Making our way toward the end of July, it looks like the run of good weather is here to stay this weekend (at least 2 out of the 3 days!) Time to make the most of it with this weekend’s round-up of events.
This weekend, we question to be or not to be in Deering Oaks Park, the businesses of East Bayside throw a can’t miss neighborhood block party, and Congress Square Park sizzles things up!
Here’s The Weekend Guide for Friday, July 28th – Sunday, July 30th 2023
Friday the 28th
Sounds ‘N Sizzle | Congress Square Park | 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM (Repeats Saturday)
RESCHEDULED FROM LAST WEEKEND. A sizzling good time at Sounds n Sizzle, a two-day BIPOC food and music festival happening at Congress Square Park! Prepare your taste buds for a culinary adventure as you indulge in an array of delectable cuisines from different cultures. Not just about the food, get ready to groove to the rhythms and melodies of local musicians, singers, and DJ/producers including mosart212, Kenya Hall, Oodelally, Gabe FM, Dynamo P and more. From live performances to infectious DJ sets, the sounds at Sounds n Sizzle will keep you dancing and singing along. This is a celebration of diversity and inclusion.
Maine YogaFest 2023 | East End Community School | All Weekend
Set overlooking Casco Bay, Maine YogaFest is a three-day celebration led by amazing Maine and New England yoga talent. The festival offers a diverse program of workshops across a variety of yoga styles and techniques. Vendors and sponsors offer an array of products and services in their healing village and vendor village, add a few local food trucks and some live music and it becomes a weekend you don’t want to miss! Plus you support the local community! New to yoga? Have you been practicing forever? There are workshops for everyone! Tickets.
Maine House Of Comedy: Tawanda Gona Trash But Good | Free Street | 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Maine House of Comedy “a funny place to call home” is proud to present New York City based comedian Tawanda Gona’s return to Maine and his Maine House of Comedy debut of his new comedy special titled Trash But Good. Tawanda Gona is a Boston bred New York based actor, comedian, and cartoonist best known as a correspondent on the show Desus and Mero on Showtime. He has been featured in the Boston Globe and has performed at a bunch of comedy festivals, including Rogue Island, Laughing Skull, and Bridgetown. He weaves observations with self deprecating jokes and storytelling into a pleasurable experience for the audience. Alongside him will be Katie Arroyo and Casey Watson. Hosted by Mo Awale. Tickets.
Outdoor Summer Music Series | ALTO Terrace Bar + Kitchen | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Kick-off every weekend on ALTO’s (Cambria Hotel) beautiful and secluded terrace with live music on Fridays! Acoustic live music by the talented Chad Burtch starts at 6 PM. As you soak up the vibrant atmosphere, treat yourself to ALTO’s featured drink and food specials! The fun continues every Friday until September 1st. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity to create memories and unwind with great music. If it rains, the show will move indoors! Reservations available here!
Pop-up with Portraits As You Pass & Pink Waffle Food Truck | Taproot Market | 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Join Taproot Market for a fun and artistic Friday afternoon! The event will feature two exciting attractions: Portraits As You Pass and the Pink Waffle Food Truck. Portraits As You Pass offers a unique and interactive experience with live portraits drawn on the fly, inspired by the spirit of blind contour. Talented artist Josie Colt will be creating these one-of-a-kind portraits, capturing the essence of her subjects in a spontaneous and creative manner. As you wait for your turn to have your portrait done, indulge in delicious treats from the Pink Waffle Food Truck. The Pink Waffle is known for its delectable offerings, so it’s the perfect opportunity to satisfy your cravings with some mouthwatering delights. Don’t miss out on this wonderful Friday afternoon event filled with art, delicious food, and the warmth of the Taproot Market community. Donations are encouraged for the portraits.
Complete Works of William Shakespeare | Deering Oaks Park | 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Join Fenix Theatre Co. for The Complete Works of William Shakespeare! Celebrate the 400th anniversary of the First Folio with this fast-paced, funny, and family-friendly rollercoaster ride through all of Shakespeare’s plays. Bring your friends and family, a chair or blanket, and head to the bandshell for this free summer tradition. Don’t miss this hilarious Shakespearean experience! While performances are free, a suggested donation of $20/person or $40/family is appreciated.
Saturday the 29th
East Bayside Block Party | East Bayside | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
It’s a party in East Bayside and you’re invited! Rain or shine, stop by East Bayside for a day of art, bites, brews, music, crafts, games and family fun! Spend the day discovering and enjoying the businesses and community in the Anderson Street to Fox to Marginal Way neighborhood. A summer event for everyone. Participating businesses include Belleflower Brewing, Indigo Arts Alliance, Lone Pine Brewing, Running with Scissors, and more!
Festival of Nations | Deering Oaks Park | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Experience the vibrant Festival of Nations, where thousands gather to celebrate Maine’s ethnic diversity and traditions! Sample delicious ethnic food, dance to lively music, and engage in family-oriented cultural activities. Co-hosted by the City of Portland, the Mugadi Foundation, Women In Need Industries, and Poland Spring, this festival showcases countries from around the world, including Ireland, Cambodia, India, Sudan, Germany, Democratic Republic of the Congo, the United Kingdom, Thailand, Cameroon, Peru, Sweden, Benin, Ethiopia, Nigeria, and the United States. An exciting event that brings together communities to revel in their rich cultural heritage!
Steamy Summer Print Jam | Running With Scissors Art Studios | 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Running with Scissors hosts their Annual Steamy Summer Print Jam and Block Party! Watch Running With Scissors (RWS) print oversized blocks measuring 4×4′ – 4×8′ carved by local printmakers and print groups using a three-ton asphalt roller. They will be joined by mosart212, Meet on the Street and Brother Shuckers food trucks, and will feature a special collaborative beer release from Belleflower and Goodfire, as well as a paint your own pottery activity led by RWS member Emily Armstrong of Armstrong Pottery. They will have mugs made by RWS clay members for sale and art for sale made by participating printmakers. This family-friendly event is free and open to the public. Support the local community and stroll the neighboring East Bayside businesses hosting their own art-focused activities that day!
Botanical Mocktail & Terrarium Workshop | Terrarium | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Join Terrarium for a delightful workshop in collaboration with Paula of Botanically Curious! Kick off the event with a botanical-infused mocktail presentation, where you’ll learn to create refreshing and delicious non-alcoholic beverages. Then, savor the fruits of your labor with a mocktail in hand. After enjoying your mocktails, you’ll dive into the world of terrariums. You’ll get hands-on and build your own beautiful terrarium using a one-quart mason jar. It’s the perfect opportunity to unleash your creativity and bring some greenery into your living space. An afternoon of mocktails, terrariums, and botanical delights! Tickets.
Maine Outdoor Film Festival: The Nuthatch Program (Shorts Block) | Eastern Promenade | 8:00 PM
Part of the Maine Outdoor Film Festival! An incredible outdoor film experience, this event will feature a fantastic lineup of short films celebrating outdoor adventure and conservation. Come join MOFF for a memorable night under the stars, celebrating the beauty of outdoor exploration and conservation through captivating short films. Bring your own camp chair or blanket to ensure your comfort throughout the screening. You’re welcome to bring outside water and snacks to enjoy during the event. Most importantly, bring your enthusiasm for adventure! Screening will be located between the tennis courts and softball field at the end of Montreal Street. In case of inclement weather, the screening on will be postponed, and the makeup date will be on Monday, July 31, 2023, at the same location. Please note that pets are not allowed at the venue. Also, keep in mind that the film program is subject to change. Tickets.
Sunday the 30th
Malian Dance Workshop w/ Mariam Diakite | Mayo Street Arts | 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM
Learn traditional Malian West African Dance! Mariam Diakite spearheads Orchestra Gold and is an accomplished singer, dancer, percussionist, and teacher from Mali, West Africa. Her classes are informative, upbeat, instructional, and interactive, filled with valuable stories that add context and culture to the dances and songs that she teaches. The class will begin with a warmup stretching and vocal instruction in traditional Malian songs to ground participants in the space. She prefers quality over quantity, therefore usually one to two dance styles will be taught to ensure the dancers have a solid grasp of the material before moving forward! This dance workshop is for all levels. All ages are welcome, but the class will be geared toward adults. Please wear comfortable clothing that enables you to move easily. Tickets.
Live Music at Foundation Brewing | Foundation Brewing Co. | 2:o0 PM – 5:00 PM
Sunday Funday at Foundation Brewing Company with live music and DJ sets from 2 PM to 5 PM. On July 30th, they have an exciting lineup of local DJs, Gabe FM and mosart212. Join at Foundation Brewing Company for a lively afternoon of music, great beer, delicious pizza, and good company. With Gabe FM and mosart212 taking the stage, you can expect hypnotic beats and a memorable time.
Rossini’s La Cenerentola – Cinderella | Merrill Auditorium | 2:30 PM
Opera Maine is thrilled to present an original production of Gioachino Rossini’s comedic masterpiece, La Cenerentola (Cinderella). Rossini’s delightful version of the beloved dustbin-to-palace tale of Cinderella is certain to enchant audiences of all ages. A heartless stepfather, scheming stepsisters, and a prince in disguise create hilarity and confusion, but goodness and love triumph in the end. Much magic is in Rossini’s exuberant music, performed by a talented cast of principals and the Opera Maine Orchestra and Chorus, all under the baton of Maestro Israel Gursky. Artistic Director Dona D. Vaughn will direct this not-to-be-missed production. Opera in two acts, sung in Italian with English translation projected above the stage. Tickets.
Silent Movie Sunday: “Safety Last!” | Congress Square Park | 8:30 PM
Get ready for a nostalgic movie experience with Friends of Congress Square Park! In partnership with Kinonik, they present classic silent movies on real 16mm film with live musical accompaniment on the last Sunday of every month. This month’s feature is “SAFETY LAST!” (1923), the story of a young man’s adventurous journey in New York City to make enough money to support his girlfriend. With the promise of a big reward, he embarks on a daring stunt that leads to hilarious and thrilling moments. Experience the magic of silent cinema with live music enhancing the storytelling. A delightful trip back in time to the golden era of silent movies!
For more events head to our Events Calendar here.