Things to Do in Mid-coast Maine
Kate Buehner in River Room
River Arts is delighted to showcase the artwork of Kate Buehner in a solo show, “Activation of Shapes, Color and Design.” Buehner’s vibrant and fresh approach to painting is sure to delight. Meet the artist at an opening reception on Saturday, August 30, from 1-4.
“Painting both excites and frustrates me. I get lost in the process, often baffled by what I have created and puzzled as to how to move forward. Design, composition, color and lively mark-making energize me. I paint intuitively; ideas develop as I experiment on the canvas by layering color, drawing, scribbling and creating shapes.”
Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm. FMI: 563-6868, www.riverartsme.org or email riverartsme.org
location: River Arts, 36 Elm St., Damariscotta, ME.
image: painting by Kate Buehner
Call to Artists for "Artist's Choice at River Arts
River Arts in Damariscotta invites artists to submit work for an upcoming juried show, “Artist’s Choice.” Submissions are now open through Saturday, September 27 at 4pm.
River Arts is pleased to announce the juror will be well known artist, America Martin. Martin’s art is bold in scale and vibrant in spirit. Martin cites her Colombian heritage as a vital source of inspiration.
“Artist’s Choice” invites artists to enter their most recent work or work they feel best represents their personal style. This show is open to members and nonmembers alike."Artist's Choice" is open to all media. All work must be gallery ready and clean. For more submission details and entry form, please visit www.riverartsme.org.
An opening reception for “Artist’s Choice” will take place on Saturday, October 4, 2pm to 4pm. The exhibit runs from Sept. 30 through Nov. 15. FMI: www.riverartsme.org or call 207-563-6868.
location: River Arts, 36 Elm St., Damariscotta, ME. Regular hours are Tuesday through Saturday 10 am to 4 pm.
image: painting by America Martin
"Made in Maine" at Maine Art Gallery
The annual members’ show, open for public viewing, encompasses painting, assemblage, sculpture, textiles and drawings. The work on display is luminous, quirky, and very varied. The non-juried show culminates a successful season at Maine Art Gallery.
Gallery hours are Thursday through Sunday, 11am to 4pm. FMI: www.maineartgallerywiscasset.org
location: Maine Art Gallery, 15 Warren St., Wiscasset, ME 04578
image: The Boat Show by Elizabeth Reed
New England Barn Dance
Beginners and advance dancers are welcome to this classic New England Barn Dance! Chrissy Fowler, caller; John Pranio on fiddle; Glen Loper on mandolin & banjo; and Toki Oshima on guitar. Each dance will be taught before the band begins.
Bring finger foods and non alcoholic beverages for the buffet table. Admission is a sliding scale of $15 to $25 for adults, kids up to 16 are free.
FMI: Karin Strong, cushingaint@gmail.com
location: Arts in the Barn, 17 Hathorne Point Rd., Cushing, ME 04563
image: Arts in the Barn, Cushing, ME
Wiscasset Farmers' Market
Enjoy FRESH! Fresh produce, coffee, baked goods, meat, honey, jam, and more!
Find the weekly Wiscasset Farmers’ Market in the Town Office parking lot, 51 Bath Rd., Wiscasset. Plenty of free parking. Meet your friends, make new friends, and meet the farmers!
image: Colonni’s Homemade Sauce
Read Together Tutor Training (ages 6-14)
Midcoast Literacy, a nonprofit that provides free literacy tutoring to people of all ages, is holding a 3-day training for new volunteer tutors this fall. The Read Together training is for those who want to work with school-age children. Volunteer tutors must be at least 18 yrs. old and make an initial commitment to tutor twice a week for 12 months (with occasional breaks for vacations or holidays).
Training days and time: September 22, 24, and 26; 9:00am-1:00pm each day. Pre-registration and participation in all three days of training are required.
location: Midcoast Literacy Offices, 9 Park St., Bath, ME.
FMI or to sign up: https://www.midcoastliteracy.org/index.php/volunteer/mcl-tutor-training ; contact Katie Clark at (207) 443-6384 or k.clark@midcoastliteracy.org.
Wiscasset Farmers' Market
Enjoy FRESH! Fresh produce, coffee, baked goods, meat, honey, jam, and more!
Find the weekly Wiscasset Farmers’ Market in the Town Office parking lot, 51 Bath Rd., Wiscasset. Plenty of free parking. Meet your friends, make new friends, and meet the farmers!
Wiscasset Farmers' Market
Enjoy FRESH! Fresh produce, coffee, baked goods, meat, honey, jam, and more!
Find the weekly Wiscasset Farmers’ Market in the Town Office parking lot, 51 Bath Rd., Wiscasset. Plenty of free parking. Meet your friends, make new friends, and meet the farmers!
Readers Theater
Midcoast Literacy’s family-friendly Readers Theater event starts at 1pm with fun activities for the whole family inspired by the books that will be performed. Performances start at 2pm and families will be able to meet the actors after the show.
The books that will be performed include The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen, Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney, Grumpy Monkey Up All Night by Suzanne Lang & Max Lang, and The Leaf Thief by Alice Hemming & Nicola Slater.
Tickets are $10 per person or $35 for a family of 4-8 people and can be purchased at midcoastliteracy.org or by calling (207) 443-6384. All proceeds support Midcoast Literacy’s Read Together tutoring program for children ages 6-14.
FMI: https://midcoastliteracy.org/index.php/about-us/readers-theater; 207-443-6384
location: Morse High School, 826 Shipbuilder Drive, Bath, ME.
Capturing the Light: Layering Color class (reg. by 10-2-25)
A mixed water-media workshop where we’ll practice using various methods to bring more light into our work. Do you find that your color falls flat, or that you are sometimes mixing more muddy color? Join instructor Jude Valentine to explore painting the fall light and foliage to build some confidence in color mixing and creating a more vibrant palette.
Skill level: beginner to intermediate. Adults only. Dress appropriately as students will venture outside as weather permits. Capacity: 10 students. MAG members: $85; non-members, $95.
FMI and to register: www.maineartgallerywiscasset.org/2025-classes; 207-687-8143; info@maineartgallerywiscasset.org
location: Maine Art Gallery, 5 Warren St., Wiscasset, ME, 04578
Wiscasset Farmers' Market
Enjoy FRESH! Fresh produce, coffee, baked goods, meat, honey, jam, and more!
Find the weekly Wiscasset Farmers’ Market in the Town Office parking lot, 51 Bath Rd., Wiscasset. Plenty of free parking. Meet your friends, make new friends, and meet the farmers!
Wiscasset Homes on Tour
Visit a collection of iconic homes in historic Wiscasset Village and environs and discover for yourself why Wiscasset has been called “the prettiest Village in Maine.” Homeowners open their doors to the public for a glimpse at times past and how we live now in these historic places.
This year’s showcased homes include Daybreak, built in 1930, with a panoramic view of the Sheepscot River. Guests to this stately home have included FDR and Charles Schultz. Other significant, historic homes include the Swett-Neal-Johnson House (1805) and the Lee Payson Smith House (1792); both are elegant and domiciles for early Wiscasset entrepreneurs.
Tickets for the tour, priced at $30, will be available online shortly and on the day of the tour.
More details to come.
Wiscasset Farmers' Market
Enjoy FRESH! Fresh produce, coffee, baked goods, meat, honey, jam, and more!
Find the weekly Wiscasset Farmers’ Market in the Town Office parking lot, 51 Bath Rd., Wiscasset. Plenty of free parking. Meet your friends, make new friends, and meet the farmers!
image: Underground Beets
Home Decor with Paper
Join us for a series of three classes, Sept. 9, 16, and 23 (all Tuesdays) that focus on how to brighten our homes with hand decorated paper. On the first evening we will learn to make our paste papers for the following classes. The second night, 9-16, we will create our pendant lights and learn how to hang them or set them on a desk top light fixture. Finally, on 9-23, we will assemble our cone flower wreaths, which can be hung on any wall.
Instructor Joelle Webber has spent 40 years collecting book arts techniques in college and workshop settings. At Mermaid Bindery, she binds books and boxes for others as well as writing, paper decorating, collage, calligraphy, pop-up and paper sculpting to illustrate her own artist books and craft work. Building on these creative techniques, she designs workshops for many different communities of makers.
FMI: (207) 729-7323 or https://merrymeeting.coursestorm.com/course/home-decor-w-paper
location: Merrymeeting Adult Education, 35 Republic Ave, Topsham, ME 04086
Working Angles: Landscape Perspective class (register by 8-3-25)
Do you avoid buildings in your landscapes because you are unsure of drawing perspective, or once drawn, do your buildings have something that feels “off" about them? This can often be remedied with a better understanding of perceiving angles and proportion in drawing with linear perspective. Join instructor, Jude Valentine, for a refresher or practice session in getting it right and creating convincing buildings in your work.
Skill level: Beginner to intermediate. Adults only. Dress appropriately as we’ll venture outside as weather permits. Capacity: 10 students. Members: $85; non-members, $95.
FMI: www.maineartgallerywiscasset.org/2025-classes; 207-687-8143; info@maineaertgallerywiscasset.org .
location: Maine Art Gallery, 5 Warren St., Wiscasset, ME 04578
Wiscasset Farmers' Market
Enjoy FRESH! Fresh produce, coffee, baked goods, meat, honey, jam, and more!
Find the weekly Wiscasset Farmers’ Market in the Town Office parking lot, 51 Bath Rd., Wiscasset. Plenty of free parking. Meet your friends, make new friends, and meet the farmers!
image: Carlisle Oysters
Creations in Cushing
This is the last community show in Arts in the Barn, Cushing, ME, and ANYTHING GOES! Featuring arts and crafts of all kinds by local Cushing and midcoast artists!
FMI: Karin Strong, cushingaitb@gmail.com
location: Arts in the Barn, 17 Hathorne Point Rd., Cushing, ME 04563
image: Anything Goes, 2024
Artists Reception, Arts in the Barn
Meet the artists of Creations in Cushing, the last Arts in the Barn exhibit of 2025. View the art, enjoy refreshments, and get an early view of the fanciful artwork.
FMI: Karin Strong, cushingaitb@gmail.com
location: Arts in the Barn, 17 Hathorne Point Rd., Cushing, ME, 04563.
image: Arts in the Barn’s Creations in Cushing 2024.
Wiscasset Farmers' Market
Enjoy FRESH! Fresh produce, coffee, baked goods, meat, honey, jam, and more!
Find the weekly Wiscasset Farmers’ Market in the Town Office parking lot, 51 Bath Rd., Wiscasset. Plenty of free parking. Meet your friends, make new friends, and meet the farmers!
image: summer vegetables
BOOKENDS: Bringing Writers and Readers Together
Join us as we welcome writer/screenwriter Ron Currie, author of The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne. Set in Waterville, Maine, this novel will hook you from the first page.
“. . . A crime saga like no other, with a ferocious woman at its bruised, beating heart.” Currie’s novel explores the pull of ancestral roots, love, and retribution. Now in development with Netflix.
Visit or call Fiction Bookshop to reserve your seat. $10. admission. Light refreshments and book-loving community provided. 207-687-8120. www.fictionbookshop.com .
location: FICTION: a Novel Bookshop, 49 Water St., Wiscasset, ME
image: Ron Currie
Wiscasset Art Walk
Featuring Maine Youth Circus! Enjoy the youthful exuberance of young performers as they prance, dance, and juggle on the sidewalks of Wiscasset Village! Under the tent: learn to juggle and other circus arts! Featured musical trio, Long Branch, plays on the sidewalk - next to the garden club’s flower cart with fresh bouquets.
Visit artist-owned galleries and the Village’s fine collection of boutique shops and antique stores, open for the evening. Look for music and nibbles in the galleries, and musicians, artists, and community groups on the sidewalks. Sample Village restaurants during and after this visitor-friendly evening. Park once in one of the many Village parking lots and stroll the night away!
BOOKENDS: Bringing Writers and Readers Together
Join us for a reading and lively conversation with Carrie Etter, an American-born poet, critic, and academic. Etter, author of Grief’s Alphabet, the Weather in Normal, and Scar among other titles, is also the editor of two anthologies, a visiting lecturer at several UK universities, and the founder of Fox and Star Books, which focuses on underrepresented poets.
Visit or call Fiction Bookshop to sign up and reserve your spot. $10. admission. Light refreshments and book-loving community provided. 207-687-8120. www.fictionbookshop.com .
location: FICTION: a Novel Bookshop, 49 Water St., Wiscasset, ME
image: Carrie Etter
Wiscasset Farmers' Market
Enjoy FRESH! Fresh produce, coffee, baked goods, meat, honey, jam, and more!
Find the weekly Wiscasset Farmers’ Market in the Town Office parking lot, 51 Bath Rd., Wiscasset. Plenty of free parking. Meet your friends, make new friends, and meet the farmers!
image: Underground Beets
Wiscasset Farmers' Market
Enjoy FRESH! Fresh produce, coffee, baked goods, meat, honey, jam, and more!
Find the weekly Wiscasset Farmers’ Market in the Town Office parking lot, 51 Bath Rd., Wiscasset. Plenty of free parking. Meet your friends, make new friends, and meet the farmers!
image: Freshly Baked Goods
Alive on the Common: Pan Fried Steele
Listen to the Caribbean sounds of Pan Fried Steele on Wiscasset Common (Rte. 1)! Bring your lawn chair and picnic dinner for an evening of music under the sky! Free concert.
Sponsored by Sky & Michelle Wentworth and Sprague’s Lobster.
SoWA Open Studios
SoWA Open Studios is a self-guided driving tour showcasing the wonderful art and scenic views in this beautiful part of midcoast Maine. Meander around South Waldoboro and Friendship and visit artists’ studios featuring paintings, photography, sculpture, and textiles. Meet the SoWA artists during this very special, once-a-year weekend. The rural backroads and stunning waterfront views are a bonus feature!
The tour is on Saturday, Aug. 9 and Sunday, Aug. 10, from noon to 4pm each day. To find a printable map of the Friendship peninsula with artist sites, go HERE.
image: Hatchet Cove Storm by Jeremy Barnard
Wiscasset Farmers' Market
Enjoy FRESH! Fresh produce, coffee, baked goods, meat, honey, jam, and more!
Find the weekly Wiscasset Farmers’ Market in the Town Office parking lot, 51 Bath Rd., Wiscasset. Plenty of free parking. Meet your friends, make new friends, and meet the farmers!
image: Claudia and her jewelry
Alive on the Common: Deadly Desire
Deadly Desire plays 80’s pop/rock on Wiscasset Common (Rte. 1)! Bring your lawn chair and picnic dinner for an evening of music under the sky! Free concert.
Sponsored by Wiscasset Creative Alliance.
Reflections and Refractions at River Arts
Damariscotta’s River Arts is pleased to present Debra Claffey’s dynamic solo show, “Reflections and Refractions,” in the River Room. Meet the artist at a reception on Saturday, August 23rd, from 2-4 pm.
Claffey’s oil, encaustic, and mixed media paintings concentrate on abstracted plant and foliage forms as expressions of the human dilemma. Her experience in horticulture adds a scientific perspective to her aesthetic appreciation of the natural world. “My experience in horticulture offers the plant kingdom as Muse, and it still nurtures me and keeps me moving.”
Claffey says of her work, “I use pattern and repetition to express appreciation and record memories of movement. My paintings—in oil, encaustic, and mixed media—visualize my anxieties, fears, and preoccupations with ecology, environment, and our care for each other.”
location: River Arts, 36 Elm St. Plaza, Damariscotta, Maine. Gallery hours: Tues. to Sat., 10am to 4pm.
FMI: 563-6868 or www.riverartsme.org
image: Nexus; oil, encaustic, and graphite on paper on panel by Debra Claffey
Art in the Barn: Elizabeth Elvart Reed and Beth Downey
Elizabeth Elvart Reed and Beth Downey are both contemporary painters of great skill. The opening reception for their exhibition is on Friday, August 1, 5-7pm, refreshments served. The exhibit continues through the weekend, 10-4pm both days.
Cushing is a small town in Maine that has a giant art legacy. Andrew Wyeth and his family have spent many summers here, and just down the street from the Barn is the Olson House where Andrew painted "Christina's World" in 1948. Today, there are many artists of all media residing and creating in Cushing, being inspired by its natural beauty and deep sense of place.
FMI: visit the web site here or email: cushingaitb@gmail.com.
location: Cushing Historical Society Barn, 17 Hathorne Point Rd., Cushing, Maine 04563.
image: Art in the Barn, September 2024
Wiscasset Farmers' Market
Enjoy FRESH! Fresh produce, coffee, baked goods, meat, honey, jam, and more!
Find the weekly Wiscasset Farmers’ Market in the Town Office parking lot, 51 Bath Rd., Wiscasset. Plenty of free parking. Meet your friends, make new friends, and meet the farmers!
image: Underground Beets
Wiscasset Art Walk
It promises to be a musical Celtic evening with Alex Bigney playing Celtic harp on the sidewalk, Main Street Music Makers playing Celtic and Baroque music on various instruments in Aekeir Tap Room, followed by a song singing circle of traditional Celtic songs, chanteys, and folk tunes. Join in or listen! (find Aekeir at 111 Main Street.)
Wiscasset Art Walk is a summertime celebration of art, music, performance, and history, located in the beautiful 19th century Village of Wiscasset, along the sparkling Sheepscot River. During the evening, enjoy a tour of the Village aboard Woodfield Farm’s horse-drawn wagon!
Visit artist-owned galleries and the Village’s fine collection of boutique shops and antique stores. Look for more music in the galleries, and artists, vendors, and community groups on the sidewalks. Sample Village restaurants or eat casually from a food truck during this visitor-friendly evening.
All events are free, including the wagon rides, and family-friendly with plentiful free parking throughout the Village.
image: Alex Bigney with his Celtic harp.
Paint it! Maine
The Maine Art Gallery hosts its annual plein air painting exhibit which includes work painted during July by a diversity of artists living in Maine. The paintings, on exhibit on the gallery’s 2nd floor, represent 25 artists from 25 Maine towns.
During the exhibit opening on July 31, juror recognition awards were given to Michael Vermette, Nora West, Mark Coates, Jillian Herrigel, and John Sawyer. David Dewey was the juror.
This year’s “Paint It! Maine” exhibit is dedicated to Anthony Watkins, who passed away in March. He was an accomplished plein air painter who regularly participated in the gallery's events.
On the gallery’s first floor is “Fiore at 100: Maine Observed,” a retrospective exhibition of works by Joseph Fiore (1925 - 2008) for whom the natural beauty of the Maine landscape was a primary inspiration. This will also be up until August 24.
Regular gallery hours are Wednesday to Sunday, 11am - 4pm.
location: Maine Art Gallery, 14 Warren St., Wiscasset, Maine 04578
image: Near Chimney Farm, oil on linen, by Carolyn Gabbe. Photo by Jonathan Lavan.
‘Wildlife in Maine’ at Arts in the Barn, Cushing
Wildlife can have many meanings, and whatever it means to these Maine artists will be on display this weekend! Opening Reception is Friday, July 25, 5-7pm, with refreshments. The exhibit continues through the weekend, 10-4pm both days.
Cushing is a small town in Maine that has a giant art legacy. Andrew Wyeth and his family have spent many summers here, and just down the street from the Barn is the Olson House where Andrew painted "Christina's World" in 1948. Today, there are many artists of all media residing and creating in Cushing, being inspired by its natural beauty and deep sense of place.
FMI: visit the web site here or email: cushingaitb@gmail.com.
location: Cushing Historical Society Barn, 17 Hathorne Point Rd., Cushing, Maine 04563.
image: Art in the Barn, September 2024
Summerfest on the Common
Summerfest is a long tradition in Wiscasset, ME. This year, the event adds crafters and other vendors, making for an even more enticing day for visitors.
The funds raised from the event are used to support a variety of needs in the community. According to Summerfest organizers, “It’s very important to continue our fundraising efforts especially now; some of our local outreach partners are losing some of their funding this year.”
Summerfest is a First Congregational Church of Wiscasset, UCC, event located on Wiscasset’s historic Common (250 High St.); free and open to the public. FMI: 207-882-7544.
Wiscasset Farmers' Market
Enjoy FRESH! Fresh produce, coffee, baked goods, meat, honey, jam, and more!
Find the weekly Wiscasset Farmers’ Market in the Town Office parking lot, 51 Bath Rd., Wiscasset. Plenty of free parking. Meet your friends, make new friends, and meet the farmers!
image: SeaLyon Farm
Alive on the Common: Dooryarders
Dooryarders plays classic top 40’s on Wiscasset Common (Rte. 1)! Bring your lawn chair and picnic dinner for an evening of music under the sky! Free concert.
Sponsored by First National Band and Davison Construction.
New England Barn Dance!
With a live caller and band, all ages and all levels of experience are welcome! All dances will be taught before the music starts. It’s aerobic, great for your whole family, and it builds community.
Featuring Chrissy Fowler calling, John Pranio on fiddle, Glen Loper on mandolin & banjo, and Toki Oshima on guitar.
Admission is a sliding scale of $15 to $25 for adults, kids up to 16 years old free. Bring finger foods and non alcoholic beverages for the “groaning board” and join in the fun! FMI: send a message to cushingaitb@gmail.com. And find out about more Cushing Arts in the Barn programs here.
location: Cushing Historical Society/Arts in the Barn, 17 Hathorne Point Rd., Cushing, ME 04563
Wiscasset Farmers' Market
Enjoy FRESH! Fresh produce, coffee, baked goods, meat, honey, jam, and more!
Find the weekly Wiscasset Farmers’ Market in the Town Office parking lot, 51 Bath Rd., Wiscasset. Plenty of free parking. Meet your friends, make new friends, and meet the farmers!
image: Kelley Bros. Farm
Alive on the Common: Papa Tim & the Whiskey Throttle Band
Papa Tim & the Whiskey Throttle Band plays soulful rocky blues on Wiscasset Common (Rte. 1)! Bring your lawn chair and picnic dinner for an evening of music under the sky! Free concert.
Sponsored by Ames True Value.
Salad Days at Watershed
Please join Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts’ 30th annual Salad Days event, featuring more than 500 handmade plates by Emily Armstrong. Salad Days is a beloved community tradition that provides an opportunity to visit Watershed’s rural Maine campus and learn about the programs that support the growth of artists working in clay.
The Salad Days festival includes choosing one of Emily’s handmade plates to use for selections from a buffet of fresh salads for lunch (advance ticket required). Shop the Invitational Pottery Sale and Stein Sale, enter the Reverse Raffle, watch artist demonstrations, tour campus, lounge in the grass, & more! FMI and to purchase advance ticket for salad buffet with handmade plate, visit the web site here.
location: Watershed Center for the Ceramic Arts, 103 Cochran Rd., Edgecomb, ME 04556
image: handmade ceramic plate by Emily Armstrong
Mediterranean Blue at Arts in the Barn, Cushing
Arts in the Barn features Mediterranean Blue, the artwork of Annabel Keatley. Opening Reception is Friday, July 11, 5-7pm, with the exhibit continuing through the weekend, 10-4pm both days.
Annabel is a contemporary artist who is in love with color. She can describe a memory of a place or particular day by weaving a rich tapestry of colors together in oil paint, beeswax, and mixed media. Annabels’ work joins figurative with abstraction and a love for experimentation, freedom, and attention to the small details.
Cushing is a small town in Maine that has a giant art legacy. Andrew Wyeth and his family have spent many summers here, and just down the street from the Barn is the Olson House where Andrew painted "Christina's World" in 1948. Today, there are many artists of all media residing and creating in Cushing, being inspired by its natural beauty and deep sense of place.
FMI: visit the web site here or email: cushingaitb@gmail.com.
location: Cushing Historical Society Barn, 17 Hathorne Point Rd., Cushing, Maine 04563.