Summer is here and schools are out. 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 a list of free events that are occurring July 15th-21st and includes the free family friendly movies in Bar Harbor on Wednesday, July 17th and in Ellsworth on Thursday, July 18th.

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 15th
Southwest Harbor -10AM All About Stories with Hope Lewis - Southwest Harbor Public Library - This summer join storyteller, Hope Lewis, and take flight into a world of tales. Listen to tales about Loon, Raven and Owl; then help to create brand new stories of your very own. This program is designed to support reading readiness and cognitive development, but it’s actually fun! All ages are welcome.For more info call 244-2065

Northeast Harbor - 10:30 AM Northeast Harbor Library - Interactive Piano Performance with Antonio Galera of the Bar Harbor Music Festival

Southwest Harbor - 2-4 PM Southwest Harbor Public Library - Get help with basic computer tasks such as setting up email accounts, transferring photos, completing online forms, attaching photos to emails, scanning document, creating and using documents in Word, Excel, Access, Google Drive etc. Laptop users are encouraged to bring their own computer. Registration is recommended for a 1 on 1 half hour session. Call 244-7065

Ellsworth - 3-6PM Free Meal served at the Episcopal Church on State Street across from the Moore School

Ellsworth - 4-5:30PM - Celebrate NASA's 50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing - Live Webcast - What was the sequence of this incredible mission? Where on the Moon did they land? And how did they return safely to Earth? Join us for a guided recreation of Apollo 11’s journey to see how this mission was executed by crew members and mission control in Houston. This live webcast is brought to you by the American Museum of Natural History and the STAR Library Network’s NASA@ My Library program.

Southwest Harbor - 5:30 - 7PM  Author Talk: Frank Blair “The Schooner Maggie B: A Southern Ocean Circumnavigation" - Southwest Harbor Public Library . In 2005, Frank Blair built a 63-foot wooden schooner and, with an all-volunteer crew, set off on her two-year maiden voyage on a Southern Ocean circumnavigation, around the great capes. Join this blue-water sailor as he tells of his adventures during his voyage around the world!

Bar Harbor - 8PM Village Green - Bar Harbor Town Band. The 5th concert of the 2019 Summer Season (Rain Location - Congregational Church bordering the Village Green)
Tuesday July 16th
Ellsworth - 10:30-11:30 AM - Ellsworth Public Library - Across the Universe Family Music Program. Back for the 2nd summer, this free family music group is for children and parents. There will be singing, dancing and playing of instruments all while working on early literacy and social skills. The class is geared towards kids 3-6 but all ages and abilities are welcome.
Bar Harbor- 10:30-11:30 AM - Jesup Memorial Library - Young Audience Concert Series with Bar Harbor Music Festival: Performers from the Opera "Carmen"

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 An Evening of Poetry with Starr Cummin Bright, Southwest Harbor Public Library. Starr will be reading a variety of poems including some from her chapbook, Inhabiting an Island. Having married into a family who lived on Islesford year-round, she easily integrated into island life. A veterinarian by profession, Starr’s interest in poetry stirred when she become virtually mute from medication following a traumatic spinal cord injury she suffered in her mid-thirties. A long and slow recovery brought with it a love of poetry.

Bar Harbor  - 7-8PM Jesup Memorial Library - Richard H. Fallon Jr. - Talk with Acadia Senior College and the League of Women Voters . Richard H. Fallon, Jr., joined the Harvard Law School faculty as an assistant professor in 1982, was promoted to full professor in 1987, and is currently the Ralph S. Tyler, Jr. Professor of Constitutional Law. Fallon is a graduate of Yale University (History, 1975) and Yale Law School (1980). He also earned a B.A. degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics from Oxford University (1977), which he attended as a Rhodes Scholar. Before entering teaching, Fallon served as a law clerk to Judge J. Skelly Wright and to Justice Lewis F. Powell of the United States Supreme Court. Fallon has written extensively about Constitutional Law and Federal Courts Law. He is the author of The Dynamic Constitution (Cambridge University Press, 2d ed. 2013) and Implementing the Constitution (Harvard University Press, 2001) and a co-editor of Constitutional Law: Cases-Comments-Questions (11th edition 2011) and Hart & Wechsler’s The Federal Courts and the Federal System (6th ed. 2009). Fallon is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the American Law Institute. He is a two-time winner of Harvard Law School’s Sacks-Freund Award (2001 and 2006), which is voted annually by the School’s graduating class to honor excellence in teaching.

Wednesday July 17th
Southwest Harbor
- 10- 10:45 AM Southwest Harbor Public Library - Toddler Storytime. Designed for children 3 -5 but all are welcome. Join the Children's Library staff in songs, simple sign language and interactive short stories.

Ellsworth - 10-11:30 AM Ellsworth Public Library . Summer of LEGO. The weekly summer LEGO group is back. Come build something awesome! Children 3 and up are welcome to attend. Children under 10 should be accompanied by an adult. There will be LEGO bricks for little builders and regular bricks for everyone else. Not sure what to build? There will be weekly space themed challenges!

Bar Harbor - 2-3PM YWCA (Mount Desert Street) Age By Design: Vision as We Age
As we age one thing that is often affected is our vision. When you or someone you love are faced with the knowledge that nothing can be done to improve vision, learn what steps you can take to continue to stay independent and safe. Specialists from the Maine Division for the Blind and the Visually Impaired and The Iris Network will be at the YWCA MDI on Wednesday, July 17 at 2 p.m. to talk about your vision as you age. This talk is part of Age By Design, a series of programs co-sponsored by the YWCA, the Mount Desert Island YMCA, Island Connections and the Jesup Memorial Library

Ellsworth- 3-7PM First Congregational Church - Welcome Table. All community members are invited to a free meal in the dining hall. Enter the Church Street door located diagonally across from the Ellsworth Police Station. 2 Church Street, Ellsworth

Northeast Harbor 5:30PM - Northeast Harbor Library - Author's visit with Robert Peck - "Specimens of Hair: The Curious Collection of Peter A. Browne"

Ellsworth - 6-7PM Ellsworth Public Library- Summertime Delights: Peter Boie. Nationally-touring magician Peter Boie brings his show, Peter Boie: Magician for Non-Believers, back to the Ellsworth Public Library. Peter first became fascinated with magic at the age of eleven when he stumbled across a magic book at his local library. Peter has been featured on national TV, where Penn & Teller called his performance “beautiful.” His show is a blend of original mind-blowing magic and humor that will leave even the most jaded audience entertained and amazed.

Bar Harbor 7-8 PM - Jesup Memorial Library - Violin Concert with Sean Lim -Sean Lim is a 19 years old violinist. He began playing violin at age 8 and moved to Cleveland in 2015 to study with Jaime Laredo and Jan Sloman at the Cleveland Institute of Music(CIM), in the Young Artist Program. He is currently a junior at CIM, pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Performance degree. Sean has performed at large venues such as Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, John F. Kennedy Center, Severance Hall, Cleveland Museum of Art, and Smithsonian National Gallery of Art. He made his debut as an orchestral soloist at age 12, with the Kostrama Symphony Orchestra and conductor Pavel Gershtein, in Russia. Since then, he has been featured as a soloist with several orchestras in the United States. In January 2015, he performed a solo recital, under the auspices of the National Symphony Orchestra Youth Fellowship Program, at the J.F. Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, and in May 2016, he was a soloist with the Cleveland Pops Orchestra at Severance Hall receiving a standing ovation from the full-house audience. In 2016, he was featured on NPR’s From the Top, as a soloist and a chamber musician. Sean has received numerous first-place awards from the regional, national, and international competitions. In 2015, he competed in the International Boris Goldstein Violin Competition as one of its youngest participants. He was two times honorable winner of the National Young Arts Foundation in the consecutive year 2014 and 2015. In 2017, Sean was named as East Central Division 1st Place Winner and National Finalist of MTNA Senior String Competition.

Ellsworth - 7PM . Ellsworth Town Band - The 3rd concert of the 2019 Summer Season. Bring a folding chair and some bug spray. Held at Union River Harbor Park

Bar Harbor - 8PM Seaside Cinema. James and the Giant Peach will be shown outside in Agamont Park. Free popcorn

Thursday July 18th
Bar Harbor - 10:30-11:30AM Jesup Memorial Library - Summer Reading Program: "To the Moon with NASA"

Southwest Harbor - All Day  Southwest Harbor Public Library -First Steps on the Moon Celebration, 50 years! A silent video of the first steps will play all day at the library. 2PM Conversations & reminiscences with amateur historian of early human spaceflight, Ben Moniz. (middle grades & adults) 6PM Mooncakes a program of moon stories and music by Jennifer Armstrong. (all ages) 6:45PM A documentary-theater retelling of the first moon landing. (middle grades & adults)

Ellsworth - 10:30-11:30 Ellsworth Public Library - Storytime and Craft. Designed for kids ages 2-3 with their caregivers. Join Miss Keli for stories, songs and crafts.

Bar Harbor - 10:30-11:30AM Jesup Memorial Library - Summer Reading Program: "Blast Off!" with Mad Science of Maine

Southwest Harbor - 1:30-2:30PM Southwest Harbor Public Library- Apple Tech Help. Free assistance for Apple Laptops and devices. Pre-registration is required. Call 244-7065

Ellsworth - 2-3:30 PM Ellsworth Public Library - Special Summer STEAMers (Grades K-6) .Special Summer STEAMers (science, technology, engineering, art and math). Have fun with moon explorations! For more information about this program, please call 667-6363

Northeast Harbor - 5PM - Bee Parks and the Hornets in Concert at the Northeast Harbor Marina. In case of rain this event will be moved to the Neighborhood House

Ellsworth - 6-7PM Ellsworth Public Library - Author visit from Maine mystery writer Paul Doiron on Thursday, July 18 at 6:00 p.m. Paul will speak about Almost Midnight, the tenth book in his Mike Bowditch series. Copies of the book will be available for sale courtesy of Blue Hill Books, and a book signing will follow the presentation. Paul Doiron is the former editor of Down East Magazine. His first book, The Poacher’s Son, was nominated for an Edgar award and his second book, Trespasser, won the Maine Literary Award.

Ellsworth - 6PM Ellsworth Public Library - The Ellsworth Chess Club, hosted by Dick Powell meets weekly on Thursday. Visitors and new people are welcome.

Bar Harbor - 6-8PM Jesup Memorial Library- Get Your Knit On! Knitters meet every Thursday 6-8PM to knit, share/trade yards, talk knitting and have fun.

Bar Harbor - 7-8PM Jesup Memorial Library - Author Talk and Book Signing: John Eisenberg "The League:How Five Rivals Created the NFL and Launched a Sports Empire" The epic tale of the five owners who shepherded the NFL through its tumultuous early decades and built the most popular sport in America. The National Football League is a towering, distinctly American colossus spewing out $13 billion in annual revenue. Yet its current dominance has obscured how professional football got its start.In The League, John Eisenberg reveals that Art Rooney, George Halas, Tim Mara, George Preston Marshall, and Bert Bell took an immense risk by investing in the professional game. At that time the sport barely registered on the national scene, where college football, baseball, boxing, and horseracing dominated. The five owners succeeded only because at critical junctures in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s each sacrificed the short-term success of his team for the longer-term good of the League. At once a history of a sport and a remarkable story of business ingenuity, The League is an essential read for any fan of our true national pastime.

Bar Harbor - 8PM Village Green - Bar Harbor Town Band. The 6th concert of the 2019 Summer Season (Rain Location - Congregational Church bordering the Village Green)

Ellsworth 8PM - Knowlton Park Free Summer Movie "Into the Spiderverse". Miles Morales is a New York teen struggling with school, friends and, on top of that, being the new Spider-Man. When he comes across Peter Parker, the erstwhile savior of New York, in the multiverse, Miles must train to become the new protector of his city. Written by Tom Daly

Friday July 19th
Southwest Harbor - 10-11AM 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 2 years but older siblings are invited.

Ellsworth 6-7:30 PM Waterfront Concert- Harbor Park 413 Water Street Gordon Thomas Ward - Gordon Thomas Ward is dubbed “the total package” by his fans, GRAMMY-balloted Gordon Thomas Ward tours as a solo performer with songs charting in the Top 10 in the Euro Indie Music Chart, the Top 20 on the DRT Global Adult Contemporary Airplay Chart, the Top 50 on the DRT Global Top 150 Country Airplay Chart, and more! His song stylings have been influenced by the singer-songwriters of the late 1960s through the 1970s, yet Gordon's songs occupy a space all their own and fit into the contemporary folk rock, adult alternative, and Americana genres. Gordon utilizes a variety of instruments in his shows, which result in a varied spectrum of tonal colors. His songs have led him to work with notable musicians such as Eric Troyer, Mik Kaminski, William J. Hall, Caroline Cotter, share the stage and billing with Natalie Merchant and Christine Lavin, and open for noted singer-songwriter Bill Staines. Gordon’s first album "Welcome to the Past" was released in 2013. His new, GRAMMY-balloted record Providence was released on August 30, 2018 to wonderful critical acclaim. Gordon has written songs for film and historical events, is no stranger to television and radio, and performed at many festivals and venues, including Musikfest for three years running. As an artist interested in social issues, Gordon produced and performed in a Concert Across America to End Gun Violence in 2016 and 2018.

Bar Harbor - 7-8PM Jesup Memorial Library - Author Talk and Book Signing: Colin Calloway "The Indian World of George Washington: The First President, the First Americans and the Birth of the Nation" George Washington’s place in the foundations of the Republic remains unrivalled. His life story–from his beginnings as a surveyor and farmer, to colonial soldier in the Virginia Regiment, leader of the Patriot cause, commander of the Continental Army, and finally first president of the United States–reflects the narrative of the nation he guided into existence. There is, rightfully, no more chronicled figure. Yet American history has largely forgotten what Washington himself knew clearly: that the new Republic’s fate depended less on grand rhetoric of independence and self-governance and more on land–Indian land. Colin G. Calloway’s biography of the greatest founding father reveals in full the relationship between Washington and the Native leaders he dealt with intimately across the decades: Shingas, Tanaghrisson, Guyasuta, Attakullakulla, Bloody Fellow, Joseph Brant, Cornplanter, Red Jacket, and Little Turtle, among many others. Using the prism of Washington’s life to bring focus to these figures and the tribes they represented–the Iroquois Confederacy, Lenape, Miami, Creek, Delaware–Calloway reveals how central their role truly was in Washington’s, and therefore the nation’s, foundational narrative. Calloway gives the First Americans their due, revealing the full extent and complexity of the relationships between the man who rose to become the nation’s most powerful figure and those whose power and dominion declined in almost equal degree during his lifetime. His book invites us to look at America’s origins in a new light. The Indian World of George Washington is a brilliant portrait of both the most revered man in American history and those whose story during the tumultuous century in which the country was formed has, until now, been only partially told.

Saturday July 20th
Ellsworth -9-10AM Ellsworth Public Library -Coffee with the Director. Drop in to chat with library director Amy Wisehart and learn more about what's happening at the Ellsworth Public Library

Ellsworth - 9AM -9:45AM Ellsworth Public Library -Baby Story and Play.for newborns to 3 year olds. Join Miss Cheryl for a story and sing some favorite songs followed by informal playtime. A great opportunity for parents to connect and the kids to play

Bar Harbor - 9-10AM Jesup Memorial Library - Write On! Writer's Group. Writer's Group for all levels and genres. Come prepared to read your work and critique the work of your fellow writers.

Southwest Harbor - 9:30 - 12:30PM Southwest Harbor Public Library. Every Saturday from 9:30 to 12:30 get help with basic computer tasks such as setting up an email account, transferring photos, attaching photos to emails, completing online forms, scanning documents, creating and using documents in Word, Excel, Access, Google Drive etc. Laptop users are encouraged to bring their own computer. Registration is recommended.

Ellsworth - 10-12 Noon, Ellsworth Public Library - The Ellsworth Public Library is holding their annual “just for fun” Pet Show on Saturday, July 20 starting at 10am. This event is for all ages and pets, there is no fee to enter, and all furry(or scaly) friends should be leashed or brought in a secure cage. Children under age 14 who enter their pet need to be accompanied by an adult. All pet show entries receive a certificate and prize! Costumes are highly recommended.  The SPCA of Hancock County will have  a table  set up with information about their great services.   Meet artist Nicole Mastroserio​ of T Z Pawtraits https://www.tzpawtraits.com/​ .  She will have some of her portraits, coloring pages, and she will be doing some face painting. To enter call 667-6363 or email “Miss Keli” at kgancos@ellsworthlibrary.net Lots of fun and prizes for every pet. Pet owners and spectators will also be treated to lemonade and animal crackers thank to the Friends of the Library.

Ellsworth - 10 - 12 Noon, Ellsworth Public Library. Knitter's Group - Come work on your project and socialize with everyone on the first and third Saturdays of each month. Fiber arts of all types and levels are welcome! Meets in the Knitting Nook (3rd floor). Knitters, spinners, and crocheters of all levels are welcome!

Sunday July 21st
Ellsworth 2-3PM The Grand. Pick up your free ticket in advance from The Grand for the 195th Army Band's Patriotic Concert! Performing for audiences around the world and in their own backyard in Maine, the 195th Army Band’s Concert Band is carrying on a proud tradition of military bands past and present by presenting free patriotic public performances. The 195th Concert Band showcases a performance repertoire ranging from military marches to significant wind band works, Broadway medleys, and popular tunes, as well as featuring soloists from within the band and performing compositions by area composers and arrangers.

 

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

Photo Chris Popper
Photo Chris Popper
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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

Note - The Glen Mary Wading Pool is closed temporarily but is expected to reopen soon! We will keep you updated on its status here.

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
Jesup Memorial Library - 207-288-4245

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