Don’t Miss These July Events in Bar Harbor, Maine | Geddy’s
If you’re visiting Bar Harbor in July, be sure to check-out these main events. One of my favorites is the Bar Harbor Fourth of July fireworks display, overlooking the harbor. The spectacular celebration kicks-off the beginning of the busy summer season. Enjoy all, or some, of these activities. Also, be sure to let us know what you think afterwards.
Bar Harbor Fourth of July Festivities (July 4th)
The “Fourth of July” is a fun time to visit Bar Harbor. So, don’t miss the festivities. This quaint New England seaside town comes to life on Independence Day, celebrating with a Maine blueberry pancake breakfast, a traditional New England town parade, a classic seafood/lobster picnic, festive live music, and a spectacular waterfront fireworks display. It’s truly a holiday that commemorates the heart of summer, the spirit of independence, and all that makes this country great – including our national parks and the arts. For more information on July Fourth activities, be sure to visit the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce’s website.
Native American Festival, Abbe Museum, Maine (July 6th)
The Native American Festival celebrates the arts and tradition of the Wabanaki people, who were the first Native American settlers in Maine. Wabanaki roughly translates to “People of the First Light” or “Dawnland.” As background, the Wabanaki Nation is comprised of five principal tribes – Mi’kmaq, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, Penobscot and Abenaki. The territory stretches from Newfoundland in the north, to mid-Maine in the south, and parts of Quebec in the west. The tribes people are known for their highly skilled artisans, producing beautiful works of art — baskets, drums, carvings, canoes, jewelry and other traditional items. For the annual Festival, the Wabanaki people gather at Abbe Museum, in downtown Bar Harbor, to celebrate their culture and heritage with live music, dancing, story-telling, and handcrafted arts. Free admission with donation. For additional information on the Festival, please click here.
Image courtesy of Abbe Museum, Bar Harbor, Maine.
Acadia National Park Guided Tours (throughout the summer)
In July, Acadia National Park offers guided hikes and walks, as well as boat and bike tours. These events are led by knowledgeable Park Rangers. Excursions include Islesford Historic and Scenic Cruise, Frenchman Bay Cruise, Baker Island Cruise, and Carriage Road Bike Tours. Additionally, the park offers family-fun activities, such as the Junior Ranger Program. For detailed information on Acadia National Park activities, please reference website.
In addition, the park hosts an open house on Tuesday, Thursdays, and Fridays at the Carroll Homestead, a 19th century Maine mountain farm near Eagle Lake. For further details on the open house, click here.
When visiting Acadia National Park, please beware of ticks and stay on the trails.
Seaside Cinema at Bar Harbor, Maine (Wednesdays in July and August)
Seaside Cinema features free family summer movies outdoors in Agamont Park, overlooking beautiful Frenchman Bay. The magical setting is a perfect spot for evening picnics, under the stars. Movie night kicks-off on Wednesday, July 17th, with the next outdoor showing on July 31st. At the time of this posting, the films were not yet announced. For the upcoming movie schedule, please reference website.
Bar Harbor Garden Club Tour (July 20th)
The Bar Harbor Garden Club hosts its annual garden tour in Northeast Harbor and Southwest Harbor this year. The tour showcases six of the finest gardens on Mount Desert Island with a buffet luncheon at the historic Asticou Inn in Northeast Harbor. To learn more about the garden tour, please reference website.
Bar Harbor Town Band (throughout the summer)
Come enjoy the nationally-recognized Bar Harbor Town Band, which features a wide array of genres from classical to rock. The summer concert series begins in July and is typically held on the Village Green. For the upcoming schedule of events, please see website.
Bar Harbor Music Festival (during the month of July)
The Bar Harbor Music Festival celebrates its 53rd season this year, hosting classical and popular concerts. The Festival offers a wide variety of music from opera to jazz, to chamber music, to string orchestras. On July 19th, a fully staged performance of the renowned opera Carmen will be shown at the historic Criterion Theater. It’s an event that you won’t want to miss. The festival runs from June 30th to July 28th. For additional information on the Bar Harbor Music Festival, please reference website.
On behalf of Geddy’s, a special shout-out to Alf at the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce, Kate at Acadia National Park, Charles and Jill at the Abbe Museum, and Francis and Sarah at the Bar Harbor Music Festival for their assistance with this blog!
Also, don’t forget to come visit us at Geddy’s! We’re located in downtown Bar Harbor, on Main Street – directly across from Agamont Park, the town pier … and the Fourth of July fireworks. So, please join us for lunch, dinner, drinks, shopping … or just stop-by to say “hi.”
Cheers from Geddy’s, 🙂
Heather
www.geddys.com
