Welcome to the FIRST full weekend of fall, where the air gets crisper, the leaves get crunchier, and the events in Portland get even more spectacular (and spookier… it’s getting that time!)
We’ve got a lineup that’s as vibrant as the autumn foliage, featuring everything from a sassy Dolly Parton Brunch to the ultimate Oktoberfest bash at Bunktoberfest. Feel all the feels at Emo Night, indulge in the flavors of the world at the BIPOC Night Market, and so much more. Fall festivities are in full swing.
Here’s The Weekend Guide for Friday, September 29th, 2023 – Sunday, October 1st, 2023
Friday the 29th
Maine Lobster Week! | Across the State – Multiple Locations | Until September 30th
If you haven’t already, now is the time to shell-ebrate the tail end of Maine Lobster Week! The third annual Maine Lobster Week is a lobster feast like no other that includes special menus featuring delicious lobster dishes from locations such as like Luke’s Lobster, Dock Fore, Boone’s Fish House and Oyster Room, Gilbert’s Chowder House, The Knotted Apron, Eventide and more. Maine Lobster Week honors Maine’s lobster industry, which supplies 80% of the world’s lobster! It’s mission to to help support the Maine Lobster industry, which is a part of the fabric of Maine’s coastal communities.
Rent Party: Oktoberfest with Isirap, Low Groove, WessUp | The Portland Zoo | 6:00 PM – 10:00 PM
A night of fantastic tunes spun by your favorite tastemakers, featuring the freshest nu, jazzed-out, and housey selections. It’s the perfect soundtrack for a crisp autumn Friday evening. Come on out and support Portland’s local animals while dancing the night away. DJ line-up includes Isirap, Low Groove and WessUp.
Jonatha Brooke | One Longfellow Square | 7:00 PM Doors
Experience the mesmerizing blend of folk, pop, and roots rock as Jonatha Brooke takes center stage at One Longfellow Square. With a musical journey spanning back to the early ’90s, first as part of the duo the Story and then as a remarkable solo artist, Jonatha has continuously charmed audiences with her evocative melodies. She boasts a discography of over ten albums, including the companion CD to her Off-Broadway musical sensation, “My Mother Has Four Noses.” She’s co-written and produced songs for big names like Katy Perry, The Courtyard Hounds, and Jessica Simpson. Her music has graced Disney films, TV shows, and even Joss Whedon’s “Dollhouse.” A chance to witness this musical powerhouse in action! Tickets.
Emo Night Brooklyn | Portland House of Music & Events | 8:00 PM
Dive into the nostalgic world of the earlier 2000s! Join for a late-night DJ-based dance party that’s all about cranking up your favorite emo and pop punk jams. Prepare to let loose, scream your lungs out, mosh, and dance like nobody’s watching to the tunes that defined an era.Emo Night Brooklyn is where you’ll find all your favorite songs and all your favorite people gathered for an epic night of pure emo awesomeness! Tickets.
Symphony & Spirits | MAPS | 5:00 PM – 9:30 PM
Get ready to blend symphony with spirits at Symphony & Spirits, where music meets happy hour! Back for the 2023-24 season, Symphony & Spirits invites music enthusiasts (ages 21-39) to join the Portland Symphony Orchestra for a unique celebration of Opening Night: Visual Sounds concert. Kickstart the evening with a pre-concert happy hour meetup at the fantastic Maps bar on Market Street. The night crescendos as you head over to Merrill Auditorium for the first PSO concert of the season, creating memories that harmonize music and camaraderie. Ticket includes a signature cocktail. Tickets.
Saturday the 30th
Bunktoberfest | Bunker Brewing Co. | Open at Noon
The ultimate Oktoberfest celebration, Bunktoberfest, returns at Bunker Brewing Co.! Join for a day of boundless fun, live music, and mouthwatering eats. Indulge in delights from a range of local food trucks, including George’s North Shore (classic North Shore roast beef sandwiches) and Maine Maple Creemies (A Vermont staple, often compared to soft serve). The festivities are in full swing with not one, but three live bands and DJs, ensuring non-stop entertainment. DJ spinning starts at 1 PM, live music at 2:30 PM. Admission fee of $25 includes one of Bunker’s commemorative .5L Bunktoberfest 2023 tankards full of one beer of your choosing.
Ragged Jack | The Porthole | 8:00 PM
Get ready to be rocked by the electrifying sounds of Ragged Jack at The Porthole! These four talented musicians are here to prove that you don’t know Jack until you’ve experienced it in its most ragged and high-energy form. With their distinctive blend of rockabilly, this quartet is set to take you on a musical journey that cannot be missed.
RuPaul’s Drag Race Night of the Living Drag | State Theatre | 8:00 PM
Step into the surreal and fabulous world of RuPaul’s Drag Race. Picture yourself in a realm where glamour meets the macabre, where queens from RuPaul’s Drag Race come to life in the eeriest and most captivating way. This is not just a drag show; it’s a journey into The Twilight Zone of drag extravagance and mystery. Enchanting performances of queens such as Angeria, Denali, Icesis Couture, Jaida Essence Hall, Jorgeous, Plastique, Rosé, Tayce, and your host, the incomparable Yvie Oddly as the enigmatic Rod Serling. Grab your friends, don your most fabulous costume, and sashay into an early celebration of Halloween. Tickets.
Party Time Excellent | Gritty McDuff’s Brew Pub | 9:30 PM
Unleash your inner rockstar with Party Time Excellent. This dynamic Portland, Maine function band is here to take you on a musical journey spanning decades of iconic pop and rock hits, from the swinging 60s right up to today’s chart-toppers. Dance, sing along, and create unforgettable memories as Party Time Excellent brings the ultimate soundtracks of your life to the Gritty McDuff’s stage.
Celebrating diversity and creativity at its finest! Mark your calendars for the biggest shopping bash of the year, Tender Table’s x Cong Tu Bot’s BIPOC Night Market. Join at the vibrant Congress Square Park for an unforgettable evening where you’ll shop from local makers such as Jenny Ibsen and Fireball Bookbindery; experience delicious eats from Liu Bian Tan, Siblings Bakery, and Banh Appetit; and enjoy the captivating sounds of local musicians such as Kafari. This event is open to everyone. Tender Table celebrates the Black & Brown community by connecting and honoring their joy and resilience through storytelling and food.
Sunday the 1st
Stephen King Sunday Scaries | The Press Hotel | 3:00 PM + 8:00 PM
Embrace the eerie, escape the ordinary with Stephen King Sundays at The Press Hotel! Every Sunday in October, they invite you to immerse yourself in the spine-tingling world of Maine’s own literary legend, Stephen King. Fight off the “Sunday Scaries” with complimentary showings of films based on King’s iconic stories. Get ready for a month of cinematic chills, starting with “The Shining” at 3PM and “Doctor Sleep” at 8PM on October 1st. Reserve a spot.
Hannah Berner | State Theatre | 8:00 PM
Laugh your socks off with the hilarious Hannah Berner! Gracing the screens as a previous cast member of Bravo’s Summer House for three epic seasons, Hannah Berner has emerged as one of Just For Laughs’ 2022 New Faces, and a comedic force to be reckoned with. She made her mark in the comedy scene through Instagram, where she directed, edited, and starred in uproarious videos, along with crafting viral tweets that had the internet in stitches. She’s also the genius behind two wildly popular podcasts, Giggly Squad and Berning In Hell, which together have garnered over 20 million downloads. Tickets.
Dolly Brunch | Geno’s Rock Club | 12:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Y’all, get ready for the sassiest, most fabulous brunch in town! It’s a Boozy Dolly Parton Brunch, and it’s gonna be an absolute hoot! Hosted by the fabulous GiGi Gabor this event has everything you need for a rootin’, tootin’ good time. Expect jaw-dropping drag performances, hilarious rounds of bingo with fantastic prizes, and drink specials that’ll have you saying, “Pour me another, please!” Grab your best wig, slip into your rhinestone-studded boots, and join Geno’s Rock Club for a Dolly-tastic brunch that’s sure to have you singin’, laughin’, and sashayin’ the day away.
Point-toberfest | Brick South – Thompson’s Point | 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM
Prost! Join Thompson’s Point for crisp local beers and bevs, live music and warm brezel at the first annual Point-toberfest, a beer-hall style party collab with their good pals at One Stop Event Rentals.Featuring a hand selected lineup of locally produced German style brews, a Portland twist on some classic Oktoberfest grub and jams from none other than Holly Heist Band. Free entry and open to all!
For more events head to our Events Calendar here.
