Spring has sprung! Waking up from our winter nap and heading into the first full weekend of the new season with a spring in our step, this weekend in Portland is blooming with events. This weekend, find your inner diva at EMPIRE, grab your matey for live music at Hi-Fidelity, keep to a kite schedule with Loquat, and enjoy a night at the movies with Geno’s Rock Club. Check it all out!
Here’s the Weekend Guide for Friday, March 24th – Sunday, March 26th, 2023
Friday the 24th
A Night at the Movie | Geno’s Rock Club | 8:00 PM
Grab your popcorn and celebrate Cherry Lemonade’s birthday at the movies! Diving into the world of cinema with a night of performances themed around the cast’s favorite movies. Oscar-worthy numbers from The GiGi Gabor, Bunny Wonderland, Cinnamon Maxxine, Ophelia Johnson and The Birthday Princess…Cherry Lemonade! Birthday shenanigans to follow. 21+ only. Cash only.
Shank Painters | Hi-Fidelity Brewery | 6:00 PM
The Shank Painters play at Hi-Fidelity Brewery! Join the East Bayside brewery on the fourth Friday of the month for nautical folk tunes and sea shanties.
Saturday the 25th
From Eartha, With Love – A Diva’s Night Presented By THEM Burlesque | Empire LIVE | 6:00 PM
Jazz it up this weekend with THEM Burlesque’s first ever Diva’s Night Tribute – From, Eartha, With Love! This premier event features a host of tantalizing performers that will shake and shimmy to some of Eartha Kitt’s greatest hits and bring to the stage some of her most iconic characters. Dress your best for this glamorous show to help celebrate the re-opening of Portland’s oldest event space, Empire Live! Tickets here.
A Walk Through Time History Tour | Portland Old Port | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Curious about Portland’s history with railroads, fires, wars, the underground railroad, famous poets and Hollywood producers? Join Maine Day Ventures on their walking tour through time! Your tour begins in front of Andy’s Old Port Pub and continues for 2 hours through the historic Old Port, downtown and waterfront areas, sharing highlights of Portland’s history since 1820 and as far back as 1632. Book here.
EQME 38th Annual Awards Celebration: Express Yourself! | Aura | 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Equality Maine’s 38th Annual Awards Celebration and Soiree! Excited to reconnect and celebrate the community, this year’s special event will feature cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, live raffle, dancing, live music, performances, and a few special guests. EqualityMaine is the oldest and largest statewide organization dedicated to creating a fair and just society for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer Mainers. Tickets here.
Bach Birthday Bash | Merrill Auditorium | 7:00 PM
Join James Kennerley, Portland’s Eleventh Municipal Organist, for a performance of music composed by the High Priest of the organ: Johann Sebastian Bach. Born on March 21, 1685, Bach was renowned during his lifetime as a “world-class organist” – more famous for his virtuosic organ playing than for his compositions. Bach’s organ music has captured the minds of performers and audiences for generations. This concert includes works based on Bach’s name (BACH spells the musical notes B-flat, A, C, B-natural) by Johannes Brahms and Franz Liszt as well as masterworks by Bach himself. Tickets here.
FLUKES | Portland Public Library | 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Are you in need of some warmth, sunshine, laughter, and fun? Then come hear the FLUKES, fun-loving ukulele society, at the Portland Public Library’s Rines Auditorium. They will help make that transition from winter to spring with lots of smiles and good music, all in a wonderful, welcoming environment. Free event!
Live Music with Cryin Out Loud | The Porthole | 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM
A super fun, high energy band that does a lot of up-beat blues and plenty of “classic rock., Cryin’ Out Loud performs live at The Porthole!
Comedy Night | Banded Brewing Co. | 7:00 PM
A night of laughs! Comedy show with Portland Comedy Co-Op starts at 7pm. Comedians leading the way include Anders J. Nielsen, Rachel Gendron, Micaela Tepler and more.
Sunday the 26th
Around the World with the Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra | A Discovery Concert for Families | Merrill Auditorium | 2:30 PM
Buckle your seatbelt and put your tray table in the upright position as the Portland Symphony Orchestra and the Portland Youth Symphony Orchestra take you around the world! An afternoon of family-friendly music and fun. Program will include Slavonic Dance #6, Raiders March from Indiana Jones, Nimble Feet from Dances in the Canebrakes and more. Discovery Concerts are designed for families with children ages 4-12, but are enjoyable for all. Tickets here.
Belleflower’s 2nd Anniversary Event | Belleflower Brewing Co. | 1:00 PM – 7:00 PM
You’re invited to Belleflower Brewing’s Co. second anniversary celebration! A day of great food, new beer releases, music, and more. They will have the dynamic duo, Great Waves Sushi and Ironclad Eats, out on the patio. Followed by live psychedelic rock from The Crowded Table from 3-6pm. Plus, they will have a new beer release the day of the event – new beer and even new merchandise coming your way.
Traditional Bermuda Kite Making Workshop | Loquat | 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Loquat welcomes spring in the traditional Bermudian way, building and flying paper kites! Jordan Carey, a Bermudian designer and artist, will lead the workshop, sharing the history and teaching you the basics of kite making. After everyone’s comfortable they will shuttle over to the eastern prom for flying practice! This is great for makers 10yrs old and up! Rain dates are April 1st and 2nd. Loquat has asked that if you have the resources, please consider donating a spot in the class to a BIPOC and/or LGBTQ+ individual. Tickets here.
Aries Rise | Free Street | 6:00 PM – 9:00n PM
Celebrate Aries Season with a night of live fusion dance, music and mystical creatures. A night of live music with special guest Dan Capaldi and a crew of twenty dancers embodying their favorite creatures and most mystical selves. Come experience the collaborative beauty of live performance art including various belly dance styles, flow arts, choreography and improv. Tickets here.
For more events head to our Events Calendar here.
