Free Family Friendly Activities in Ellsworth and on MDI July 29 – August 4
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 29th - August 4th and includes the free family friendly movies in Bar Harbor on Wednesday, July 31st and in Ellsworth and Northeast Harbor on Thursday, August 1st as well as the Bar Harbor and Ellsworth Town Band concerts
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 29th
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 - Musical Fun with Mr. Harley
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 244-7065Ellsworth - 3-6PM Free Meal served at the Episcopal Church on State Street across from the Moore School
Ellsworth - 2-3 PM- Ellsworth Public Library - Once Upon A Sign. Join the Ellsworth Public Library summer intern Michelle for interactive stories and songs that incorporate American Sign Language. Learn ASL vocabulary while having fun and signing along. Recommended for ages 0-5 years.
Bar Harbor - 8PM Village Green - Bar Harbor Town Band. The 9th concert of the 2019 Summer Season (Rain Location - Congregational Church bordering the Village Green)
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
Northeast Harbor - 10:30AM - Northeast Harbor Public Library - Toddler StorytimeNortheast Harbor 4-5PM - Northeast Harbor Public Library - Lego Hour
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 - Family Sing-A-:Long with Paul Kaplan. Veteran musician and songwriter Paul Kaplan has been an enthusiastic participant in the folk music world since the late 1960s, singing songs in the old troubadour tradition, with a fine repertoire of serious AND funny songs. Pete Seeger said “I am a big fan of Paul Kaplan. I love his singing; I love his songs.”
Wednesday July 31st
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!
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 - Talk by Tom Judge "Life Flight of Maine: Stories of Survival and Second Chances"
Ellsworth - 6-7PM Ellsworth Public Library- Summertime Delights:"Classics with a Twist" with Scot Cannon -* Poetry * Story * Pantomime * Song * Watch as some of your favorite stories come to life. The program emphasizes the enjoyment and importance of reading, writing and listening to literature and music. Adults and children will become readers and actors. No rehearsal is needed. It is possible to see 20-30 children on stage through the course of the program. Come have fun and watch stories come to life!
Bar Harbor - 6:30-7:30 PM Jesup Memorial Library - "Owl Love You Forever" - Pajama Story Time. Join Miss Mae for owl-themed stories and crafts. She will read “Little Owl’s Night” by Divya Srinivasan, “Owl Babies” by Martin Waddell and “Owl Moon” by Jane Yolen.
Ellsworth - 7PM . Ellsworth Town Band - The 5th 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. "Matilda" will be shown outside in Agamont Park. Free popcorn
Thursday August 1st
Southwest Harbor - 9AM -12 Noon Southwest Harbor Public Library "Getting Started with GMail" AmeriCorps volunteer, Chris Suggs, a trained Digital Literacy Instructor, will be here to offer another computer class. In this class, Chris will show you how to get a Gmail email address and set your privacy and account preferences. You don’t need to bring a laptop or purchase software to attend. ** Class size is limited. Register at the Library or call 244-7065.
Bar Harbor - 10:30-11:30AM Jesup Memorial Library - Summer Reading Program: Science Experiments
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.
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
Northeast Harbor 4PM - Northeast Harbor Library - Monarch Watch with Mrs. Robinnarch
Northeast Harbor - 5 PM - Exhibit Reception for Katie Churchill, Liz Cutler and Patricia Noble.
Ellsworth - 6-7 PM Ellsworth Public Library - Book-A-Month Club - Please join for an informal discussion of "Searching for Stars on an Island in Maine" by Alan Lightman. Coffee and tea provided. Meeting in the Riverview room. Note the author will not be present
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.
Southwest Harbor - 6-7:30 PM Southwest Harbor Public Library- Jazz Trio Nutria - Kids & Families event. Jazz Trio Nutria All the way from New Orleans, Jazz Trio Nutria presents a family friendly concert for all ages. Nutria is a New Orleans-based trio performing original music in the contemporary jazz and improvised music tradition.
Northeast Harbor - Dusk (7:30ish) Northeast Harbor Marina "Mary Poppins Returns"
Bar Harbor - 8PM Village Green - Bar Harbor Town Band. The 8th concert of the 2019 Summer Season (Rain Location - Congregational Church bordering the Village Green)
Ellsworth 8PM - Knowlton Park Free Summer Movie "Christopher Robin".An adult Christopher Robin, who is now focused on his new life, work, and family, suddenly meets his old friend Winnie the Pooh, who returns to his unforgotten childhood past to help him return to the Hundred Acre Wood and help find Pooh’s lost friends. Written by Jon Meyer
Friday August 2
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 Ellsworth Public Library - Astronaut Academy Do you have what it takes to travel to space? 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 - 5:30-6:30 and 7-8PM " We Were An Island" Independent Film directed by Peter Logue and written by Jahn Sood Inspired by the book, "We Were An Island: The Maine Life of Art & Nan Kellam" by Peter P. Blanchard III, the film stars Loudon Wainwright III and Becky Ann Baker, a couple who moved to Placentia, an uninhabited island off the coast of Maine in 1949. Whether in response to the horrors they witnessed in international news during World War II or from a desire to take on a life project that was utterly unique, the couple built their own home and lived in near isolation for the subsequent four decades. Seating is limited: registration required. Call the Library at 244-7065
Ellsworth 6-7:30 PM Waterfront Concert- Harbor Park 413 Water Street "CatchaVibe" CatchaVibe Get up and get down to the funky world riddims of Maine's own original reggae band. Creating World Reggae Fusion with deep grooves that breed dancing frenzies at colleges, festivals and clubs throughout the northeast region. Providing one pure stream of peace and harmony through reggae music.
Saturday August 3
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. 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!
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