Maine’s 2025 June Update

June 3, 2025

Thoreau-Wabanaki Trail Festival

The 19th Annual Thoreau-Wabanaki Trail Festival commemorates the ways of the Wabanaki people and poet, naturalist philosopher Henry David Thoreau’s three trips into Maine’s North Woods, two of which were launched with Penobscot guides on Moosehead Lake. Among the scheduled events are a Birch Bark Canoe Gathering & Exhibition, Thoreau Nature Walks, Dark Skies: Aurora Borealis Photography, and lectures including “The Tonic of Wildness: Henry David Thoreau’s Excursions to the Maine Woods” and “Wabanaki, Thoreau & The Power of Place.” All events will be held in the Greenville area. Running from July 23 to 28, 2025, the mission of the Thoreau-Wabanaki Trail Festival is to encourage the understanding, appreciation, and stewardship of Maine’s unique cultural and natural heritage and to provide spiritual renewal in Maine’s North Woods for all Maine residents and visitors.

Bates Dance Festival

The Bates Dance Festival (BDF) returns this summer from July 11 to August 1, 2025, bringing together an exceptional roster of artists, educators, and students for three weeks of contemporary dance education and performances. This year, BDF proudly features the premiere festival appearance of the iconic Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, presenting a mixed repertory, including their seminal works Continuous Replay and D-Man in the Waters, as well as offering masterclasses and participating in community engagement events. Now in its 43rd season, Bates Dance Festival remains one of the premier destinations for dance education and performance in the United States. Set against the backdrop of Bates College in Lewiston, the festival fosters a dynamic space where professional and emerging artists collaborate, train, and present groundbreaking work.

Penobscot Marine Museum Opens Sardineland

The Penobscot Marine Museum in Searsport has opened its latest exhibit, Sardineland.  Showcasing the fascinating stories of Maine’s sardine industry, the exhibit takes visitors on a journey through the history of this major economic driver for Maine, which was a significant contributor to the state’s economy for much of the 20th century. The exhibit highlights the importance of Maine’s sardine industry and its impact on local culture and economy. The museum sourced stories from those who worked in canneries, fished for herring, and continue to live and work in coastal communities. Sardineland shares their experiences through artifacts, photographs, videos, and interactive activities, giving guests a unique opportunity to experience the processes that made Maine a center for the sardine trade for well over a century.

 Maine Potato Blossom Festival

The Maine Potato Blossom Festival, a cornerstone of Aroostook County’s summer traditions, is kicking off its 2025 celebration with a collaboration with Spud Speedway. The Festival celebrates its 78th year, honoring the region’s storied agricultural heritage at Fort Fairfield from July 12 to July 20, 2025. It promises an unforgettable week filled with live music, delicious food, thrilling races, and family-friendly events. New events include the Central Aroostook Chamber BBQ Cookoff & Spud 100 Race, the latter part of the R&R Street Stock Tour, bringing high-speed action to the track. There are new Drive-In Movie Nights with a Tribute to Veterans, Agricultural Tours featuring Molly the Trolley, and the Best Potato Recipe Competition. The Maine Potato Blossom Festival will continue its tradition of featuring live music, food trucks, competitions, a spectacular parade, fireworks, and more.

Maine’s Summer Theaters

Maine has long cultivated and treasured its beloved summer theaters, historic venues that have welcomed locals and visitors for decades. It was on these stages that aspiring Broadway performers, directors, and producers held tryout productions and reinvigorated classic shows. These theaters were the training grounds for young talent and productions that, in some cases, went on to Broadway and Hollywood. Many of the theaters are architecturally significant, and they’ve become a feature of many a Maine summer vacation. Among them is Deertrees Theatre in Harrison, which was founded in 1936. The Ogunquit Playhouse is a coastal favorite, one of the last theaters that was part of the Straw Hat Circuit, the original summer stock theaters. There’s the Hackmatack Playhouse in Berwick, the Theater at Monmouth, the Maine State Music Theater in Brunswick, and the century-old Lakewood Theater in Madison. It’s the country’s longest-running summer theater and has hosted many musicals that went on to Broadway, including “Life With Father,” one of the longest-running plays on the Great White Way. Go to Visit Maine for more details.