Free Family Friendly Activities in Ellsworth and on MDI August 12-18

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 August 12-18 and includes the free family friendly movies in Bar Harbor on Wednesday, August 7th and in Ellsworth  on Thursday, August 8th as well as the Bar Harbor and Ellsworth Town Band concerts

Bar Harbor - 7 -8PM - Author Talk and Book Signing: Richard Clarke "The Fifth Domain: Defending Our Country, Our Companies and Ourselves in the Age of Cyber Threats". Jesup Memorial Library. This is a book about the realm in which nobody should ever want to fight a war: the fifth domain, the Pentagon’s term for cyberspace. Our guides are two of America’s top cybersecurity experts, seasoned practitioners who are as familiar with the White House Situation Room as they are with Fortune 500 boardrooms. Richard A. Clarke and Robert K. Knake offer a vivid, engrossing tour of the often unfamiliar terrain of cyberspace, introducing us to the scientists, executives, and public servants who have learned through hard experience how government agencies and private firms can fend off cyber threats.  Clarke and Knake take us inside quantum-computing labs racing to develop cyber superweapons; bring us into the boardrooms of the many firms that have been hacked and the few that have not; and walk us through the corridors of the U.S. intelligence community with officials working to defend America’s elections from foreign malice. With a focus on solutions over scaremongering, they make a compelling case for “cyber resilience”–building systems that can resist most attacks, raising the costs on cyber criminals and the autocrats who often lurk behind them, and avoiding the trap of overreaction to digital attacks.

Wednesday August 14
Southwest Harbor - 10- 10:45 AM Southwest Harbor Public Library - Toddler Story-time. 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!

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 Gil Schafer "A Place to Call Home: Tradition, Style and Memory in the New American House"

Ellsworth - 6-7PM Ellsworth Public Library- Summertime Delights- Bee Parks and the Hornets. An indie pop-rock band for all insects and ages, Bee Parks and the Hornets perform high-energy concert parties that combine rockin’ music, puppetry and audience participation to inspire young people to get up and move — both with their feet and in their communities. With all-original songs that promote kindness, equality, self-confidence, social justice, environmental awareness and dancing your heart out, Bee Parks and the Hornets take audience members of all ages on a musical adventure that will open up spirits and imaginations.

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

Bar Harbor - 7:45 PM Seaside Cinema. "Eight Below" will be shown outside in Agamont Park. Free popcorn

Thursday August 15th
Ellsworth - 10:30-11:30 Ellsworth Public Library - Story time and Craft. Designed for kids ages 2-3 with their caregivers. Join Miss Keli for stories, songs and crafts.

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

Ellsworth - 6-7PM Author Talk -  "Bar Harbor Babylon: Murder, Misfortune, and Scandal on Mount Desert Island" Ellsworth Public Library. Local authors Dan and Leslie Landrigan share their passion for history, uncovering some of the lesser-known stories of the wealthy summer residents on Mount Desert Island prior to the fire of 1947. Murderers, thieves, cheaters and scammers have all made their mark on MDI. Their book highlights the misadventures and misfortunes that punctuate the island’s wealthy and privileged past. Books will be available for sale and signing at the event.

Southwest Harbor - 6-7 PM Tales from Haunted Japan (for middle grade readers) Simone Grey and the March of the Hundred Ghosts by Charles Kowalski, Southwest Harbor Public Library- Ghost Stories, book talk, sales and signing with Author Charles Kowalski What better way to beat the summer heat than with stories that send a shiver down your spine? This is a time-honored tradition in Japan, where August is the season of ghosts, like our Halloween. Author Charles Kowalski, visiting from Japan, will share stories of yokai: ghostly creatures from Japanese legend, sometimes spooky, sometimes silly, always fun! Join us for chills, chuckles, and the chance to be the first in America to own a signed copy of the spooktacular new fantasy adventure SIMON GREY AND THE MARCH OF A HUNDRED GHOSTS!

Ellsworth 7:45 PM - Knowlton Park Free Summer Movie "Mary Poppins Returns" In Depression-era London, a now-grown Jane and Michael Banks, along with Michael’s three children, are visited by the enigmatic Mary Poppins following a personal loss. Through her unique magical skills, and with the aid of her friend Jack, she helps the family rediscover the joy and wonder missing in their lives

Bar Harbor - 8PM Village Green - Bar Harbor Town Band. The 15th concert of the 2019 Summer Season (Rain Location - Congregational Church bordering the Village Green)

Friday August 16
Southwest Harbor - 10-11AM Southwest Harbor Public Library - Baby Story time. 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 - 2-3PM Astronaut Academy - Ellsworth Public Library. Do you have what it takes to travel to space?  Find out during our “Astronaut Academy”   Astronauts in training will get a chance to taste test space food, participate in physical activities, make rockets, “moon” rocks and lots of other fun things.

Southwest Harbor - 5:30-7PM  Eye-witness Artistic Creation with Judy Taylor, Southwest Harbor Public Library. Come to the Library for a rare opportunity to witness local artist Judy Taylor sketch a portrait of local novelist Christina Baker Kline in real time! Judy is a master artist of landscape and portraiture. Judy’s model at this event, Christina Baker Kline, is a #1 New York Times bestselling author. Come and join in this fun evening of shared expression as well as viewing the art works contributed for auction as part of the Library’s annual Celebration of Art! Light refreshments will be served. *Space is limited. Registration is required.

Ellsworth 6-7:30 PM Waterfront Concert- Harbor Park 413 Water Street "Rock'n Ron & the New Society Band"  Ron Cunningham (Rock'n Ron), Guitar & lead vocals, Brice Sinclair/ keyboards & vocals, and Steve Sinclair/ drums and vocals. Ron has been performing the old rock & roll favorites, surf, doo-wop and rockabilly as well as some old country standards for the folks in Maine for half a century.

Saturday August 17
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

Ellsworth 9-10 AM Coffee with the Director, Ellsworth Public Library. Stop by to meet with library director Amy Wisehart. Ask questions, learn more about what’s happening at the library, share feedback

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,Knitting Group  Ellsworth Public Library. Come work on your project and socialize . Fiber arts of all types and levels are welcome! Meet in the Knitting Nook (3rd floor). Knitters, spinners, and crocheters of all levels are welcome!

Ellsworth 1- 2PM Book Discussion - "The Blond Baboon" Ellsworth Public Library. All are welcome for a discussion of the crime novel The Blond Baboon by Janwillem van de Wetering.
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
Jesup Memorial Library - 207-288-4245