Free Events in Ellsworth & on MDI July 16-22

We are going to try and keep a list of FREE, family friendly, events that are going on in the Ellsworth and Mount Desert Island area, which will be published weekly on the WDEA website. Here is our list for the week July 16th-22nd.

While this is not a comprehensive list, it's what I have been able to find by talking to the Chambers of Commerce, Public Libraries and events that I'm generally aware of. If you would like to have your FREE event listed, please email it to me in advance at chris.popper@townsquaremedia.com

Monday July 16th
Southwest Harbor - 10AM-11AM Southwest Public Library  - Early Elementary Story Time - A new summer story time for early-elementary-aged kids! Parents welcome, too.

Northeast Harbor - 10:30AM Northeast Harbor Public Library - Tyndall of Milkweed Puppet Theater performs:The Dandelion Girl - Tyndall is a performer, artist and naturalist from Montville, Maine. She has traveled throughout Maine for over 25 years teaching puppetry and entertaining audiences with her 1 woman show.The Dandelion Girls is a charming fairy tale. Dandelion befriends a hare, picks berries with a bear and awakens a dragon who is fiercely guarding jewels. With the help of children in the audience, Dandelion may succeed o get past a thieving troll, and return home in the treasures.

Southwest Harbor - 5:30PM Southwest Harbor Public Library - Join board-certified music therapist Carla Tanguay for an experiential talk about the importance of music in early childhood. Carla will discuss how music supports learning and development and give ideas for making music a part of everyday family life. Special focus will be placed on using music to promote literacy, and how music therapy can help kids with developmental, sensory, and learning challenges. Kids with adults are welcome!

Bar Harbor - Town Band Concert 8PM Bandstand - Village Green (Lasts 1 hour)

Tuesday July 17th
Bar Harbor - 4-7PM. Free Community Meal with entertainment. Prepared by Open Table MDI. Served at Bar Harbor Congregational Church on Mount Desert Street.

Southwest Harbor- 5:30-7PM Southwest Harbor Public Library . R. Marie Griffith will give a talk about her book, "Moral Combat: How Sex Divided American Christians and Fractured American Politics" Griffith’s talk will touch on debates pertaining to birth control, censorship, interracial marriage, sex education, abortion, sexual harassment, and LGBTQ rights, among others. R. Marie Griffith, the John C. Danforth Distinguished Professor in the Humanities at Washington University in St. Louis, is currently the director of the John C. Danforth Center on Religion and Politics and the editor of the Center’s journal, Religion & Politics.

Wednesday July 18th
Southwest Harbor -10AM-10:45AM Southwest Harbor Public Library Toddler Storytime Join Amanda Crafts as she leads songs, simple sign language, and interactive short stories. (Designed ages 3-5 but all welcome.)

Ellsworth - 6PM Ellsworth Public Library. Magician Peter Boie. Peter first became fascinated with magic at the age of eleven when he stumbled across a magic book at his local library. He now travels around the country performing his award winning magic that will defy your reality. Peter's show is about two things, astonishing magic, and having a good time; and he doesn't skimp on either. You might recognize him by his trademark orange sneakers, or from the group of people around him freaking out at his magic and having a good time. The title Magician for Non-Believers is about being honest with his audience. Magic isn’t real... but Peter will make you believe it is for the length of his show. Combining original mind blowing magic, and a heavy dose of humor is his secret to success

Ellsworth - Ellsworth Community Band 7PM - Harbor Park and Marina (Lasts 1 Hour)

Bar Harbor - Seaside Cinema - Free Movie in Agamont Park at Sunset (Approximately 8:13 PM) "Babe The Magnificent Pig" Rated G

Thursday July 19th
Northeast Harbor - 5PM Northeast Harbor Marina Village Green - Chicks With Sticks is a small combo of 4 energetic musicians who play steel drum music for parties, festivals, receptions and other special events, as well as on docks and decks of restaurants and pubs... wherever a group of people is looking to enjoy some island-style music. Diane Mawhinney, Jill Longstaff, Deanna Kersey and Josh Caron ("Sticks") will play island style music including Jimmy Buffett Bob Marley and other calypso tunes, come dance and sing along! Bring your whole family to this fun event for all ages. This event will move to the Neighborhood house if there is rain. Presented by the Northeast Public Library and Neighborhood House

Ellsworth - 6PM Ellsworth Public Library - The Ellsworth Chess Club meets every Thursday evening at the Ellsworth Public Library. New members are welcome.

Ellsworth 6PM - Ellsworth Public Library - Read ME event - "Settled in the Wind"- Susan Hand Shetterly and "River Talk" - C.B. Anderson - Meet both of these authors! Read Me is a statewide summer reading program sponsored by the Maine Humanities Council, encouraging shared reading experiences. Maine author Paul Doiron selected the featured authors for this year. Susan Hand Shetterly will discuss Settled in the Wild: Notes from the Edge of Town. C. B. Anderson will discuss River Talk. Books will be available for sale and signing courtesy of Blue Hill Books. Meet in the Riverview Room

Southwest Harbor - 6:30 PM - Southwest Harbor Public Library - The Southwest Harbor Public Library’s Family Concert Series continues with Scientist Ellli and "Science Matters". "Scientist Elli" Hartig is a biologist and artist on MDI. She received a BS in Biochemistry and a BA in Art in 2013 and has been working at the MDI Biological Laboratory doing research and working with students since then. She has been involved in the Maine State Science Fair, MDIBL's Family Science Night, and Barn Arts Collective performances. She is excited to bring her enthusiasm about science to young audiences in her first ever full length original show!  Science is like magic, but cooler because it's REAL. Scientist Elli wants to show you some fun and exciting experiments that can help you learn about the world around you. Make elephant toothpaste, learn a dance from spaghetti, meet some very tiny animals, and more! Practice asking questions, making guesses, seeing what happens, and come away a real citizen scientist.

Bar Harbor - Town Band Concert 8PM Bandstand - Village Green (Lasts 1 hour)

Ellsworth - Free Movie in Knowlton Park at Sunset (Approximately 8:12 PM) "Early Man"

Friday July 20th
Southwest Harbor - 10AM-11AM Southwest Harbor Public Library - Baby Storytime  Susan Michalski and Amanda Crafts welcome babies with songs, rhymes, and short stories. Baby Storytime is designed especially for babies under two years. Siblings are welcome
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Ellsworth - 2PM Ellsworth Public Library. Brian Estes was born and raised in Hampden. His greatest childhood accomplishment was digging an enormous hole in the woods behind the babysitter’s house. Working with his brother and friends, they attempted to create a top secret underground lair. Sadly, there was a storm and the hole filled with water. Frogs live there now. After surviving elementary, middle, and high school, he graduated from Maine College of Art in Portland. However, that was not enough school for Brian Estes. These days, he teaches middle school art in Brewer. He survives primarily on cafeteria food, still enjoys summer vacations, and has recited the Pledge of Allegiance roughly 4,000 times in his 38 years. This is his first book of poetry. You can find more of his illustrations in the novel, “The Last Boy on Earth” by Thomas M. Burby. In addition to drawing and composing poetry, Estes writes songs, paints, daydreams, and builds musical instruments out of odds and ends. He lives far away from the mess, with his wife and two children, from whom he draws most of his inspiration. Be sure to bring your dancing feet!

Ellsworth - Waterfront Concert Series at Ellsworth's Union River Harbor Park 6PM- Cirque Us

Saturday July 21st
Ellsworth - 10AM Ellsworth Public Library. The Pet Show is for all ages and pets, there is no fee to enter and all pets should be leashed or brought in a secure cage. Children under 14 who enter their pet must be accompanied by an adult. All pet show entries will receive a certificate and prize! Costumes are encouraged. To enter call 667-6363 or email Miss Keli at kgancos@ellsworthlibrary.net. Nicole Mastroserio of TZ Pawtraits will be there. There will be fun and prizes for every pet. Pet owners and spectators will be treated to lemonade and animal crackers thanks to the Friends of the Library. The Pet Show is sponsored by the Friends of the Ellsworth Library and Maine Pet and Aquarium

Ellsworth - 10AM- 12 Noon Ellsworth Public Library. The Ellsworth Public Library Knitting Group meets the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month. Come work on your project and socialize. Fiber arts of all types and levels are welcome. Meets in the Knitting Nook on the 3rd Floor.

Ongoing
Ellsworth - Knowlton Park's Splash Pad is the place to cool off in Ellsworth!

The restroom facilities are open from 8AM to 9 PM. The changing rooms at Knowlton Park are open as well. Water in the Splash Pad will operate between 10AM and 8PM, everyday, unless the temperature falls below 65, which it will then automatically shut off until the temperature rises again.

Looking for somewhere that's kid friendly and FREE in Bar Harbor to cool off? The place to go is the Glen Mary Wading Pool! The Pool has a maximum depth of 2 feet and is open daily from 10AM to 8 PM. There is no lifeguard on duty, and children under 10 need to be accompanied by someone 14 and over. Pets are not allowed in the fenced in area. Food and beverage is allowed but not in the water. There are changing facilities

The Glen Mary Wading Pool is located at 11 Waldren Road. The easiest way to get there is to go on Park Street and go past the YMCA and cross Ledgelawn Avenue. At the end of the road turn right onto Glen Mary Road. At the end of the road turn left onto Waldren Road.

Handy Phone Numbers
Ellsworth Public Library - 207-667-6363
Southwest Harbor Public Library - 207-244-7065
Northeast Harbor Public Library - 207-276-3333