A note from the editor
Happy almost-Fourth, Bangor. This weekend the whole Queen City turns red, white, and blue, and honestly, it earns it. A 250th birthday for the country doesn't happen every week. Between the road race, the parade, the fireworks, and everything downtown has going on before and after, there's a lot packed into three days. Grab some water, find some shade, and we'll see you out there.
Ken, the editor
THIS WEEKEND IN BANGOR
First Friday Art Walk 🎨
Time: All evening, July 3
Venue: Downtown Bangor, multiple locations
Local artists take over shops and galleries across downtown for the monthly art walk. Venues change every month, so wander and see what you find.Walter Hunt 4th of July 3K Road Race 🏃
Time: 9:45 AM, July 4
Venue: Starts at Brewer Auditorium, follows the parade route
Maine's fastest road race kicks off the day, right before the parade takes the same streets. $15 to register.Bangor Fourth of July Parade 🎤
Time: 10:00 AM, July 4
Venue: Starts at Acme Rd and Wilson St in Brewer, crosses into Bangor via the Chamberlain Bridge, ends on Exchange St
This year's parade is led by grand marshal George Hale, with a heavy military presence planned to mark the country's 250th. Expect road closures in Brewer and Bangor along the route.Pancake Breakfast and Car Show
Time: 7:00 AM, July 4
Venue: Downtown Bangor
The day starts early with a pancake breakfast and car show before the road race and parade get going. No link available, check local listings closer to the date.Chords for Cure Concert 🎤
Time: 5:30 PM, July 4
Venue: Bangor Waterfront, corner of Railroad St and Front St
The Stone Doctors, a Rolling Stones cover band, headline this benefit concert raising money for kids with cancer through the Pediatric Center in Brewer. Free parking at the Bangor Savings Bank Parkade, food trucks all day.Fourth of July Fireworks
Time: 9:30 PM, July 4
Venue: Over the Penobscot River, launching from behind the waterfront stage
The night caps off with fireworks over the river, visible from both Bangor and Brewer.Bangor Farmers Market
Time: 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM, Sunday
Venue: Corner of Franklin and Harlow Streets, across from Bangor Public Library
The weekly Sunday market rolls on right through the holiday weekend.
Queen City Weekly Event Listing
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Friday, July 3 – Thursday, July 9, 2026
FRIDAY, JULY 3
First Friday Art Walks 🎨 Time: All day | Venue: Various downtown Bangor locations The monthly art walk is back, with local artists and businesses opening their doors all over downtown. Locations change every month, so check the map before you go.
Pole Conditioning 💪 Time: 10:00 AM-11:00 AM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B A strength class built around the muscles pole dancers use most. Come ready to work your core, arms, and grip.
Tech Tutoring Time: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM | Venue: Bangor Public Library One-on-one help with your computer questions from BPL's digital media librarian. Book a 60-minute slot in person, by phone, or over Zoom.
Sohns Gallery: Jeff Wahlstrom Exhibition and Book Launch 🎨 Time: 4:30 PM-6:30 PM | Venue: The Rock and Art Shop, downtown Bangor An opening reception for local artist Jeff Wahlstrom's new watercolor exhibition and book launch. Stop in and meet the artist.
Beginner Pole 💫 Time: 6:00 PM-7:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B New to pole? This class starts from zero, teaching the basics in a supportive, no-pressure room.
Lyra Tips and Tricks 💫 Time: 7:00 PM-8:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B An aerial hoop class focused on cleaning up technique and building confidence in the details.
Godsmack, Stone Temple Pilots & Dorothy 🎤 Time: 7:00 PM-9:00 PM | Venue: Maine Savings Amphitheater A big rock night on the waterfront. Godsmack headlines with Stone Temple Pilots and Dorothy opening.
Game Night and Potluck Time: 8:00 PM-10:00 PM | Venue: downtown Bangor (see listing for host) Bring a dish and a game. A relaxed way to meet people over cards, board games, and food.
SATURDAY, JULY 4 — INDEPENDENCE DAY
Walter Hunt 4th of July 3K Road Race 🏃 Time: 9:45 AM | Venue: Starts at Brewer Auditorium, Wilson St., Brewer Maine's fastest road race runs the parade route just ahead of the crowd. Bib pickup starts at 8 AM.
Bangor-Brewer Fourth of July Parade 🎤 Time: 10:00 AM | Venue: Starts at Acme Rd. & Wilson St., Brewer, crosses the Chamberlain Bridge into Bangor, ends on Exchange St. Bangor legend George Hale is this year's grand marshal. Expect floats, bands, and a packed route on both sides of the river. Streets close along the route, so plan ahead. Forecast calls for sun and 90s, so bring water.
Bangor's European Market Time: 8:30 AM-12:30 PM | Venue: Ingrid's German Gift Shop, downtown Bangor A weekly market of European meats, seafood, produce, and baked goods.
The Declaration at 250: A Rare July Fourth Viewing Time: 9:30 AM-1:30 PM | Venue: Bangor Public Library See the William J. Stone copy of the Declaration of Independence up close, marking the document's 250th anniversary.
Fourth of July Food Trucks and Waterfront Concert 🎤 Time: Food trucks from 1:00 PM, concert at 5:30 PM | Venue: Bangor Waterfront Grab lunch from the food trucks, then stick around for the Stone Doctors, a Rolling Stones cover band, at 5:30 PM.
Fireworks Over the Penobscot Time: 9:30 PM | Venue: Bangor Waterfront The night wraps with fireworks over the river, visible from both Bangor and Brewer.
SUNDAY, JULY 5
Founders & Freedom: A Revolutionary Walk Through Mount Hope Time: 10:00 AM-11:15 AM | Venue: Mount Hope Cemetery A walking tour marking the country's 250th, tracing the stories of Revolutionary War veterans and early Bangor families buried at Mount Hope.
Sun Bi-weekly Crochet Clinic Time: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM | Venue: downtown Bangor (see listing for host) A drop-in space to work on your crochet project, whether you're new or years in.
Beginner Pole 💫 Time: 11:00 AM-12:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Foundational pole moves and conditioning for total beginners.
Bangor Farmers Market Time: 11:00 AM-1:30 PM | Venue: Corner of Franklin & Harlow Streets, across from Bangor Public Library Local produce, baked goods, and crafts every Sunday.
Intro to Pole 💫 Time: 12:00 PM-1:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B The first class on the pole fitness path. Momentum, hand placement, and basic spins.
Live Harness Racing Time: 12:10 PM-2:00 PM | Venue: Hollywood Casino Raceway, Bass Park The 2026 harness racing season continues every Sunday at Bass Park.
Burlesque Basics 💫 Time: 1:00 PM-2:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Isolations, peels, and prop work. A fun way to build confidence and strut a little.
Tarot Card & Intuitive Readings Time: 2:00 PM-4:00 PM | Venue: Red Rabbit Bazaar Monthly tarot and intuitive readings, first Sunday of the month.
Circus Fitness 💫 Time: 2:00 PM-3:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Aerial silks, lyra, and tumbling basics in one high-energy class.
Sunday Community Jam 🎤 Time: 2:00 PM-5:00 PM | Venue: 2 Feet Brewing Bring an instrument and sit in. Open jam every Sunday at this family-run brewpub.
Circus Troupe Training 💫 Time: 3:00 PM-4:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Hoop, spin, dance, and juggle your way toward the Eye Candy Circus troupe.
MONDAY, JULY 6
Monday Karaoke at Paddy Murphy's 🎤 Time: 9:00 PM | Venue: Paddy Murphy's Karaoke kicks off Monday nights at Paddy's.
Pole Conditioning 💪 Time: 10:00 AM-11:00 AM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Strength and endurance work built for pole dancers.
Preschool Storytime Time: 11:00 AM-11:30 AM | Venue: Bangor Public Library A food-themed picture book, craft, and recipe sample. Ages 4-7.
Tech Track: Matilda the Musical 🎭 Time: 11:00 AM-3:00 PM | Venue: downtown Bangor (see listing for host) A summer theater camp building the sets, costumes, and lights for Matilda the Musical.
Beginner Pole 💫 Time: 6:00 PM-7:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Conditioning and floorwork for those just starting out.
Beginner Lyra and Aerial Silks 💫 Time: 6:00 PM-7:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Build flexibility and strength on the hoop and silks, one skill at a time.
Intro to Pole Dancing 💫 Time: 7:00 PM-8:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Momentum, hand placement, and basic spins for new students.
Kickboxing & Martial Arts 🥋 Time: 7:00 PM-8:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B A high-energy self-defense workout to close out the day.
Chimera Coffee Trivia 🍺 Time: 7:00 PM-8:30 PM | Venue: Chimera Coffee Monday trivia with Sir Quizzalot. Beer, wine, espresso, and snacks on hand.
TUESDAY, JULY 7
Lit Chicks Book Club Time: 2:00 PM-3:00 PM | Venue: downtown Bangor (see listing for host) A monthly book group for literary and contemporary fiction with a feminine bent.
Seaweed Squishies with 4H 🐦 Time: 3:00 PM-4:00 PM | Venue: Bangor Public Library A hands-on look at Gulf of Maine seaweed and why it matters to the ecosystem, with a take-home craft. Grades K-12.
Songwriters' Open Mic 🎤 Time: 5:00 PM-8:00 PM | Venue: 2 Feet Brewing Fifteen minutes on the mic for any songwriter who wants it. Every Tuesday.
Beginner Belly Dance 💫 Time: 5:30 PM-6:30 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Isolations, shimmies, and fluid arm work for total beginners.
Bluey's Big Play 🎭 Time: 6:00 PM-8:00 PM | Venue: See listing for confirmed venue (editorial flag: venue not specified in source listing, verify before publishing) The theatrical stage adaptation of the hit kids' show. Bluey and Bingo scheme to get Dad off the bean bag.
Tuesday Live Irish Sessions & Open Mic 🎤 Time: 6:00 PM-9:00 PM | Venue: Paddy Murphy's Live Irish jam from 6 to 8, open mic from 9 to close.
Pole Conditioning 💪 Time: 6:00 PM-7:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Strength and control work for pole students at any level.
An Evening with Debut Author Judson Merrill Time: 7:00 PM-9:00 PM | Venue: BookSpace, The Briar Patch Merrill discusses his debut novel, Paranoid Storytelling, with author and journalist Sarah Walker Caron.
The Bangor Band Concert @ The Waterfront 🎤 Time: 7:00 PM-9:00 PM | Venue: Bangor Waterfront A Salute to America with the 195th Army Band, "Maine's Own."
Floor & Flow Class 💫 Time: 7:00 PM-8:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Floorwork and fluid transitions on and around the pole.
WEDNESDAY, JULY 8
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.
Bangor Community Resource Fair Time: 9:00 AM-12:00 PM | Venue: Bangor Public Library, Atrium and patio Food AND Medicine hosts this month's resource fair, with free food, community resources, and raffle prizes.
Bouncing Baby Story Time Time: 10:15 AM-10:35 AM | Venue: Bangor Public Library Songs, rhymes, and bouncing for babies up to 24 months and their grown-ups.
Tiny Tots Storytime Time: 11:00 AM-11:30 AM | Venue: Bangor Public Library Stories, songs, and finger plays for ages 2-4.
Line Dance 💫 Time: 12:00 PM-2:00 PM | Venue: downtown Bangor (see listing for host) Two hours of stepping, stomping, and grapevining. All levels welcome, boots optional.
Tech Tutoring Time: 2:00 PM-5:00 PM | Venue: Bangor Public Library One-on-one computer help, in person, by phone, or over Zoom.
Beginner Pole 💫 Time: 3:00 PM-4:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Never touched a pole before? This is the class to start with.
Live Harness Racing Time: 3:00 PM-4:00 PM | Venue: Hollywood Casino Raceway, Bass Park Midweek post time at Bass Park.
STITCH 'N B*TCH Time: 4:00 PM-6:00 PM | Venue: Red Rabbit Bazaar A weekly sewing and mending circle. Bring your own project.
Family STEM Night Time: 5:00 PM-7:00 PM | Venue: Challenger Learning Center of Maine Free hands-on science for all ages, including a look inside the Maine Bio Lab trailer.
Intermediate Pole Dance 💫 Time: 5:30 PM-6:30 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B For dancers past the basics who are ready for harder moves and cleaner transitions.
Summer Music Series: The Skyliners 🎤 Time: 6:00 PM-7:00 PM | Venue: Bangor Waterfront (rain date Thursday, July 9) A traditional big band playing swing, jazz, and waltz favorites from the 1940s and '50s.
Wizards and Warp Drives: A Sci-Fi and Fantasy Book Club Time: 6:00 PM-7:00 PM | Venue: Bangor Public Library This month's pick is The Memory Librarian by Janelle Monáe. Meets the second Wednesday of the month.
Kickboxing & Martial Arts Fitness 🥋 Time: 7:00 PM-8:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B A kick-and-punch workout to close out hump day.
THURSDAY, JULY 9
Crafty Corner Time: 11:00 AM-11:45 AM | Venue: Bangor Public Library A drop-in craft for ages 5-11.
Technology Series: Break Up with Google Time: 12:00 PM-1:00 PM | Venue: Bangor Public Library A look at Google alternatives for anyone rethinking how much of their data one company should hold.
Next Chapter Book Club Time: 2:00 PM-3:00 PM | Venue: downtown Bangor (see listing for host) A book club for adolescents and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Intro to Pole 💫 Time: 5:00 PM-6:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Momentum, hand placement, and basic spins for beginners.
Stitch & Sip Time: 5:30 PM-6:30 PM | Venue: downtown Bangor (see listing for host) Crocheting, knitting, and coffee every other Thursday. Bring your own project if you've got one going.
ASL Social Hour Time: 5:30 PM-7:30 PM | Venue: Bangor Public Library Games and good company in ASL, held the second Thursday of the month.
Chair Burlesque 💫 Time: 6:00 PM-7:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Tease, chair tricks, and sassy choreography for a fun confidence boost.
Beginner Pole Flow 💫 Time: 6:00 PM-7:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Build confidence and fluidity from the ground up.
Fire of 1911 Walking Tour Time: 6:00 PM-7:30 PM | Venue: Meets at the Bangor Historical Society Follow the path of the fire that devastated downtown Bangor in 1911, and learn how the city rebuilt.
PanStorm Summer Concert Series 🎤 Time: 6:20 PM-8:00 PM | Venue: West Market Square Steel drum band PanStorm plays West Market Square all summer. This is date two of six.
Pole Clinic Class 💫 Time: 7:00 PM-8:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Open practice time with an instructor on hand to help you clean up your moves.
Trivia Night at Nocturnem Draft Haus 🍺 Time: 7:00 PM-9:30 PM | Venue: Nocturnem Draft Haus Weekly trivia with prizes on the line every Thursday.
Belly Dance Class 💫 Time: 7:00 PM-8:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Rhythm, movement, and the foundations of belly dance in a welcoming room.
Karaoke at Penobscot Pour House 🎤 Time: 8:00 PM-11:55 PM | Venue: Penobscot Pour House Karaoke is back with DJ Mad Kat hosting every Thursday night.
CITY HALL & PUBLIC MEETINGS
July 3-9, 2026 | All meetings open to the public Agendas posted the Friday before at bangormaine.gov/AgendaCenter. Times subject to change.
City Hall Closed for Independence Day Time: Friday, July 3 | Venue: 73 Harlow St. City offices are closed Friday, July 3, in observance of the Fourth of July.
No City Council, committee, or School Committee meetings turned up on the city calendar for this week. The regular City Council cadence (second and fourth Mondays) puts the next meeting on July 13, outside this issue window. This is a light week for City Hall, likely due to the holiday.
Council meetings, when in session, are livestreamed at youtube.com/@cityofbangor.
Editor's Note
This week's listing runs light on City Hall and heavy on fireworks. Independence Day lands on a Saturday this year, so City Hall closes early for the holiday and the council calendar goes quiet until the 13th. In its place: a parade that crosses two cities, a road race that starts before most of us are awake, and a night sky over the Penobscot worth staying up for. Pole studios, book clubs, and the usual Tuesday night trivia carry on right through it, because Bangor doesn't take a full week off even for its own birthday.
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Location - Bangor Waterfront
Ca C'est Bon Cajun Food Truck
Wild Cow Creamery
Salt & Cedar Kitchen
The Thai Lotus
Saturday, July 4
Brick & Embers Wood-Fired Pizza at the Bangor Waterfront
Time: 4:00 PM until after the fireworks | Venue: Bangor Waterfront, 10 Front St., Bangor
Wood-fired pizza all day at the Waterfront, made fresh to order from Brick & Embers' custom oven. A solid dinner stop before the fireworks show.
Mason's Brewing Company, 15 Hardy St., Brewer
Yes, it's Brewer, but it's a two minute drive over the bridge, and it might be the best seat in the house for Saturday night. Mason's sits right on the Penobscot River, directly across from the Waterfront Concerts stage in Bangor, which is exactly where the fireworks launch from. Grab a picnic table on their riverside patio, order a pizza or a burger, and watch the show light up the water without fighting the crowds on the Bangor side.
They're open until 10 PM Saturday, so you'll have time to eat first. Patio is pet friendly too, if the dog can handle the noise.
Benjamin's Brewer, 46 Acme Rd., Brewer
Five years in the making, Benjamin's Brewer finally opened its doors yesterday. It's a veteran and first responder themed brewery and restaurant from Richard "Clarko" Clark and his wife Mandy, the same pair who ran Benjamin's Pub on Franklin Street in Bangor for years before selling it in 2024. Home brews on tap, an outdoor beer garden, and a wall in the lobby where anyone can leave a thank you note for a veteran.
Given the timing, it's hard to think of a better weekend for a veteran-owned brewery to open its doors. It also happens to sit right at the corner of Acme Rd and Wilson St in Brewer, exactly where Saturday's parade lines up. Grab a beer before the floats start moving.
George Hale
If you're watching Saturday's parade, you'll see this year's grand marshal riding at the front, and there's a real story behind it. Hale spent decades on Bangor airwaves, most recently 20-plus years co-hosting mornings on WVOM with Ric Tyle. His run there ended abruptly this spring when the station let him go while he was on vacation, and Maine responded the way Maine does, with tribute events and a one-night revival of The Nite Show in his honor.
He's also a veteran, which matters this year in particular, with parade organizers pushing for a bigger military presence to mark the country's 250th. Leading the parade on America's 250th birthday feels like the right way to close out a career like his.
For the twelfth year running, Bangor's Mike Laliberte flipped a 400 pound tire one mile through his neighborhood, 800 flips, over 3 hours, all for the Maine Veterans Project. What started, by his own admission, "out of spite" has turned into a fundraiser that's now pulled in more than $160,000. Laliberte's dad is a Vietnam veteran, and a lot of his friends and family have served too.
With the Fourth of July making veterans a bigger part of the conversation this week anyway, it felt like the right moment to point at a guy who's spent over a decade putting his back into it, literally, for people who served.
Presented by: Foam Rush Maine
This year's Walter Hunt 4th of July 3K Road Race marks its 43rd running. What year did it first hit the pavement?
City Hall is closed Friday, July 3, in observance of the Fourth of July.
Road closures: Streets along the parade route in both Brewer and Bangor close to traffic Saturday morning. If you live or work near Acme Rd, Wilson St, Main St, or Exchange St, plan an alternate route or expect delays.
Heads up if you're headed downtown Saturday, forecasts are calling for 90-degree heat. Bring water, find shade when you can.
Next city meetings: Business & Economic Development Committee, July 6 at 5:20 PM; Planning Board, July 7 at 7:00 PM, both at City Hall.
USA 250 decorations are up around downtown Bangor through July 11, part of the city's Semiquincentennial recognition.
This week's photo by Ken D'Errico.
This week's photo comes from our own archive: fireworks over Bangor from 2024, caught mid-burst against a sky glowing red from the smoke of the shows before it. Purple starbursts trail into gold willow branches up top, while a fresh red burst opens up below, still sharp and white hot at the center.
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