COVID-19 UPDATE: maine bicentennial commission postpones commemorative events to 2021. read more about it here.
NOTE THAT COMMUNITY GRANTS CONTINUE TO BE AWARDED AS PLANNED, PROVIDING MUCH-NEEDED FUNDING FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS PREPARING BICENTENNIAL-RELATED EVENTS.
maine200 signature events
The Maine Bicentennial Commission is sponsoring five major events to celebrate Maine200:
STATEHOOD
DAY
march 14, 2021
augusta
The public is invited to join us for an afternoon of speeches, music, poems, birthday cake and much more.
State of Maine Bicentennial Parade
may 15, 2021
auburn/lewiston
An historic parade celebrating Maine's veterans, youth, and culture, with floats, bands and more from across Maine. Presented by Poland Spring.
SAILING SHIPS FESTIVAL
summer 2021
up & DOWN the coast
Visits from a variety of sailing vessels from around the world, at multiple ports along the Maine coast, with associated festivals and activities. Presented by Bangor Savings Bank.
innovation
expo
november 20, 2021
portland
A hands-on experience, viewing awe-inspiring demonstrations of new technologies and more. Presented by Central Maine Power.
time capsule sealing
fall, 2021
tbd
A collection of items installed on the State Capitol grounds for future generations to discover. More details coming soon!
events calendar
COVID-19 UPDATE: MOST BICENTENNIAL EVENTS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR MARCH–MAY, 2020 HAVE BEEN POSTPONED, AND WILL BE RESCHEDULED ONCE THE COURSE OF THE COVID-19 OUTBREAK IS BETTER KNOWN.
NOTE THAT COMMUNITY GRANTS CONTINUE TO BE AWARDED AS PLANNED, PROVIDING MUCH-NEEDED FUNDING FOR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS PREPARING BICENTENNIAL-RELATED EVENTS.
PLEASE CHECK BACK OFTEN FOR THE LATEST UPDATES.
Submissions must be open and accessible to the public, relevant to the bicentennial commemoration, and include a title, brief description, and image. Events listed on this calendar are not necessarily endorsed by the Maine Bicentennial Commission. Get more information on applying for a Maine200 endorsement of your event.
Events Calendar
A Walk Through Time in Portland - Celebrating 200 Years!
Jul 1, 2020 to Dec 31, 2020
Time:
10:00 AM to 1:00 PM
250 Commercial Street at Maine's Pantry
OPENING POSTPONED: Notre Pain Quotidien: Franco-American Entrepreneurs Sustaining Community Exhibit
Jul 1, 2020 to Sep 6, 2020
Time:
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
University of Southern Maine, Lewiston-Auburn College
51 Westminster St., Lewiston, ME 04240
51 Westminster St., Lewiston, ME 04240
20 x 20: Marking 200 Years of Maine History
Jul 1, 2020 to Oct 25, 2020
Time:
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Portland Museum of Art, Portland ME
20x20: Marking 200 Years of Maine History represents the PMA’s contribution to this anniversary by presenting twenty stories of Maine’s past, present, and future for 200 years of statehood.
Exhibition: "At First Light: Photographs of Maine Artist Studios and Homes by Walter Smalling"
Jul 1, 2020
Time:
All Day
Bowdoin College Museum of Art, Brunswick, Maine
A Walk Through Time in Bar Harbor- Celebrating 200+ Years!
Jul 1, 2020 to Oct 30, 2020
Time:
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Bar Harbor, Maine
Presque Isle Historical Society's Bicentennial Exhibit - Grand Opening
Jul 1, 2020 to Oct 24, 2020
Time:
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
The Maysville Museum, 165 Caribou Road, Presque Isle
Presque Isle Historical Society's Bicentennial Exhibit opens to the public on opening day of the Maysville Museum, 165 Caribou Road (US Route 1) on Saturday, May 30.
DIRIGO: A Maine Bicentennial Exhibition of Craft
Jul 1, 2020 to Jul 28, 2020
Time:
9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
288 Lewiston Rd West Gardiner, ME 04345 | 521 Congress St. Portland, ME 04101
The Maine Crafts Association presents DIRIGO: A Maine Bicentennial Exhibition of Craft, featuring concurrent exhibitions at The Center for Maine Craft and Maine Craft Portland.
Demonstration Gardens of Flax, Natural Dyes & Heritage Wheats
Jul 1, 2020
Time:
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Searsport Shores Ocean Campground
216 W Main St
Searsport, ME 04974
216 W Main St
Searsport, ME 04974
The Bicentennial Beat
Jul 1, 2020
Time:
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
The Vera Estey House Museum, 16 Third Street, Presque Isle
Kennebunkport: A Walk Through Time - Celebrating 200 Years!
Jul 1, 2020 to Oct 17, 2020
Time:
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
Dock Square, Kennebunkport, Maine
Sailing Ships Festival
Jul 1, 2020 to Jul 13, 2020
Time:
All Day
Along the Coast
The Maine Bicentennial Sailing Ships Festival begins in Boothbay Harbor, continues on to Rockland, Bangor, Brewer, Bucksport, Castine, Searsport and Belfast.
Exhibition: "At First Light: Two Centuries of Artists in Maine"
Jul 1, 2020
Time:
All Day
Bowdoin College Museum of Art, Brunswick, Maine
U PICK LAVENDER
Jul 1, 2020 to Jul 18, 2020
Time:
10:00 AM
408 Dexter Road Saint Albans, Maine 04971
Count Me In – A Musical Production-COPY
Jul 2, 2020
Time:
7:00 PM
Watts Hall, 174 Main St., Thomaston
Great Schooner Race
Jul 3, 2020
Time:
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Rockland Harbor
The Maine Windjammer Association is hosting the Great Schooner Race, providing an opportunity for captains, crews and passengers aboard traditional vessels from all over the Eastern Seaboard to rendezvous for a fun day of racing.
44th Annual Great Schooner Race
Jul 3, 2020
Time:
2:00 PM
Rockland Breakwater and Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse
Stars and Stripes Concert -- POSTPONED
Jul 4, 2020
Time:
4:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Good Shepherd Episcopal Church
2614 Main Street, Rangeley, ME 04970
2614 Main Street, Rangeley, ME 04970
This event has been postponed until fall 2020 due to COVID-19 concerns. New date and time is TBD. Please contact Mr. Ludiwg at RobertLudwig@aya.yale.edu for more information. Thank you
2020 Maine Windjammer Association Parade of Sail
Jul 10, 2020
Time:
1:30 PM to 3:30 PM
Rockland Breakwater, Rockland Harbor
The entire windjammer fleet participates in an afternoon Parade of Sail past the mile-long Rockland Breakwater, providing spectators with stunning, close-up views of Maine’s fleet of tall ships.
Kids Dig Colonial Pemaquid
Jul 11, 2020
Time:
10:00 AM to 2:00 PM
Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site, New Harbor, ME
Come one; come all to become a history detective and experience archaeology first hand at Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site.
All Maine Gourmet Supper
Jul 12, 2020
Time:
3:00 PM to 8:00 PM
Corner of Depot Street in Fort Fairfield, Maine
The host commuinity for the 73rd Maine Potato Blossom Festival
The host commuinity for the 73rd Maine Potato Blossom Festival
Tour of a Historic One Room School House
Jul 12, 2020
Time:
3:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Depot Street Fort Fairfield, Maine
Music of Maine in the Bicentennial Era
Jul 15, 2020
Time:
5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
Sorrrento Sullivan Recreation Center - 1776 US Highway 1 Sullivan
Whaling in Maine, with author Charles H. Lagerbom
Jul 16, 2020
Time:
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Online via the Zoom meeting platform
2020 Cape Elizabeth Garden Tour
Jul 18, 2020
Time:
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Register at the Children’s Garden at Fort Williams Park in Cape Elizabeth starting at 9 am.
Ice Cream Social/Birthday Party
Jul 18, 2020
Time:
12:00 PM to 1:00 PM
Main Street, Fort Fairfield, Maine. Next to our Historic Blockhouse. Tours will be available
Maine Potato Blossom Festival
Jul 18, 2020
Time:
1:00 PM to 3:00 PM
Fort Fairfield, Maine
Largest Parade in the State of Maine with the focus on Agriculture. Special entries celebrating the 200 Birthday of our great State of Maine.
200 Years of Stories: Peyton Place Comes Home to Maine
Jul 20, 2020
Time:
6:00 PM to 7:00 PM
Brewer Public Library
100 South Main Street
Brewer, Maine 04412
(alternate location: Zoom, depending on Covid-19 updates)
100 South Main Street
Brewer, Maine 04412
(alternate location: Zoom, depending on Covid-19 updates)
Castine House and Garden Tour 2020 -- POSTPONED
Jul 23, 2020
Time:
10:00 AM
Castine Historical Society
17 School Street
Castine, Maine 04421
17 School Street
Castine, Maine 04421
This event has been postponed due to COVID-19 concerns. New date scheduled for 2021, TBD. For more information, please contact info@castinehistoricalsociety.org. Thank you for your patience during this time.
17th Century Encampment - Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site
Jul 25, 2020 to Jul 26, 2020
Time:
10:00 AM to 3:00 PM
Colonial Pemaquid State Historic Site, 2 Colonial Pemaquid Dr. New Harbor
Outdoor interpretive weekend, showcasing 17th century life on Maine's coast. Reenactors will portray the lives of the English, French and Native people who lived, worked, and fought on these lands.
Bicentennial Corn Maze
Jul 28, 2020 to Oct 31, 2020
Time:
All Day
Treworgy Family Orchards - 3876 Union Street
Levant, Maine
Levant, Maine
Celebrate Maine with a Bicentennial themed corn maze. Treworgy Family Orchards designs and hosts the state's oldest continuously running and nationally awarded corn maze.
Opera Maine Presents The Flying Dutchman
Jul 29, 2020
Time:
7:30 PM to 10:30 PM
Merrill Auditorium, Portland, Maine
Opera Maine Presents The Flying Dutchman
Jul 31, 2020
Time:
7:30 PM to 10:30 PM
Merrill Auditorium, Portland, Maine
