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A note from the editor
Summer in Maine doesn’t arrive politely. One week you’re still reaching for a jacket, and the next the sun is out, the concert stages are getting set up, and something is definitely biting your neck.
Welcome to June in Bangor.
The warmth is real and it’s welcome. This weekend has plenty going on to pull you outside, and this issue is packed with reasons to get out and enjoy it, bug spray and all.
One more thing: starting with this issue, we’re adding a community photo feature to Queen City Weekly. Got a great shot of greater Bangor, a moment, a place, something that caught your eye? We want to see it. Submit your photo and a quick description using the following link. No guarantees, but the best ones will run right here.
Now go enjoy the sun. The black flies won’t last forever.
As always, thanks for reading.
Ken, the editor
THIS WEEKEND IN BANGOR
Summer is here and there’s no better time to get outside. Here’s what’s happening this weekend.
Friday, June 12
Harness Racing at Bass Park
Time: 12:10 PM
Venue: Hollywood Casino Raceway, 500 Main St, Bangor
Race 15 of the 2026 season at historic Bass Park. Post time is 12:10 PM sharp. PENN Play members can earn points toward the Crown of the Queen City contest with correct picks on races 3-10.
Saturday, June 13
Bangor’s European Market
Time: 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Venue: 117 Buck St, Bangor
A weekly Saturday market at Sunnyside Greenhouse featuring European-inspired prepared foods, local meats, seafood, baked goods, and produce. Come early.
Sunday, June 14
And on Sunday morning, slow it down.
The Bangor Farmers' Market runs every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Abbot Square, across from the Bangor Public Library on Harlow Street. Local vegetables, meats, baked goods, flowers, and made-to-order food. A good reset after a concert weekend. Bangorfarmersmarket
Coming Up: The Downtown Bangor Summer Sidewalk Art Festival returns Saturday, July 11, with over 100 jury-selected Maine artists, live music, food trucks, and family activities spread across Harlow and Central Streets. Free and all ages. Mark your calendar.
Your Week Ahead in Bangor: June 12th - June 18th! 🗓️
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Welcome to your essential guide to upcoming events in Bangor! This week is packed with outdoor adventures, engaging workshops, community gatherings, and lively entertainment. Whether you're looking to learn a new skill, enjoy some live music, or connect with your neighbors, there's something for everyone.
Dive into the daily happenings below and make the most of your week! ✨
FRIDAY, JUNE 12
Sandollar Spa & Pool Tent Sale
Time: 9:00 AM–5:30 PM | Venue: Sandollar Spa and Pool
A big outdoor tent sale running all through June. Worth a stop if you’re in the market for spa and pool goods at a discount.Live Harness Racing
Time: 12:10 PM | Venue: Hollywood Casino Raceway at Bass Park
Race 15 of the 2026 Bangor Harness Racing season. Post time is 12:10 PM sharp — arrive early and pick your favorites.Beginner Pole 💪
Time: 6:00 PM–7:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B
A fun, supportive intro to pole fitness. No experience needed — just a willingness to move and build something new.Lyra Tips and Tricks 💫
Time: 7:00 PM–8:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B
All about the details that make a big difference in the hoop. Refine your technique, clean up transitions, and build confidence in the air.Korean Swordsmanship Beginners Class: First Class Free 🥋
Time: 7:30 PM–8:30 PM | Venue: Kishintaikan Dojo
Haidong Gumdo is a dynamic Korean sword art with roots in the Three Kingdoms period. All equipment provided, and the first class is free.DJ Bill Lyons – Dance Party at Penobscot Pour House 🎤
Time: 9:00 PM–11:00 PM | Venue: Penobscot Pour House
DJ Bill Lyons is back at the Pour House with the hits, the energy, and a dance floor that won’t quit.
SATURDAY, JUNE 13
Bangor’s European Market
Time: 8:30 AM–12:30 PM | Venue: West Market Square, Downtown Bangor
Ingrid’s German Gift Shop hosts this weekly outdoor market with local meats, seafood, baked goods, and international finds. Early birds get the best picks.Sandollar Spa & Pool Tent Sale
Time: 9:00 AM–5:30 PM | Venue: Sandollar Spa and Pool
The tent sale continues through the weekend.Mount Hope Cemetery Walking Tour
Time: 6:00 PM–7:30 PM | Venue: Mount Hope Cemetery
A guided stroll through one of the country’s oldest garden cemeteries, with stories about Bangor’s famous and infamous buried there. Built in 1834 on 300 acres, it’s as beautiful as it is full of secrets.MaskedMania Lucha Libre Mexicana 🎭
Time: 7:00 PM–10:00 PM | Venue: Cross Insurance Center
Legendary luchadores from Mexico bring the masks, the drama, and the acrobatics to Bangor for one night. An event the whole family will be talking about.DJ Juice Live at The Sound Stage Lounge 🎤
Time: 8:00 PM–10:00 PM | Venue: The Sound Stage Lounge
DJ Juice takes over the Sound Stage for a Saturday night set. Come ready to move.Gonzo Radio Dance Party at DREAM 🎤
Time: Doors 8:00 PM, Dance 8:30 PM–11:00 PM | Venue: DREAM, 98 Central St
Slumber party theme, Gonzo’s rules, 21+. A late-night dance party in the heart of downtown.Pride After Dark: A Neon Variety Show 💫
Time: 8:00 PM–11:55 PM | Venue: The House of Entertainment
Burlesque, aerial, drag, and dance under blacklights for Pride. High energy, bold talent, and a room that’s going to glow.VOYD at Penobscot Pour House 🎤
Time: 9:00 PM–11:00 PM | Venue: Penobscot Pour House
80s, 90s, and 2000s rock from Toto to Tool, Billy Idol to Breaking Benjamin. Misheard lyrics strongly encouraged.
SUNDAY, JUNE 14
Bangor Farmers Market
Time: 11:00 AM–1:30 PM | Venue: Corner of Franklin & Harlow Streets
The weekly Sunday market across from the library. Local produce, baked goods, and an unhurried Sunday morning.Beginner Pole 💪
Time: 11:00 AM–12:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B
Strength, conditioning, and foundational pole moves. No experience needed.Intro to Pole 💪
Time: 12:00 PM–1:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B
Momentum, hand placement, and basic spins in a welcoming intro class.Burlesque Basics 💫
Time: 1:00 PM–2:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B
Isolations, classic moves, peels, and props — all the building blocks of burlesque in a fun, no-judgment class.Sunday Community Jam 🎤
Time: 2:00 PM–5:00 PM | Venue: 2 Feet Brewing, Downtown Bangor
People just show up with instruments and play. Three hours of casual music-making at this family-run brewpub. Grab a craft beer and settle in.Circus Fitness 💫
Time: 2:00 PM–3:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B
Silks, lyra, tumbling, and circus-inspired movement all in one class. No experience required.Circus Troupe Training 💫
Time: 3:00 PM–4:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B
Hooping, spinning, juggling, clowning — the full Eye Candy Circus experience. Open to anyone ready to step into something a little extraordinary.Then Sings My Soul 🎤
Time: 5:00 PM–6:15 PM | Venue: Hammond Street Congregational Church
A community hymn sing spanning 250 years of American Christian music. Free, all are welcome, and participation is not just encouraged — it’s expected.
MONDAY, JUNE 15
Community Cleanup Day
Time: 11:00 AM–3:00 PM | Venue: Meet at Together Place, 2 2nd Street
Together Place, BARN, Brick Church, Savida, and partners head to Coe Park to clean it up. Show up, pitch in, and leave the neighborhood better than you found it.Workshop: 10 Things to Know about 10-Minute Plays 🎭
Time: 1:00 PM–4:00 PM | Venue: Penobscot Theatre Company
Playwright Maggie Kearnan walks you through the art and craft of the 10-minute play — structure, intent, audience, and how to make every second count. Bring a notebook; you’ll be writing too.Beginner Lyra and Aerial Silks 💫
Time: 6:00 PM–7:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B
A beginner-friendly aerial class building flexibility, strength, and confidence. Instructor-guided and paced individually.Beginner Pole 💪
Time: 6:00 PM–7:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B
Strength and conditioning on and off the pole, with foundational moves built in.Chimera Coffee Trivia 🍺
Time: 7:00 PM–8:30 PM | Venue: Chimera Coffee, Downtown Bangor
Monday night trivia with Sir_Quizzalot. Beer, wine, espresso, snacks — pick your team and bring your best guesses.Kickboxing & Martial Arts 🥋
Time: 7:00 PM–8:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B
A fitness class blending kickboxing and martial arts technique. Good for stress, better for your confidence.Intro to Pole Dancing 💪
Time: 7:00 PM–8:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B
Momentum, hand placement, foundational spins. A natural next step for anyone curious about pole fitness.Monday Karaoke at Paddy Murphy’s 🎤
Time: 9:00 PM | Venue: Paddy Murphy’s, Downtown Bangor
Monday nights at Paddy’s mean karaoke. Come be part of the rumpus.
TUESDAY, JUNE 16
Out with the Old: Safely Dispose of Your Old Devices
Time: 2:00 PM–3:00 PM | Venue: Bangor Public Library
Tech expert Greg Schulz of House Call Tech walks you through safe data erasure, donation options, and responsible recycling for devices that have run their course.Songwriters’ Open Mic 🎤
Time: 5:00 PM–8:00 PM | Venue: 2 Feet Brewing, Downtown Bangor
Fifteen minutes per songwriter, every Tuesday night. Pull up a stool if you’re listening, or bring something new if you’re ready to play it out.Beginner Belly Dance 💫
Time: 5:30 PM–6:30 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B
Isolations, shimmies, hip work, and fluid arm movements — all the foundations of belly dance in a welcoming class. No experience needed.Mumford & Sons – Prizefighter Tour 🎤
Time: 6:00 PM | Venue: Maine Savings Amphitheater
Mumford & Sons bring the Prizefighter Tour to Bangor with special guest Dylan Gossett. One of the great live acts in rock, on the waterfront.Tuesday Live Irish Sessions & Open Mic 🎤
Time: Live Irish Jam 6:00–8:00 PM, Open Mic 9:00 PM to close | Venue: Paddy Murphy’s
Traditional Irish session followed by an open mic. Paddy’s on a Tuesday is always a good idea.Pole Conditioning 💪
Time: 6:00 PM–7:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B
Core, arms, shoulders, back, and legs — a focused conditioning class built around the muscles you use most in pole.Floor & Flow Class 💫
Time: 7:00 PM–8:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B
Floorwork, fluid transitions, and graceful movement on and around the pole. Strength and style in equal measure.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17
Line Dance 🎤
Time: 12:00 PM–2:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B
Two hours of line dancing for all levels — beginner to seasoned grapeviner. Boots optional, good energy required.Workshop: Point of View in Fiction Writing with Anna Story
Time: 1:00 PM–4:00 PM | Venue: Bangor Public Library
Who’s telling your story — and how? Anna Story’s workshop digs into one of fiction’s most important craft decisions, with readings, discussion, and writing exercises.Live Harness Racing
Time: 3:00 PM | Venue: Hollywood Casino Raceway at Bass Park
Race 16 of the 2026 season. Post time 3:00 PM.Teen Dungeons & Dragons Club
Time: 4:00 PM–5:30 PM | Venue: Bangor Public Library
Barbarians, rangers, sorcerers, and warlocks welcome. Every Wednesday at the library, grades 6–12.STITCH ’N B*TCH
Time: 4:00 PM–6:00 PM | Venue: Red Rabbit Bazaar
Come learn to sew and mend with good company, every Wednesday at Red Rabbit.Intermediate Pole Dance 💪
Time: 5:30 PM–6:30 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B
For dancers who’ve mastered the basics and are ready to push further — more daring moves, seamless transitions, and more challenging choreography.Queen City/Creative Arts Center Chess Club ♟️
Time: 6:00 PM–8:00 PM | Venue: Creative Arts Center, 54 Wilson St, Brewer, ME
Open to all skill levels, every Wednesday night. Pull up a chair and make your move.Kickboxing & Martial Arts Fitness 🥋
Time: 7:00 PM–8:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B
Kick, punch, and build real fitness with a martial arts edge. Every punch and kick gets you closer.
THURSDAY, JUNE 18
Next Chapter Book Club
Time: 2:00 PM–3:00 PM | Venue: Bangor Public Library
A community book club for adults and adolescents with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Open to readers and non-readers alike — everyone belongs here.Intro to Pole 💪
Time: 5:00 PM–6:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B
Pole basics — momentum, hand placement, foundational spins. Thursday evening class.Beginner Pole Flow 💪
Time: 6:00 PM–7:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B
Build confidence, strength, and fluidity from the ground up. A great starting point for anyone new to pole.Chair Burlesque 💫
Time: 6:00 PM–7:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B
Seductive chair tricks, sassy choreography, and the art of the tease. Come feel empowered and fabulous.Trivia Night at Nocturnem Draft Haus 🍺
Time: 7:00 PM–9:30 PM | Venue: Nocturnem Draft Haus
Thursday trivia with weekly prizes. One of Bangor’s best excuses to argue about things that don’t matter over a great beer.Belly Dance Class 💫
Time: 7:00 PM–8:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B
Beginner belly dance rooted in rhythm and grace. A joyful way to reconnect with your body.Pole Clinic Class 💪
Time: 7:00 PM–8:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B
Open practice with instructor support. Work on whatever you’ve been drilling and get real-time guidance to level it up.Summer Campfire Book Club: Age Like A Girl
Venue: Zoom
Casual campfire style conversations via Zoom
This is not your typical book club.Yes, we will discuss Age Like a Girl. But I will also be sharing insights from my clinical experience, connecting Dr. Mindy’s research to the root cause approach we use at Thriving Proof.
CITY HALL & PUBLIC MEETINGS
June 12–18, 2026 | All meetings open to the publicAgendas posted the Friday before at bangormaine.gov/AgendaCenter. Times subject to change.
Finance Committee
Time: 5:15 PM, Monday June 15 | Venue: Council Chambers, 73 Harlow St.Business & Economic Development Committee
Time: 5:20 PM, Monday June 15 | Venue: Council Chambers, 73 Harlow St.
Consecutive meetings follow one another immediately at the conclusion of the preceding meeting.Infrastructure Committee
Time: 5:25 PM, Monday June 15 | Venue: Council Chambers, 73 Harlow St.Bangor Water District Board of Trustees
Time: 3:45 PM, Tuesday June 16 | Venue: Bangor Water District, 614 State St.Public Forum: Revaluation Discussion
Time: 5:30 PM, Tuesday June 16 | Venue: Bangor High School, 885 Broadway
The city is holding a public forum on the property revaluation. If your tax bill has been on your mind, this is the meeting to show up to.Planning Board
Time: 7:00 PM, Tuesday June 16 | Venue: Council Chambers, 73 Harlow St.City Council Budget Workshop
Time: 5:15 PM, Wednesday June 17 | Venue: Council Chambers, 73 Harlow St.Editor's Note
What a vibrant week ahead for Bangor! From cultural performances and lively markets to unique fitness classes and community gatherings, there's truly something for every interest. We encourage you to step out, explore, and connect with your local community. Enjoy the beautiful summer weather and all the wonderful activities our city has to offer!
Support your local newsletter and reach an engaged audience!
Location - Bangor Waterfront
Ca C'est Bon Cajun Food Truck
Wild Cow Creamery
Salt & Cedar Kitchen
The Thai Lotus
Brick & Embers
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Blaze | 18 Broad St, Bangor
Outdoor seating in Maine is a seasonal privilege, not a given. When the sun finally shows up and the temperature cooperates, you want a patio worth sitting on. Blaze has one, and it happens to be attached to one of the better menus in downtown Bangor.
Blaze Bangor Facebook
The kitchen leans on a wood-fired oven and local sourcing. Duck shows up in more than one form, Maine lobster makes it into the mac and cheese, and the pizzas are built on a foundation that actually earns the word “artisanal.” The beer list runs deep, over 50 taps, with enough variety to reward the indecisive.
Lunch and dinner service runs Monday through Saturday from 11:30 AM, with Sunday dinner starting at 10:00 AM.
Summer won’t last forever. Get out there while the weather is nice.
BlazeBangor.com | (207) 922-2660 | 18 Broad St, Bangor
Matt Haskell, Owner, Blaze Restaurant Group
Matt Haskell grew up in Bangor washing dishes at the Ground Round. Last month he bought a winery.
The Bangor High School class of 1996 graduate and his wife Evelina closed on Lincolnville’s Cellardoor Winery in late May, financed with a $1.8 million loan from regional newspaper owner Reade Brower. They’ve renamed it Cellardoor Farm and plan to add lodging, a brewery, a Blaze restaurant, and a second high-end dining concept to the property.
It’s the latest move in a career that started with a dish pit and grew into one of the more quietly impressive restaurant portfolios in Maine. Haskell bought the Bear Brew Pub in Orono in 2002, opened Finback Alehouse in Bar Harbor in 2009, and launched the first Blaze in Bar Harbor in 2011. He brought Blaze home to Bangor in 2014, taking over a space on Broad Street that had sat empty since the Whig and Courier Pub closed. At the time he admitted he wouldn’t have considered it just a few years earlier. Downtown wasn’t the bet it is today.
The Blaze Restaurant Group now spans Bangor, Bar Harbor, Camden, and Biddeford, alongside Blaze Brewing Co. Cellardoor Farm is next.
Not bad for a kid who started out scrubbing pots.
UMaine’s Newest Officer Is 10 Weeks Old and Very Good
The University of Maine Police Department has a new recruit. His name is Bear, he’s a 10-week-old Black English Lab, and his entire job description is making people feel better.
UMaine Instagram
Bear is the UMPD’s latest Comfort K9, partnered with Sgt. Jamey Dover and based out of Orono. He came from Boonefield Labradors in New Hampshire, the same breeder behind Portland PD’s comfort dog Archie. Since arriving on campus last week he’s been making the rounds, from Fogler Library to the Counseling Center, where the director had to be talked out of taking him home.
“Whether he’s offering a calming presence during a stressful time, helping build positive connections, or simply sharing a tail wag and a smile, Bear’s mission is to make our campus a little brighter every day,” the department said.
Mental health support dressed in a tiny work vest. Welcome to campus, Bear.
Presented by: Foam Rush Maine
The Paul Bunyan statue on Main Street has been a Bangor landmark since 1959. But how tall is he, exactly?
9th Annual Darling’s Touch a Truck
Thursday, June 18 | 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Darling’s Insurance Agency, Brewer
Kids are invited to get up close with firetrucks, police cruisers, and more at Darling’s Insurance Agency’s annual Touch a Truck event in Brewer. Free face painting, food, and ice cream on hand. A great early-summer outing for families with little ones who love big vehicles.
Got a great shot of greater Bangor? Submit it for a chance to be featured in Queen City Weekly. Submit your photo here.
Food Resources
If you or someone you know needs a meal or groceries, here are some places operating in Bangor right now. Call ahead to confirm hours before you go.
Salvation Army Dorothy Day Soup Kitchen, 65 South Park St. Meals Monday through Friday, 11:30am to 1pm. Food pantry Wednesdays and Fridays, 9 to 11am (walk-in). 207-535-9572.
Manna Ministry, 95 Center St. Hot meals Monday through Friday, 4 to 5pm. Food pantry Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 3 to 4pm.
Brick Church, 126 Union St. Meals Monday through Friday, 4:30 to 5:30pm. Clothes and showers also available Tuesday and Thursday, 10am to 2pm.
Bangor Area Homeless Shelter, 263 Main St. Soup kitchen daily at 11:45am. Food pantry Sunday and Tuesday, 1 to 4pm (one visit per month).
Bangor Food Pantry, 28 High St. (at Hammond Street Congregational Church). Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:30am to noon. Bangor residents only.
Bangor Region YMCA, 17 Second St. Food pantry Tuesdays 6 to 8am, Thursdays 6 to 7:30pm, Saturdays 12:30 to 2:30pm.
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Have an amazing week, and see you next Friday. — Ken, Editor
Queen City Weekly | Greater Bangor, Maine