100 farms all across the state will be participating. They include Loud Dog Farm in Orrington, Shepherd’s Ledge in Monticello, and The Winding River Homestead in Jonesport. This is a great opportunity to observe farm life up close, to learn about where your food comes from and how it’s produced, and to buy products.  The event is free and sponsored by Real Maine, a Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry program that connects people with Maine farmers and food producers. Visit Open Farm Day for details.

Wild Blueberry Weekend

Maine Wild Blueberry Weekend is coming August 5-6, 2023. The lowbush wild blueberry is one of only a few fruits native to North America and thrives in the thin glacial soils and harsh northern climate of Maine. This event invites visitors to tour some of the state’s wild blueberry farms, pick and taste wild blueberries at various, and try a wild blueberry dish or drink.  Participating farms include Continuous Harmony Farm in Lincolnville, Five Fields Blueberries in Dresden, and Lynch Hill Farms in Harrington. Nearly two dozen restaurants, wineries, and breweries will be participating statewide. For details, visit Maine Wild Blueberry Weekend.