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A note from the editor
Three big days in a row. Well, almost.
Saturday is Halloween. The real one, on a Saturday night, which doesn't happen often. Sunday, the clocks fall back and we all get an extra hour of sleep. Then on Tuesday, Bangor votes.
This week's Who to Know is the person who makes Tuesday work. She has been running elections since 1991, and she still says it's her favorite part of the job.
We also have the perfect breakfast stop on your way to the polls, and a Bangor family that just took over a little paper you've probably read a hundred times without thinking about who makes it.
See you around town.
Ken, the editor
🏡 THIS WEEKEND IN BANGOR
Friday, October 30
Touch a Truck & Treat Time: 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM Venue: Cross Insurance Center, Parking Lot E, 515 Main St. Bangor Parks & Recreation's family favorite is back. Put on a costume, climb into big trucks and cool vehicles, and collect treats along the way. Free.
Ghostly Bangor Walking Tour Time: 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM Venue: Bangor Historical Society, downtown Bangor. Unsolved mysteries, murder, and maybe a few spirits that never left. A 90-minute walk through downtown. $12, capped at 25 people, and it sells out. Buy ahead.
Night of the Living Dead: Live Reading and the Haunted Opera House Tour 🎭 Time: Reading at 8:30 PM, tour at 8:45 PM Venue: The Stage Door, 115 Main St., then the Bangor Opera House, 131 Main St. Penobscot Theatre actors read the zombie classic, adapted by Ben Layman. Then Ben, PTC's resident ghost expert, takes you backstage to meet the Opera House's three resident ghosts. Last chance this year.
Broomstick 🎭 Time: 7:00 PM (also Sunday at 3 PM) Venue: Penobscot Theatre Company, Bangor Opera House, 131 Main St. One witch, one cozy cottage in the woods, and a whole life story she wants you to hear. A good one for Halloween weekend.
Saturday, October 31
Costume Shopping Party with Baked By Joy Time: 11:00 AM to 3:00 PM Venue: Dream Charm Bar & Permanent Jewelry, downtown Bangor. Shop in your costume on Halloween day, with treats from Baked By Joy. Fun fact: both businesses got their start at Bangor's European Market.
Neighborhood Trick or Treat Time: Saturday evening Venue: Neighborhoods all over Bangor Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, so expect big crowds on the porches that go all out. Drive slow, carry a flashlight, and give the little ones extra room.
Halloween Drag Show and Goth Night 💫 Time: VIP doors 6:00 PM, general admission 7:00 PM Venue: The House of Entertainment, 128 Main St. Drag queens, goth looks, and dancing all night. Costume contest pays $100 for first place and $50 for second. Ages 18 and up.
Bangor Boo Ball 🎤 Time: 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM Venue: Ballroom, Hollywood Casino, 500 Main St. WKIT's Halloween bash has live music, food, tarot card readings, and a costume contest. One rule: masks come off if you step onto the casino floor.
Benjamin's Halloween Party 🍺 Time: 11:00 PM to 1:00 AM Venue: Benjamin's Restaurant & Pub, 123 Franklin St. A late-night costume contest and a live DJ for anyone still going strong.
Sunday, November 1
Spooky Adventure: Cemetery, Gong Bath, and Tarot 🐦 Time: 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM Venue: Starts at Mount Hope Cemetery, then moves to Thriving Proof and Acadia Rising Sound Therapy . Maine Yoga Adventures leads one last spooky afternoon. A walk through Mount Hope, a vegetarian soup supper, tarot readings, a little yoga, and a Halloween gong bath. $80 covers everything. Book through maineyogaadventures.com.
Sunday Community Jam 🎤 Time: 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM Venue: 2 Feet Brewing, downtown Bangor Bring an instrument and play, or just grab a pint and listen. A good way to spend that extra hour.
Tuesday is Election Day.
Early voting is over. Now it comes down to Tuesday, November 3.
Twelve people are running for three seats on the Bangor City Council. That's the biggest field in at least 40 years. The School Committee race is on the ballot too. Your ballot also includes state and federal races, from the Legislature up to governor and U.S. Senate.
Still deciding on the Council? Our free guide has every candidate in one place. No paywall, no spin.
Where and when: Every Bangor voter votes in the same place. The Cross Insurance Center, 515 Main St. Polls are open 7 AM to 8 PM.
Not registered yet? You can register at the polls on Election Day. Bring ID and proof of address.
Have an absentee ballot at home? Return it by 8 PM on Tuesday. Drop it at the City Clerk's office or the drop box outside City Hall, 73 Harlow St. The clerk's office has asked in past years that people not bring absentee ballots to the Cross Center.
Questions? Call the City Clerk's office at 207-992-4220.
Queen City Weekly Event Listing
Friday, October 30 – Thursday, November 5, 2026
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FRIDAY, OCTOBER 30
Pole Conditioning with Sam 💪 Time: 10:00 AM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Start your Friday with grip, core, and a little bit of sweat. Strength work that makes every spin easier.
Tech Tutoring Time: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM | Venue: Bangor Public Library, Computer Lab Stuck on an app, an email, or that pop-up that won't quit? Book a free one-on-one hour with the library's digital media librarian.
Zillman Art Museum Exhibitions 🎨 Time: 10:00 AM-5:00 PM | Venue: Zillman Art Museum, 40 Harlow St. Free art, right downtown. Open Friday and Saturday this weekend, then again Tuesday through Thursday.
Tai Chi Time: 12:00 PM-1:00 PM | Venue: Spiral Studio, 16 State St., 4th Floor A slow, steady lunch-hour reset. No experience needed, just show up and breathe.
Touch a Truck & Treat Time: 5:30 PM-7:30 PM | Venue: Cross Insurance Center, Parking Lot E Big trucks, cool rides, and candy, all free. Bangor Parks & Rec brings back a family favorite, so put the kids in costume and go climb aboard.
Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! Gala Time: 6:00 PM | Venue: Collins Center for the Arts, Orono The Collins Center's big night out: cocktails, heavy apps, and prizes on the third floor, then downstairs for the ABBA show.
Gallery Night with Laura and Mel Time: 6:00 PM-8:00 PM | Venue: Leap of Faith Soul Space, 17 Doughty Dr., Brewer An evening of mediumship messages, in person. Fitting for the night before Halloween.
Nervous System Reset: Sound Healing for Stress Relief Time: 6:00 PM-9:00 PM | Venue: Thriving Proof, 33 Penn Plaza Lie back and let gongs and singing bowls do the work. Just 12 spots, $40, with scholarship spots available.
Beginner Pole with Hailey 💫 Time: 6:30 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Never touched a pole? Perfect. This is where everyone starts.
Broomstick 🎭 Time: 7:00 PM-8:30 PM | Venue: Penobscot Theatre Company, 131 Main St. A witch invites you into her cottage to hear her life story, love, power, payback and all. Spooky, sharp, and perfectly timed for Halloween weekend.
Ghostly Bangor Walking Tour Time: 7:00 PM-8:30 PM | Venue: Departs Thomas A. Hill House, 159 Union St. Unsolved mysteries and lingering energies, told on the streets where they happened. $12, capped at 25, and tickets must be bought by noon.
The Lightning Thief: The Percy Jackson Musical 🎭 Time: 7:00 PM | Venue: Orono Performing Arts Center, 14 Goodridge Dr., Orono Orono High and Middle School students take on gods, monsters, and a rock score. Go cheer on the kids.
Time Time: 7:00 PM-8:00 PM | Venue: Versant Power Astronomy Center, Orono A planetarium show about the thing we never have enough of. Lie back and look up.
Korean Swordsmanship Beginners Class 🥋 Time: 7:30 PM-8:30 PM | Venue: Kishintaikan Dojo, 88 Central St. Haidong Gumdo has roots in Korea's Three Kingdoms era. Your first class is free and all gear is provided.
Lyra Tips and Tricks 💫 Time: 7:30 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Level up your aerial hoop game with new shapes and transitions.
Flute Night 🎤 Time: 7:30 PM-9:30 PM | Venue: Minsky Recital Hall, UMaine Orono A whole evening built around the flute. Light, lovely, and a nice change of pace.
Mania: The ABBA Tribute 🎤 Time: 8:00 PM-10:00 PM | Venue: Collins Center for the Arts, Orono Straight from London's West End with the costumes, the band, and every hit you know by heart. Dancing Queens, this is your night.
Night of the Living Dead: Live Reading 🎭 Time: 8:30 PM-9:30 PM | Venue: The Stage Door, 115 Main St. PTC actors read George Romero's zombie classic out loud while you sit among the trapped survivors. Barricade the door.
Monster Mash: A Halloween Spooktacular Time: 8:30 PM-9:30 PM | Venue: Versant Power Astronomy Center, Orono A Halloween show under the dome. Spooky skies, no jump scares required.
Haunted Opera House Tour Time: 8:45 PM-9:45 PM | Venue: Penobscot Theatre Company, 131 Main St. Meet the Opera House's three resident ghosts with PTC's own ghost expert, Ben Layman. You'll even go backstage.
Glow Party with DJ Zach Leal 🎤 Time: 9:00 PM-11:55 PM | Venue: Penobscot Pour House, 14 Larkin St. Neon on, Halloweekend started. $6 cover, 21+.
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31 🎃
76th Annual Hunter's Breakfast Time: 5:00 AM-9:00 AM | Venue: Old Town Elks Lodge, 37 Fourth St., Old Town The Old Town Rotary has been feeding hunters for 76 years, and it's still only $5 a plate. Families welcome.
Vinyasa Breath Time: 8:00 AM-9:30 AM | Venue: Spiral Studio, 16 State St., 4th Floor Flow plus deep breathwork. A slower, more inward way to start a big day.
Bangor's European Market Time: 8:30 AM-12:30 PM | Venue: Ingrid's German Gift Shop, 117 Buck St. Meats, seafood, produce, and baked goods from near and far. Grab your Halloween party snacks here.
Halloween Craft Fair and Trick or Treat Time: 9:00 AM-2:00 PM | Venue: Bangor Elks Lodge, 244 Odlin Rd. Local crafters, vendors, and a trick-or-treat route for the kids. Free admission.
Halloween Day Paddle at Hirundo 🐦 Time: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM | Venue: Hirundo Wildlife Refuge, 35 Hudson Rd., Alton Wear your best costume and paddle Pushaw Stream in the crisp fall air. Easily the most scenic Halloween plan around.
Saturday Story Stop Time: 11:00 AM-11:30 AM | Venue: Bangor Public Library, Story Room Books, songs, and games for ages 3 to 6. Costumes are surely welcome today.
Costume Shopping Party with Baked By Joy Time: 11:00 AM-3:00 PM | Venue: Dream Charm Bar, 98 Central St. Cookies, charm bar deals, and a meet and greet with a famous ice princess. All costumes welcome.
Live Harness Racing Time: 11:45 AM post time | Venue: Hollywood Casino Raceway at Bass Park Fall racing at the Queen City's own track. Get there early to pick your favorites.
All Leyline's Eve Draft Time: 12:00 PM | Venue: Game Citadel, 720 Broadway, Suite 5 A Halloween Magic draft with Duskmourn, Murders at Karlov Manor, and Reality Fracture packs. Every game starts with Leyline of Anticipation already in play, so expect chaos.
Monster Mash: A Halloween Spooktacular Time: 2:00 PM-3:00 PM | Venue: Versant Power Astronomy Center, Orono The afternoon showing of the planetarium's Halloween show. A good fit for little ghouls.
Matinee Saturday Time: 2:30 PM-4:30 PM | Venue: Bangor Public Library, Teen Study Room B Movie and popcorn for grades 6 to 12.
Halloween Drag Show and Goth Night 💫 Time: 6:00 PM VIP, 7:00 PM general | Venue: The House of Entertainment, 128 Main St. Drag queens, goth glam, and a $100 top prize in the costume contest. 18+, and it's almost full.
Black Market Monster Mash 3 with Spose 🎤 Time: 7:00 PM | Venue: The Old Town Theatre, 261 Main St., Old Town Maine's own Spose headlines a Halloween night show. Tickets are going fast.
Back from the Dead Cemetery Walk Time: 7:15 PM and later start times | Venue: Forest Hill Cemetery, Main St., Old Town The dead have a few words for you, and they've been waiting. A Halloween night walk among the stones.
Bangor Boo Ball 🎤 Time: 8:00 PM-11:00 PM | Venue: Hollywood Casino Ballroom, 500 Main St. WKIT throws Bangor's biggest Halloween bash with live music, tarot, food, and a costume contest. Masks off if you head to the casino floor.
DJ Roks on Roks 🎤 Time: 8:00 PM-11:55 PM | Venue: Hollywood Casino Sound Stage Lounge Free tunes in the lounge for anyone not in the ballroom.
Halloween Costume Party with DJ Zach Leal 🎤 Time: 9:00 PM-11:55 PM | Venue: Penobscot Pour House, 14 Larkin St. Night two at the Pour House. Bring your crew and your best costume.
Benjamin's Halloween Party Time: 11:00 PM-1:00 AM | Venue: Benjamin's Restaurant and Pub, 123 Franklin St. A late-night DJ and costume contest to close out Halloween.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 1
Clocks fall back one hour at 2 AM. Enjoy the extra sleep.
Rabbit Rabbit Start of Month Sale Time: All day | Venue: Red Rabbit Bazaar Say "rabbit rabbit" for luck, then take 10% off regular-priced items.
Sunday All-Levels Vinyasa Yoga Time: 9:00 AM-10:00 AM | Venue: Wellness Works of Maine, 9 Central St. A welcoming flow for every level. $18 drop-in, and new students get 3 classes for $40.
Slow Flow Yoga Time: 10:30 AM-12:00 PM | Venue: Spiral Studio, 16 State St., 4th Floor Gentle, trauma-informed movement at a pace that feels good. Beginners welcome.
Beginner Pole 💫 Time: 11:00 AM-12:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B The friendliest first step onto the pole.
Fly Pole 💫 Time: 11:00 AM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Pole meets aerial. Expect to spend a lot of time off the ground.
Live Harness Racing Time: 11:45 AM post time | Venue: Hollywood Casino Raceway at Bass Park Back-to-back race days. Sunday's card kicks off right before noon.
Intro to Pole 💫 Time: 12:00 PM-1:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Basic spins and moves in a no-pressure room.
Theater 💫 Time: 12:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Stage presence and performance skills for movers who want to shine.
Spooky Adventure: Cemetery, Gong Bath, and Tarot 🐦 Time: 1:00 PM-6:00 PM | Venue: Mount Hope Cemetery and Thriving Proof A walk through America's second oldest garden cemetery, then soup, tarot, and a Halloween gong bath. $80, all in. Moved here from Oct. 24.
Intro to Pole 💫 Time: 1:00 PM-2:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B A second chance to try pole today.
Lyra Hoop 💫 Time: 1:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Climb into the aerial hoop and learn to pose, spin, and hang on.
Tarot Card & Intuitive Readings Time: 2:00 PM-4:00 PM | Venue: Red Rabbit Bazaar First Sunday of the month means readings at Red Rabbit. Keep the spooky going one more day.
Sunday Community Jam 🎤 Time: 2:00 PM-5:00 PM | Venue: 2 Feet Brewing Bring an instrument and join in, or just grab a pint and listen.
Legends of the Night Sky: Orion Time: 2:00 PM-3:00 PM | Venue: Versant Power Astronomy Center, Orono Meet the hunter who rules the winter sky, and learn the stories behind him.
Intro to Intermediate Pole 💫 Time: 2:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Ready for more than the basics? This is your bridge class.
Broomstick 🎭 Time: 3:00 PM-4:30 PM | Venue: Penobscot Theatre Company, 131 Main St. Sunday matinee for the witch's tale. Cozy, chilling, and darkly funny.
Circus Fitness: Aerials, Tumbling, and More 💫 Time: 3:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Run off and join the circus, at least for an hour.
Circus Training Ring 💫 Time: 3:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Focused circus skills training for students building toward performance.
Sunday Restorative Flow Yoga Time: 4:00 PM-5:00 PM | Venue: Wellness Works of Maine, 9 Central St. Donation-based, $10-20 suggested, and you pick a local nonprofit to support too.
Rolling Stones: Living in a Ghost Town 🎤 Time: 4:00 PM-5:00 PM | Venue: Versant Power Astronomy Center, Orono The Stones, full volume, wrapped around you in the dome.
Vinyasa I Time: 5:45 PM-6:45 PM | Venue: Spiral Studio, 16 State St., 4th Floor Foundational flow to set up your week. Beginners welcome.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 2
Whatever Moves You (Free Form Dance) 💫 Time: 9:00 AM-10:00 AM | Venue: Spiral Studio, 16 State St., 4th Floor Four flights of stairs, then 55 minutes of dancing however you want. A pretty great way to start a Monday.
Learn About Rug Braiding Time: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM | Venue: Bangor Public Library, Board Room Local rug braiders show you the craft, the tools, and how hard it really is (spoiler: not very).
Full S.T.E.A.M. Ahead Time: 11:00 AM-11:45 AM and 4:00 PM-4:45 PM | Venue: Bangor Public Library, Story Room Hands-on science story time for grades 1 to 4. Registration required: 947-8336 ext. 111.
Vinyasa I Time: 5:45 PM-6:45 PM | Venue: Spiral Studio, 16 State St., 4th Floor Sun salutations, standing poses, and steady breath after work.
Beginner Pole Dancing 💫 Time: 6:00 PM-7:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Start the week with something new. No experience needed.
Beginner Lyra and Aerial Silks 💫 Time: 6:00 PM-7:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Hoop and fabric basics for first-time flyers.
Chimera Coffee Trivia 🍺 Time: 7:00 PM-8:30 PM | Venue: Chimera Coffee Sir_Quizzalot runs the show. Beer, wine, espresso, and bragging rights.
Empower Flow: Core Strength Through Movement 💪 Time: 7:00 PM-8:00 PM | Venue: Spiral Studio, 16 State St., 4th Floor Yoga, Pilates, and dance blended into a low-impact core workout. Bands and balls provided.
Intro to Pole Dancing 💫 Time: 7:00 PM-8:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Your first spins in a room full of cheerleaders.
Kickboxing & Martial Arts 🥋 Time: 7:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Punch out the Monday stress. A real workout with real technique.
Monday Karaoke at Paddy Murphy's 🎤 Time: 9:00 PM | Venue: Paddy Murphy's Be part of the rumpus. The mic is yours.
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3
Election Day. Check your polling place before you head out.
Husson Horizons Podcast, Episode 3.4 Time: New episode drops today | Venue: Online Husson University's podcast is back with a fresh episode. Queue it up for the commute.
Ladies Breakfast with Glad Tidings Time: 9:00 AM-10:30 AM | Venue: Husson Dining Center, 1 College Cir. A full breakfast for $8 and good company. All women welcome.
Bouncing Baby Story Time Time: 10:15 AM-10:35 AM | Venue: Bangor Public Library, Story Room Rhymes, songs, and bouncing for babies up to 24 months.
Tiny Tots Storytime Time: 11:00 AM-11:30 AM | Venue: Bangor Public Library, Story Room Stories, games, and finger plays for ages 2 to 4.
Lit Chicks Book Club Time: 2:00 PM-3:00 PM | Venue: Bangor Public Library, Crofutt Community Room Literary and contemporary fiction with a feminine bent. New readers always welcome.
Tech Club Time: 3:30 PM-4:15 PM | Venue: Bangor Public Library, Story Room Kids in grades 3 to 5 build their own video games. Only 15 spots, so call 947-8336 ext. 111.
Teen Craft and Chat Time: 4:00 PM-5:00 PM | Venue: Bangor Public Library, Teen Lounge Crafts, snacks, and hanging out for grades 6 to 12.
Songwriters' Open Mic 🎤 Time: 5:00 PM-8:00 PM | Venue: 2 Feet Brewing Every songwriter gets 15 minutes. Bring your originals.
Yoga Flow Time: 5:00 PM-6:00 PM | Venue: Keith Anderson Community Center, Orono All-levels flow with Holly Twining. $15 drop-in, or $10 if it's been a rough week.
Restorative/Yin Yoga Time: 5:45 PM-6:45 PM | Venue: Spiral Studio, 16 State St., 4th Floor Long holds, lots of props, deep rest. Exactly what Election Day calls for.
Tuesday Live Irish Sessions & Open Mic 🎤 Time: 6:00 PM-8:00 PM Irish jam, 9:00 PM open mic | Venue: Paddy Murphy's Fiddles and pints early, open mic late.
Open Build Night Time: 6:00 PM-8:00 PM | Venue: Bangor Makerspace, 34 Freedom Pkwy., Hermon Bring your project, your tools, or just your ideas. Free.
Beginner Pole 💫 Time: 6:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Spins and basics for brand-new students.
Pole Conditioning 💪 Time: 7:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B The strength work that makes the tricks look easy.
Embody Flow 💫 Time: 7:00 PM-8:15 PM | Venue: Spiral Studio, 16 State St., 4th Floor No choreography, no wrong moves. Just music and moving the way your body wants.
Happy Endings Karaoke Tuesday 🎤 Time: 9:00 PM-11:55 PM | Venue: Happy Endings DJ EJ hosts. Sing your feelings after a long day.
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4
Slow Flow Yoga Time: 8:30 AM-9:30 AM | Venue: Spiral Studio, 16 State St., 4th Floor A gentle midweek morning practice. Beginners welcome.
Bouncing Baby Story Time Time: 10:15 AM-10:35 AM | Venue: Bangor Public Library, Story Room Songs and rhymes for babies up to 24 months.
Tiny Tots Storytime Time: 11:00 AM-11:30 AM | Venue: Bangor Public Library, Story Room Stories and play for ages 2 to 4.
Technology Workshop: Avoiding AI Time: 2:00 PM-4:00 PM | Venue: Bangor Public Library, Norman Minsky Lecture Hall How generative AI works, why it gets facts wrong, and how to keep it off your devices if you'd rather not use it.
Tech Tutoring Time: 2:00 PM-5:00 PM | Venue: Bangor Public Library Free one-on-one help with any tech question. Book a 60-minute slot.
Live Harness Racing Time: 2:30 PM post time | Venue: Hollywood Casino Raceway at Bass Park A midweek afternoon at the track.
Beginner Pole Dance 💫 Time: 4:00 PM-5:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B An after-school or after-work intro to pole.
STITCH 'N B*TCH 🎨 Time: 4:00 PM-6:00 PM | Venue: Red Rabbit Bazaar Learn to sew and mend with good company and a little venting.
Teen Dungeons and Dragons Club Time: 4:00 PM-5:00 PM | Venue: Bangor Public Library, Teen Study Room A New adventurers welcome. Grades 6 to 12.
Where the Lotus Fields Remember: Opening Reception 🎨 Time: 5:00 PM-7:00 PM | Venue: IMRC Center, Stewart Hall, UMaine Orono Be first to see a new exhibition at UMaine's media and art hub.
Intermediate Pole Dance 💫 Time: 5:30 PM-6:30 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Combos, climbs, and more flow for students with the basics down.
Vinyasa II Time: 5:45 PM-6:45 PM | Venue: Spiral Studio, 16 State St., 4th Floor Faster flow with arm balances and inversions for experienced students.
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.
Foundations: Gratitude and Warmth Time: 6:00 PM-8:00 PM | Venue: Spiral Studio, 16 State St., 4th Floor A two-hour workshop on gratitude, heart-opening poses, and what it means to have enough. Bring a journal.
Saving Walden's World Screening Time: 6:00 PM-7:30 PM | Venue: Black Bear Cinemas, 6 Stillwater Ave., Orono A Maine family lives off-grid and travels the world looking for better ways to live. A documentary with a hopeful streak.
Beginner Burlesque 💫 Time: 7:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Sass, strut, and confidence. No experience required.
Kickboxing & Martial Arts Fitness 🥋 Time: 7:00 PM-8:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Midweek cardio with real martial arts technique.
Hoppily Ever After Romance Book Club: Happily Ever Afterlife Time: 7:30 PM-8:30 PM | Venue: BookSpace, 48 Columbia St. The Briar Patch's romance club takes on a sapphic ghost story. Light refreshments and plenty of trope talk.
Lyra Tips and Tricks 💫 Time: 8:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B New shapes and transitions on the aerial hoop.
Havvick Live at Penobscot Pour House 🎤 Time: 9:00 PM-11:55 PM | Venue: Penobscot Pour House, 14 Larkin St. Homegrown Maine rock with big riffs and serious chops. Turn it up.
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5
AIGA Office Hours: Bangor 🎨 Time: 10:00 AM-12:00 PM | Venue: Bangor Public Library, 145 Harlow St. Free coworking for designers, creatives, and students. Bring your laptop and meet your people.
Next Chapter Book Club Time: 2:00 PM-3:00 PM | Venue: Bangor Public Library, Crofutt Community Room A book club for teens and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Everyone reads together, at every level.
Veterans For Peace Book Discussion Group Time: 5:30 PM-6:30 PM | Venue: Bangor Public Library, Crofutt Community Room Part of a two-part discussion led by the local chapter's president, Adam Toothaker. A thoughtful pick for Veterans Day week.
Vinyasa I Time: 5:45 PM-6:45 PM | Venue: Spiral Studio, 16 State St., 4th Floor Foundational flow to wind down the week.
Beginner Pole Flow 💫 Time: 6:00 PM-7:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Link spins and moves into smooth, flowing combos.
Lit Chat Cafe with Travis Kennedy and Robert Monroe Time: 6:00 PM-8:00 PM | Venue: Barliman's, 2 Hammond St. Two Maine authors talk rock 'n roll novels, getting published, and Hollywood dreams. Free, with food and drinks for sale.
Bangor Pub Run 🏃 Time: 6:30 PM-8:00 PM | Venue: Meets outside Paddy Murphy's Run 3 to 5 miles, then grab a drink downtown. Walk part of it if you need to, nobody minds.
Broomstick 🎭 Time: 7:00 PM-8:30 PM | Venue: Penobscot Theatre Company, 131 Main St. Last Thursday show for the witch's tale. Catch it before it flies off.
Trivia Night at Nocturnem Draft Haus 🍺 Time: 7:00 PM-9:30 PM | Venue: Nocturnem Draft Haus Weekly prizes and the best beer list in town.
Pole Clinic 💪 Time: 7:00 PM-8:00 PM | Venue: Eye Candy Dance & Fitness, 128 Main St., Suite B Bring the move you're stuck on. Get coached through it.
Karaoke at Penobscot Pour House 🎤 Time: 8:00 PM-11:55 PM | Venue: Penobscot Pour House, 14 Larkin St. DJ Mad Kat is back on the mic. Thursday night belongs to you.
CITY HALL & PUBLIC MEETINGS October 30 to November 5 | All meetings open to the public Agendas posted the Friday before at bangormaine.gov/AgendaCenter. Times subject to change.
Commission on Cultural Development Time: 5:30 PM, Wednesday, November 4 | Venue: Paul Bunyan Meeting Room, City Hall, 73 Harlow St.
A quiet week at City Hall. Nov. 2 is the first Monday, so there is no City Council meeting. The new Council meets Monday, Nov. 9, starting with a 10:00 AM reorganizational meeting, followed by a 5:15 PM workshop and the 7:00 PM regular meeting. City Council meetings are also livestreamed at youtube.com/@cityofbangor.
From Bangor Parks & Recreation: Touch a Truck & Treat, Friday, Oct. 30, 5:30 PM-7:30 PM, Cross Insurance Center Lot E. Free. (Also listed under Friday.)
From the Editor
The Old Town Rotary has been cooking breakfast for hunters for 76 years, and the plate is still five bucks. Some things in this town just keep going. If you’re up at 5 AM Saturday, go see for yourself.
Halloween lands on a Saturday this year, so Bangor gets the whole day. Paddle Pushaw Stream in costume at Hirundo. Draft a haunted Magic deck at Game Citadel. Then pick your night: the Boo Ball at Hollywood Casino, Spose at the Old Town Theatre, drag and goth glam on Main Street, or a cemetery walk where the dead do the talking.
On Sunday the clocks fall back and everyone gets a free hour. Spend it strolling Mount Hope with a bowl of soup and a gong bath waiting at the end. Or head to the planetarium in Orono and hear the old stories behind Orion.
Tuesday is Election Day. Vote, then go hear a songwriter at 2 Feet or a fiddle tune at Paddy’s.
If you’ve still got an evening left by Thursday, there’s a witch at Penobscot Theatre who has lived a very long life. She has a story to tell, and she’s saving you a seat by the fire.
It gets dark early now. Bring a light and come out anyway.
See you out there,
The editor
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Craft fair season starts now.
The food trucks on the waterfront are coming to an end up for the year. Now it's craft fair season. Church basements, school gyms, and big rooms from Brewer to Belfast are about to fill up with wreaths, knit hats, fudge, and handmade gifts. We'll keep a running list here every week through December.
This weekend
Halloween Craft Fair and Trick or Treat Time: Saturday, October 31, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM Venue: Tina's Craft & Direct Sale Guru's. Crafters and vendors, plus trick or treating for the kids. Free admission.
Coming up
Bangor Mall Christmas Craft Fair Time: November 7 and 8, and November 14 and 15. Saturdays 10 AM to 5 PM, Sundays 10 AM to 4 PM. Venue: Bangor Mall, 651 Stillwater Ave. The big one. More than 300 vendors from around New England, food trucks outside, and free photos with Santa from 10 to 3 each day. Bring your own phone or camera. Free admission.
All Souls Annual Bazaar Time: Saturday, November 14, 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM Venue: All Souls Congregational Church, 10 Broadway Handmade crafts, baked goods, and church bazaar treasures.
Kris Kringle Market & Book Shoppe Time: Sunday, November 15, 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM Venue: Nocturnem Draft Haus, 56 Main St. Local authors, independent makers, and gifts, with a pint in reach.
Maine Harvest Festival Time: November 21 and 22, 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM Venue: Cross Insurance Center, 515 Main St. More than 100 Maine farmers, food makers, and craftspeople under one roof. Free admission.
Around the area
Waterfall Arts Holiday Pop-Up Market, Belfast Time: December 4 and 5 Venue: Waterfall Arts, 256 High St., Belfast. Local artists and makers at one of the midcoast's favorite art centers. Worth the drive.
Wabanaki Winter Market, Orono Time: Saturday, December 12, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Venue: Collins Center for the Arts, University of Maine Wabanaki artists sell baskets, beadwork, carvings, and birchbark work straight from their own tables. There's music, drumming, and storytelling too. Free admission and free parking across the street.
Annual favorites to watch for
These fairs come back every year. Dates for 2026 aren't posted yet. We'll add them as soon as they are.
St. Paul the Apostle Parish Christmas Fair, Brewer. Wreaths, crafts, baked goods, raffles, and a homemade chicken pie lunch in the hall at St. Joseph Church, 531 N. Main St. Usually a Saturday in mid-November.
United Maine Craftsmen Thanksgiving Arts and Crafts Show, Brewer. One of the oldest shows around, running for more than 45 years. Crafters from all over New England. Thanksgiving weekend.
Ye Olde Holiday Shoppe, Orono. The Page Farm and Home Museum at UMaine fills up with local artists, bakers, farms, and authors. Usually the first Saturday in December.
Ellsworth High School Craft Fair, Ellsworth. More than 30 local vendors, with money going to the senior class. Free. Usually the weekend before Thanksgiving.
Got a fair? Church bazaars, school fairs, and Grange sales rarely make the big calendars. Send us the name, town, date, time, and place, and we'll add it to the list.
I Almost Threw Out My Keurig. It Wasn't Broken.
Every cup from my Keurig started tasting weak, flat, stale — so I unplugged it and stuck it in a closet. Then I learned the dirty secret of grocery store K-Cups: by the time a pod reaches your kitchen, it's usually spent months going from factory to warehouse to truck to shelf. The flavor oils are long gone. Some brands even over-roast to hide it.
The fix wasn't a new machine. It was fresh pods from Angelino's, a family-owned L.A. roastery that roasts, packs, and ships within 3–5 days — straight to your door, from 39¢ a cup. Over 1,000,000 happy customers. 50+ flavors, no subscription required, and 15% off your first order, applied automatically at checkout.
Bagel Central 33 Central St. | Opens at 6 AM
Tuesday is a long day. Start it right.
Bagel Central sits a short drive from the polls, and it opens early enough to fit in before work. Grab a seat at one of the big shared tables, or take a bagel to go.
This place has been feeding Bangor for a long time. It began as The Bagel Shop down at 1 Main St. Sonya Eldridge, a longtime worker there, bought it in 1998. She renamed it Bagel Central and moved it to Central Street in 2000. When she retired, her manager of 18 years, Scott Bryson, took over. He calls it "an institution of Bangor," and it's hard to argue.
The bagels are made in house. They're boiled first, then baked, the old-school way. The cream cheeses are mixed in house too, from scallion to green olive to Hungarian. There's a full breakfast and lunch menu, soups every day, real pastries, and clearly labeled vegan options.
Look around while you eat. You'll see people from every corner of the city. Parents with kids. Grandparents with grandkids. Somebody reading Coffee News out loud for the table. More on that below.
Vote. Then eat a bagel. Or the other way around. We won't tell.
Lisa Goodwin, Bangor City Clerk
If you've voted in Bangor, Lisa Goodwin had a hand in it.
She never planned to be a clerk. In 1991, she was working for a lawyer in her hometown of Lincoln when he passed away. Her brother told her the town needed a clerk. She didn't know much about the job. She tried it anyway.
She stayed in Lincoln for more than 20 years and spent four of them as town manager. Then she figured something out. She liked being a clerk more than being the boss. So when Bangor needed a city clerk, she applied. She has run Bangor's office ever since.
City of Bangor Facebook
The clerk's office does a lot. Dog licenses. Hunting licenses. Birth, death, and marriage records. Business licenses. Every city council record. Her favorite part is still elections. She told one interviewer it's all about "a lot of moving pieces" that have to line up just right.
Other clerks trust her. Maine's clerks named her Clerk of the Year in 2005. In 2014, the Secretary of State gave her the Lorraine M. Fleury Award at the state's election conference. She was also picked as one of two Maine election officials to advise the U.S. Election Assistance Commission. And she helps train new clerks around the state. She once walked a brand-new clerk from a tiny town north of Bangor through her very first election.
The job has gotten harder. She has said people bring more anger and distrust to elections than they used to. She has worked with other Maine clerks to push for a law making it a crime to threaten election workers.
Her advice to new clerks is advice for anyone. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Somebody always knows the answer.
On Tuesday, you'll probably see her on the news giving turnout updates. When you're done voting, think about the people at those tables. Then say thanks.
A Bangor family now runs Coffee News. All of it.
You know Coffee News. It's the little free paper sitting by the register at the bagel shop, the doctor's office, and the diner. Jokes, trivia, horoscopes, and a smiling cartoon face.
What you might not know: the whole worldwide company is run from Bangor. And this fall, it changed hands from one Bangor family to another.
Ben and Malorie Sprague bought Coffee News from Bill and Sue-Ann Buckley. Bill first found the paper in New Brunswick in 1995, became its first U.S. franchise owner, and later took over the whole company. Today there are more than 300 Coffee News franchises in the U.S., Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.
Credit: Linda Coan O'Kresik / BDN
Ben grew up reading it with his parents and grandparents. One of his grandfathers set type at the Bangor Daily News. He says every word in Coffee News is still written by real people in Maine and Canada.
His favorite sight? Families at Bagel Central doing the jokes and trivia together.
The Spragues plan to bring it to younger readers while keeping what people love. In a week full of noise, that's a nice thing to read over coffee.
Husson grads, telling their own stories
Ray Harrington isn't the only Husson grad doing big things this week.
The Husson Horizons podcast is back for season three. Each week, Director of Career Services Kate Axelsen Foster sits down with a Husson alum to talk about campus life, the jobs that followed, and the moments at Husson that mattered most.
Season three kicked off October 13 with Janessa Bishop '25. She went from early-career journalist to Good Morning Maine anchor in about a year.
New episodes drop every Tuesday through November 17:
Nov. 3: Stephen Coston '16, founder of Stay Bar Harbor Hotel Group
Nov. 10: Jacob Keller '25, '26G, career counselor at Penobscot Job Corps
Nov. 17: Courtney Churchill '14, '16G, physical therapist at Saco Bay Physical Therapy
The show is made by students and staff at the New England School of Communications, the same program Harrington graduated from. Seasons one and two are up too.
Listen: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | Amazon Music | iHeart | Libsyn
Presented by: Foam Rush Maine
Coffee News is now run from Bangor. In 1988, Jean Daum printed the very first edition after she got bored reading a sugar packet while waiting for lunch. In which Canadian city did Coffee News begin?
Fall back Sunday. Daylight saving time ends at 2 AM on Sunday, November 1. Set your clocks back an hour Saturday night. It's also a good day to check your smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries.
More apartments downtown. The upper floors of the five-story building with the curved glass windows at State and Harlow streets are being turned into 14 studio apartments. BDN Morning Update
Learn to avoid AI. Bangor Public Library hosts a free workshop on Wednesday, November 4, from 2 to 4 PM. It covers how AI works, why it gets facts wrong, privacy worries, and how to keep it off your devices. Details
Rock and roll books. Authors Travis Kennedy (The White Python World Tour) and Robert Monroe (Bungalow Terrace) talk music, getting published, and Hollywood on Thursday, November 5, at 6 PM. Free, with food and drinks from Barliman's. Details
Next Friday is First Friday. The November Art Walk is November 6. Start planning your route.
This week's photo by Ken D'Errico.
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