Well, what do you think? Are we safe to proceed as normal this weekend or are we due for a last minute storm to blow through? With under 20 days until the official start of spring, maybe you’re like us and have your fingers crossed for an early one.
…And if you’re not ready for spring to debut or are just enjoying the last leg of winter then this weekend really is for you. This weekend, find not one but TWO winter carnivals with food, live music, games and more, the return of a beloved sandwich series, the start of Saint Patrick’s Day celebrations, and a makers’ market honoring all the badass women and makers of Maine.
Here’s the Weekend Guide for Friday, March 10th – Sunday, March 12th, 2023
Friday the 10th
Winter Carnival Weekend | Maine Craft Distilling | All Weekend
It’s another year of music, art, games, food and drinks at Maine Craft Distilling as they host again this year their Winter Carnival. This is a free, family-friendly event welcome to all ages.
Wonderful news, Rose Foods’ annual Sandwich Series returns and is kicking off this weekend with a special guest sandwich from Mr. Tuna! Available Friday – Sunday, stop on in for the special Kosher with Krab featuring yuzu mayo, avocado, marinated ikura, amazu pickles, and nori dusted potato chips on a sesame bagel.
3rd Annual Carnaval ME Winter Festival | DiMillo’s Parking Lot – Long Wharf | All Weekend
Celebrating winter in Maine, Carnaval ME returns for its 3rd year in a new location in the heart of the Old Port. Each day will feature a full line-up of LIVE music, theater, comedy, and award-winning chefs and brewers pairings under the 400+ person illuminated igloo for Bites & Brews. This year will feature an enhanced focus on kid’s activities such as mascots, face painting, an arts & crafts station and more. Tickets here.
Weird Phishes – Radiohead in the style of Phish | w/ spaceheater | Portland House of Music | 7:30 PM
Weird Phishes is exactly what it sounds like – the iconic melancholy rock songs of Radiohead completely reborn as danceable, crunchy jams. With full-album performances, unexpected mashups, and gluey funk-driven improvisation, their jam-heavy take on alt-rock classics has sparked an unexpected energy in audiences across the northeast. Cleverly avoiding the “tribute” trope, Weird Phishes continues to push the envelope of what a mashup band can be, delivering performances that need to be experienced in order to believe. Tickets here.
TREE with Sunrunner & Exclave| Sun Tiki Studios | 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Playing heavy fast punk/hardcore with grooves and breakdowns, TREE created their own signature sound while touring the country through the 90s. Back to continue their work and hitting the road bringing out old fans, making new fans, and selling out shows, Tree brings with them the same old dreams and messages- even more relevant today. Joining them are Portland’s own thrashdoom band Exclave and heavy prog giants Sunrunner. Tickets here.
Heather McMahan | The Comeback Tour | Merrill Auditorium | 8:00 PM
Back on the road and bringing the giggles nationwide, the beloved standup comedian, Heather McMahan is a storyteller, and the best friend everyone wants. With popularity skyrocketing with fans and the industry falling for her voice, wit and southern flair, her podcast, ABSOLUTELY NOT WITH HEATHER MCMAHAN was named one of the Ten Best Podcasts of 2021 by Entertainment Weekly. Tickets here.
Saturday the 11th
River Rager | Fore River Brewing Co. | 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM
The twists and turns of running a business! Fore River Brewing Co. is closing up shop for a couple of days to work on things behind the scenes, but before they do that they are taking this as an opportunity to throw one last rager, FBC style. Come by the Huntress Ave tasting room this Saturday to help kick some kegs and close out this winter season. Live music. Beer galore. Grilled eats. 50% off four packs, cases and kegs (Started Thursday). They will be back open as soon as possible!
Paddy Fest 2023 | RiRa Irish Pub | 9:00 AM – 11: 00 PM – Runs March 11th – 18th
It’s finally March and RiRa has quite the lineup for Paddy Fest 2023. A celebration of Irish food, drink and culture, kick things off on Saturday by cheering on your favorite rugby team (Italy vs. Wales and England vs. France) and listening to live music with Kilcollins.
Adoption Event | The Fish & Bone | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Fish & Bone will be hosting an adoption event to benefit Fetching Hope Rescue, a foster-based rescue in Maine dedicated to helping save southern dogs by finding them loving homes in New England. An early “St. PAWtrick’s Day” themed event, Fish & Bone will have cute adoptable puppies, raffles and rescue merchandise.
A Watershed Moment | SPACE Gallery | 7:00 PM
“A Watershed Moment” is a short film produced by Maine Coast Heritage Trust and Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries. It tells the story of a diverse group of partners who came together over five years to restore fish passage throughout the entire Bagaduce River Watershed on the Blue Hill peninsula in Maine. Three coastal Maine communities, numerous nonprofits, fishermen, school children, engineering and construction companies, and state and federal management agencies worked together to restore historic fish passage on their rivers and steward the historic alewife runs in their communities. The film will be followed by a Q&A session with experts from Maine Coast Heritage Trust and Maine Center for Coastal Fisheries who appear in the film. RSVP here.
12/OC | The Porthole | 8:00 PM – 11:00 PM
Live Music with 12/OC at The Porthole! Band of three brothers doing what they love, 12/OC began playing live shows across Maine from parks and rec gazebos to coffee shops and everything in between, and have now had the opportunity to open for Nashville acts like Love and Theft and Joe Nichols.
9th Anniversary Party | Foundation Brewing Co. | 12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Celebrating 9 years of Foundation beer! A full day of special deals, a fun new barrel-aged beer release, and Foundation history trivia game with fun prizes. Questions every hour all day. Not to give it all away but one of the prizes just might be a Membership in their brand new Mug Club.
Sunday the 12th
Drag Brunch | Batson River Brewing & Distilling| 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Batson River Brewing & Distilling is giving us all plenty of reasons to head out of the house…starting with Drag Brunch! Hosted by the one and only Chartreuse accompanied by one of her fellow Queens each week! The show will take place between 11am-2pm and you are able to join us at any time (reservations highly recommended). This event is all ages and there is no cover but you are encouraged to tip the Queens.
St. Patrick’s Day Parade | Commercial Street | 12:00 PM
The Irish American Club’s Saint Patrick’s Parade is the largest celebration of Irish and Irish American culture north of Boston and features organizations, companies, and community groups, and has been a yearly highlight for many parade marchers and spectators. This year’s parade will feature two pipe and drum bands, the Stillson School of Irish Dance, color guards from area military and protective services, the display of Irish national, provincial, and county flags, mascots from area sports teams, and many others. The route is along Commercial Street in Portland, beginning at the intersection with Center Street and ending at Bell Buoy Park near the Casco Bay Ferry terminal. Parade starts at noon.
Fly Fishing Film Tour | Oxbow Blending & Bottling | 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Alongside Atlantic Farms and All Points Fly Fishing, Oxbow Blending & Bottling will be hosting Fly Fishing Film Tour, a top notch selection of short films that are sure to get you fired up for the season ahead. The 2023 show will feature locations from Cuba to Patagonia, Mexico to Australia, Alaska, Wyoming, the Deep South, Massachusetts and beyond. Experience the achievement of a permit slam, follow one man’s journey from Mexico to the waters of Wyoming, explore the best international waters and compete for the legendary belt buckle. Come for the action and stay for the giveaways and camaraderie that will feed your fishing addiction. Tickets here.
International Women’s Day Market | Austin Street Brewery | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Austin Street Brewery is celebrating Women Makers in the community by hosting a makers market in their brew house! Come shop great local products, try their International Women’s Day Beer of 2023 and enter a raffle with items from their makers. Raffle proceeds to benefit Mabel Wadsworth Center in Bangor, Maine. Madel Wadsworth Center provides health care using a feminist model focused on sexual and reproductive health through education, advocacy, and clinical services.
For more events head to our Events Calendar here.
