Well, we have to say that after a month of post-holiday winter breaks and with just a little more than a month of winter left, it’s seems that Portland is waking up from hibernation and is coming alive.
Taking one weekend at a time, this weekend in Portland you will be able to sip and shop at Stroudwater, snuggle up with Animal Refuge League, wear leather and lace to Geno’s, beach it in the middle of winter with Maine Craft Distilling, and enjoy a brilliant twist on a familiar story with Indigo Arts Alliance and Merrill Auditorium. Check it out!
Here’s the Weekend Guide for Friday, February 10th – Sunday, February 12th, 2023
Friday the 10th
Puppy Snuggles | Canopy Hotel | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Who doesn’t love puppy snuggles!? Join Salt Yard at Canopy Hotel for happy hour and enjoy complimentary snacks with some puppy love courtesy of Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland.
A Pre-Valentines Day Raffle Fundraiser Party | 33 By Hand | 6:00 PM – 9:00 PM
A Pre-Valentines Day raffle fundraiser party for People’s Inclusive Welding! Come on over to 33 By Hand and enjoy gorgeous libations from Cocktail Mary, and play the raffle! They will have so many fun Valentine’s gifts you can win.
Tickets are 1 for $5, 3 for $10, and 5 for $20. Purchase via Venmo t0 @peoples_inclusive_welding
Indicate number of tickets, which item draw you’d like to spread them around to – and CONTACT INFO!
Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour (Night 1) | State Theatre | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
The Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival is the largest and most prestigious mountain festival in the world. With stops planned in about 550 communities and more than 40 countries across the globe, this year’s tour of mountain-themed films features a collection of the most inspiring action, environmental, and adventure films from the festival. An exhilarating and provocative exploration of the mountain world. Tickets here.
Plague Dad | Hi-Fidelty Brewing | 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Come hang out at Hi-Fidelity Brewery and listen to a full set from some of their favorite open mic regulars, Plague Dad! Should be a fun evening full of grunge-folky goodness. As always, no cover!
Leather and Lace Valentine Burlesque Masquerade | Geno’s Rock Club | 9:00 PM
A Sultry Valentine’s Masquerade Featuring Burlesque, Drag, and more at Geno’s Rock Club! Come Dressed to kill, draped in your hardest leather or softest lace and enjoy a night of dancing and naughty performance art from Vivian Vice, Bunny Belvedere, La Petite Mystique, Sarah Tonin, Creme Dela Phlegm and more! Bring plenty of cash for your performers and bartenders or you won’t get punished! Costumes optional, partying a must! $21+. $14 doory entry. Cash only venue, ATMs on premises.
Saturday the 11th
Moses, the Staged Play | A Black History Month Event | Merrill Auditorium | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM
John Graves Production brings to Portland a new and brilliant twist to a familiar story during Black History Month. Infused with high energy dancing, spirit infused and inspired singing, genius lighting choices and costume design that are so good it will cause you to have a fresh viewpoint on the story of Moses. Sponsored by Indigo Arts Alliance. Tickets here.
Beach Party | Maine Craft Distilling | 12:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Because nothing beats drinkin’ booze out of a pineapple in the middle of February. Stop by Maine Craft Distilling all day for Tiki food menu, tasty bev buckets, limbo competition, live music, boozy slushys! Music at 7 PM.
Love Weekend | Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (All Weekend)
It may be chilly outside, but hearts are warm at Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine for Love Weekend! CMTM will host a variety of special programs and activities celebrating all things LOVE! Create Love Day cards in the MakerSpace, contribute to a collaborative LOVE mural, and deliver cards to CMTM’s aquarium animals. Activities are free with admission. Plan your visit here.
Fall in Love: Portland Culinary Experience | Maine Day Ventures | 10:30 AM + 3:00 PM (Multiple Dates)
Join Maine Day Ventures on a culinary walk around the Old Port and feel the love from their restaurant partners and guides! On this tour, you will enjoy all sorts of original creations with valentine theme throughout, even a special poem read to you by your guide. Tastings may include hot out of the oven cranberry scones with hot chocolates, local oysters with a shucking lesson paired with champagne, clam chowders with sparkling pink mocktails, plus lobster rolls with choice of beverages and a big, strawberry freshly dipped in chocolate. You’ll finish with a chocolate tasting and a special, valentine’s 4-pack gift set of dark chocolate truffles to enjoy much later when you’re actually hungry again. Book here.
Valentine’s Day Sip & Shop | Stroudwater Distillery | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Looking for the perfect gift for that special someone? Or just treating yourself? Join Stroudwater Distillery at their Valentine’s Day Sip & Shop! Shop local, Maine made vendors and find the perfect gift for significant others, loved ones, friends and everyone in between. They’ll have the bar and kitchen open during the event, so grab a cocktail and browse all the awesome vendors.
Winter Wonderland | Deering Oaks Park | 2:30 PM – 5:30 PM
Join Portland Parks & Rec and the Portland Parks Conservancy for a fun-filled, family friendly afternoon in Deering Oaks Park. Activities from 2:30 OPM – 4:30 PM include, sledding, scavenger hunt, snow fort building with Park Ranger Liz, DIY snow art, snow character building and more. Family skate (weather permitting) from 4:30 PM – 5:30 PM with free skate rentals available and special appearances from the LL Bean Boot Mobile and other surprise winter friends. Food trucks will be available by the pond and Queenie’s Castle will be serving up treats and warm beverages!
Truth About Daisies | Fore River Brewing Co. | 3:30 PM – 6:00 PM
Truth About Daisies will be performing LIVE at Fore River Brewing Co. Truth About Daisies is a 4-piece band featuring original music with layered harmonies and multi-instrumental arrangements. Their sound is a unique blend of urban folk, blues, ballads, and even reggae, infused with solid rhythms and soulful energy.
Sunday the 12th
Songs of the Living – a Community Sing | Indigo Arts Alliance | 11:00 AM
Join Indigo Arts Alliance for a community sing with songs from Octavia E. Butler’s Parable Of The Sower Opera led by Toshi Reagon, a versatile and award-winning musician and songwriter described as having a profound ear for sonic Americana. Reagon has been the recipient of a New York Foundation for the Arts award for music composition, OutMusic’s Heritage Award, the Black Lily Music and Film Festival Award for Outstanding Performance, the Association of Performing Arts Professionals (APAP) Award Merit for Achievement in the Performing Arts, and the 2021 Herb Alpert Award in Music, and so much more. During this event, explore with Indigo Arts Alliance the beautiful restorative power that resides in collective voices.
Valentine’s Maker’s Market | Thompson’s Point | 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Only the best for the lovely Portland! Swing on by Thompson’s Point for a special Valentine’s Day market. Find something special for your loved one as you sip on mimosas and shop from dozens of local Maine made makers, artisans, farmers, craftspeople and more.
Bridget Kibbey | From Persia to Iberia | Hannaford Hall | 3:00 PM
From the Islamic Golden Era through the African maghreb, leading up to 16th century Andalusian Spain and touching upon Sephardic culture, harpist Bridget Kibbey uses her instrument as a musical passport to explore migration stories across four genres of music, three continents and four centuries. Called the “Yo-Yo Ma of the harp,” by Vogue magazine, Kibbey’s innovative and virtuosic performances expand the expressive range of the harp, emphasizing and elevating it’s role across centuries and cultures of music. Tickets here.
Big Game Watch Party | Three Dollar Deweys | 6:30 PM
Come watch the big game at Three Dollar Deweys! They will be giving away swag packs, Deweys Mug Club memberships and even BOSTON BRUINS TICKETS throughout the entire game. Special food for each team including a Kansas City BBQ Pull Pork Sub and a Philadelphia Cheese Steak Sub. Regardless of the team you’re routing for, YOU win when you watch the big game with Three Dollar Deweys.
For more events head to our Events Calendar here.