THINGS TO DO IN THE MOUNT DESERT ISLAND REGION THIS WEEK And in the near future.
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THINGS TO DO IN THE MOUNT DESERT ISLAND REGION THIS WEEK.

And in the near future.

Carrie Jones

May 18, 2026

A DJ wearing headphones and a blue GAP t-shirt, giving a thumbs up while seated at a mixing console with a laptop and audio equipment.
A moment from the Healthy Acadia’s Cultural Fusion at the YWCA in Bar Harbor last week.

THINGS TO DO

It’s our weekly round-up, and we may have missed some things, so apologies! If you have something you’d like in here, please let us know.

We hope you have some great adventures this week!

To check out our news stories and briefs from the past week, click on the archive section, and you’ll see them in chronological order.

WHERE CAN YOU EAT?

You can check out the list of all the restaurants at our new site, ACADIA ADVENTURES. The restaurants are here!

FUTURE EVENTS

You can see the upcoming events here.

LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS

You can see the list of local organizations and businesses and links to their calendars here.

MONDAY, MAY 18

Volunteer Monday at the MDI Woodbank

The next Volunteer Day is on MONDAY, May 18th from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. We are located at 831 State highway 3. All ages welcome, no experience necessary. There’s wood to stack and plenty to split. Wear boots, grubby clothes and bring gloves. We also have Clynk Bags for you to take & fill and donate your empties. If anyone has an extra splitter, please bring it, Thank you!

LEGO CLUB!

Promotional flyer for Lego Club at the Northeast Harbor Library, featuring a child building a tower with colorful Lego blocks, with details about registration and event timing.

Divine Play Yoga at the Neighborhood House

Mon/Wed; 9:00-10:00 a.m.

Cost: $15/class

with Mike Bouscaren

Register: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=19801383

Monday events via the Bar Harbor Chamber:

TUESDAY, MAY 19

Promotional poster for an open jam event called 'Showcase 1134' at Trenton Grange Hall, featuring performers like Gary Shannon and Frank Perry. Event details include date, time, and location, with an invitation for all to participate.
Graphic promoting a Community Circle event with Downeast Restorative Justice, featuring text on supportive discussions held on the second Thursday of each month at 4:30 PM.

OPEN TABLE MDI — TUESDAY COMMUNITY SUPPERS IN BAR HARBOR AND SOUTHWEST HARBOR.

Promotional flyer for 'Quietside Community Supper' detailing a free meal event every Tuesday in May, organized by Open Table MDI and St John's Episcopal Church. Includes date, time, and location information.
Promotional image for a community dinner event featuring a dining scene with people seated at a long table enjoying a meal, and images of fresh produce and details about the event.

CRANE FOLDING

A promotional image for a crane folding event at Southwest Harbor Public Library. It features the event details: 'Crane Folding: Promoting Peace & Hope', held on Tuesdays from 3:00 PM to 4:00 PM. The image shows people engaging in origami, working with colorful paper cranes.

STORY AND PLAY

A library scene showing a children's program titled 'Story and Play' with adults and children engaged in reading activities. The colorful environment features bookshelves, seating areas, and a vibrant rug.
A flyer promoting spring dance classes with a schedule for Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday sessions, featuring different ballet and dance styles for various age groups. An instructor in a white ballet costume is pictured in a dance studio.

THE WAY OF BEING

Promotional image for 'The Way of Being' practice sessions, featuring a man and an outdoor landscape with mountains. Includes event details such as time, location, and contact information.

Move Free Run Club

Logo of 'Move Free Run Club' featuring wavy lines in yellow and an orange sun.

BAR HARBOR—The runs take place every week of the year and meet Tuesdays at 6 p.m. from the Bar Harbor Village Green and Sundays at 7:30 a.m. from Choco Latte.

The Move Free Run Club (Acadia Chapter) meets every Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. from the Bar Harbor Village Green and every Sunday morning at 7:30 a.m. from Choco Latte! Hope to meet more members of the community!

TUESDAYS AT ARTWAVES: Kids’ Art After School!

Tuesdays, 3:30 – 4:30 pm at ArtWaves Kaleidoscope Studio

Ages 6 – 14

Join us after school for Art at ArtWaves from 3:30 to 4:30 pm on Tuesdays. Each Tuesday will feature a different activity / art form! Each week we will learn about artists from around the world and art history all while creating our own unique art using a variety of materials. Experience paint, clay, felt and more! These classes exceed National Standards for art education!

Register here: https://artwavesmdi.org/event-6500150

MOMMY & ME GROUP

A flyer advertising the Mommy & Me Group, featuring colorful graphics of children playing. The text invites caregivers to join for connection, conversation, and fun, highlighting a relaxed space for socializing, playtime, and activities. It provides details about the weekly meeting time and location, as well as contact information.

Tuesday events via the Chamber:

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20

BAR HARBOR BIKE BUS

A group of children and adults with bicycles gathered at a parking lot for the Bar Harbor Bike Bus event, featuring a banner with schedule details and bike bus requirements.

MAY 20

Promotional poster for a live music event featuring the Sunday Sessions Sextet at the Northeast Harbor Library, with details of the date and time.

MUSIC BINGO WITH MATTY P AT THE FINBACK!

Flyer for Music Bingo event featuring Matty P, with details including a special food offer and event timing.

DANCE CARDIO AT ARTWAVES

A group of people participating in a dance cardio class, with one woman in the foreground raising her hand and smiling. The class is held on Wednesdays from 6-7 PM, as indicated in the text overlay.

Northeast Harbor Library—Readers Unite!

Illustration promoting the 'Readers Unite! After School Reading Club' at the Northeast Harbor Library, featuring a girl and a boy interacting with oversized books amidst a playful cloud background.

Love reading? Join us for Readers Unite! Reading Club. This will be an opportunity to read together, share books we love, and have quiet independent reading time. Grades 3 and up are welcome. Come every week, or pop in anytime! Link to register is here.

SOUTHWEST HARBOR

A colorful advertisement for storytime sessions featuring a caterpillar reading a book, a house, and an owl with books. It highlights storytimes for babies on Wednesdays at 10:00 am and families on Fridays at 10:00 am.

GIRLS WHO CODE

Promotional graphic for Girls Who Code in Bar Harbor, featuring event details, including meeting time and location at Jesup Memorial Library.

JUST THIS MEDITATION

Just This Meditation: sitting, walking and seeing just this.

A promotional flyer for a guided meditation session with Tom Tanguay at the Somesville Library. It includes details about the session for beginners and regular practitioners, scheduled for Wednesdays at 8 am, with the library address listed.

CHRONICLES OF YARNIA

A close-up of a person crocheting with a green yarn and crochet hook, sitting on a cozy, soft surface. In the background, a smartphone is visible. Text overlays provide details about a fiber arts group for tweens and teens, including the name and meeting times.

BLOCK PARTY!

Promotional image for a Block Party event at Jesup, featuring colorful building blocks and details about the event schedule, welcoming kids of all ages.

Baby Storytime at Southwest Harbor

10:00 a.m. Southwest Harbor Public Library. Stories, songs, rhymes, bubbles. www.swhplibrary.org. 207-244-7065.

Library hours 9-5, Mon., Tue., Thu., Fri., 9-8 Wed., 9-1 Sat.

Wednesday events via the Chamber:

THURSDAY, MAY 21

Promotional poster for 'Pints for a Purpose,' a weekly speaker series by Friends of Acadia, featuring upcoming talks and details about the event's location and purpose.

MAY 21 — COMMUNITY CIRCLE

Promotional graphic for a Community Circle event with Downeast Restorative Justice, featuring the text 'A supportive discussion space with a new topic each meeting', date and time details, and a circular logo with the letters 'DRJ'.

STITCHES KNITTING AND CROCHET GROUP!

A colorful knitted piece laid flat on a light background, with knitting needles and a ball of yarn beside it. Bold text overlay reads 'STITCHES KNITTING GROUP MEETS THURSDAYS 3-5'.

Stitches Knitting & Crochet Group meets on Thursdays from 3-5 p.m. at the Trenton Town Office. The town office is located at 59 Oak Point Road, Trenton, ME 04605. We will meet through mid-May, then take a break for the summer. All levels are welcome. Please join us. You don’t have to live in Trenton to come knit with us.

ADULT LINE DANCE CLASS

Promotional flyer for adult line dance classes by Two Shoes Dance featuring styles like pop, Latin, hip hop, and country. Classes held Thursdays from 5:15 PM to 6:15 PM at Harbor House starting November 6th. Drop-in cost is $15.

FIGURE DRAWING AT ARTWAVES

A sketch of a figure in a dynamic pose with text overlay announcing a weekly figure drawing class on Thursdays from 12 to 3 PM in the Fine Arts Studio.

DANCE LESSONS AT ARTWAVES

Spring dance classes schedule featuring ballet and contemporary dance for various age groups. Background image of a ballet dancer in a white tutu.

Thursday events via the Chamber:

FRIDAY, MAY 22

BIRDERS’ CAFE

Logo for Birders' Cafe at the Oceanarium featuring a small bird perched on a blue mug with an illustration of trees and water, promoting the Oceanarium and Education Center in Bar Harbor, Maine.

Our hope is to bring together local and visiting bird watchers and lovers for a social event. Join us every other Friday morning from 8:00 AM to 9:00 AM. Our museum shop will be open, offering a selection of baked goods from local cafes, restaurants, and caterers, along with coffee. Feel free to explore the trails as early as you like! After, relax in our courtyard and chat. The Oceanarium (museum and aquarium) opens at 9 AM.

FAMILY STORY TIME AT SOUTHWEST HARBOR

A colorful flyer promoting storytimes for babies and families, featuring a caterpillar reading, a house, a rainbow, and an owl with books. Baby storytime is on Wednesdays at 10:00 am, and family storytime is on Fridays at 10:00 am.

10:00 a.m. Southwest Harbor Public Library. Interactive books, puppets, songs, movements, bubbles.

Library hours 9-5, Mon., Tue., Thu., Fri., 9-8 Wed., 9-1 Sat.

Friday events via the Chamber:

SATURDAY, MAY 23

MAY 23—Island Arts Association Memorial Weekend Craft Fair

Promotional poster for the Island Arts Association Memorial Weekend Craft Fair, held on May 23-24 at Village Green, Bar Harbor. Features event details, date, and emphasis on supporting local independent artists.

MAY 23—KARAOKE AT SAFE HARBOR

Promotional poster for Karaoke Night at Safe Harbor Alano Club, featuring a microphone graphic, event details, and a colorful background.

MAY 23—CONTRADANCE

Flyer for a monthly contradance event at Jesup Memorial Library in Bar Harbor, featuring music by Big Moose on May 23 from 7 to 9:30 PM, with a suggested donation of $10 to benefit the library.

MAY 23 — WILDLIFE EVENTS

A close-up of a fox sitting in a wooden crate, licking its lips with a playful expression.
Courtesy of Acadia Wildlife

MOUNT DESERT ISLAND—Acadia Wildlife Center will be hosting multiple Saturday events for the public throughout the summer.

To learn more and to register, head to this site.

May 23 Kids Storytime at Acadia Wildlife Center

Saturday, May 23, 2026

Acadia Wildlife Center, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States

Free

May 23 Education Program at Acadia Wildlife Center

Saturday, May 23, 2026

Acadia Wildlife Center, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States

Free

KARAOKE NIGHT AT FINBACK ALE HOUSE

A colorful promotional poster for Finback Ale House Karaoke Night, featuring three singers on stage and an audience enjoying the performance. Text highlights include 'Karaoke Night!', 'Be the Star That You Are', and event details like 'Every Saturday Night!' and 'Free Admission | 21+ Only'.

STORY TIME

An announcement for Saturday Story Time at the Northeast Harbor Library, featuring colorful text and illustrations of a book and clouds. Details include time, place, starting date, and that all ages are welcome with no registration required.

SATURDAYS! BABY AND ME YOGA!

A promotional flyer for Baby and Me Yoga classes at Harbor House, featuring details about class times, descriptions for two levels (Little Wigglers for non-walking babies and Busy Bees for toddlers), and instructor information.

PRAYER SHAWL MISSION GROUP

Event flyer for the Prayer Shawl Mission Team start-up, detailing the date, time, and location, with images of people knitting and crocheting.

Prayer Shawl Mission from 10 a.m. to noon at the church located at 29 Mount Desert Street.

The intention of the group is to create a flow of Prayer Shawls for distribution for those in need due to illness, loneliness, loss or in need of comfort and to create a sense of community with those who have a shared interest.

Supplies and instruction will be provided to those with skills for knitting and/or crocheting and for those with a desire to learn. For more information contact Pat by calling (203) 770-0063 or email: pgdizazzo@yahoo.com.

DANCE LESSONS AT ARTWAVES

Promotional image for spring dance classes featuring schedule details for Thursdays and Saturdays, including various ballet and contemporary dance classes for different age groups. The image also includes a photo of a ballet dancer in a white tutu, alongside instructor information.

Saturday events via the Chamber:

SUNDAY, MAY 24

MAY 24—THE WALLFLOWERS

Promotional poster for The Wallflowers' 30th Anniversary Tour of 'Bringing Down the Horse', featuring a close-up image of a man with dark hair and blue eyes. Includes details about the performance at Criterion Theatre on May 24, along with references to other artists.

ISLAND ARTS ASSOCIATION CRAFT FAIR!

Promotional poster for the Island Arts Association's Memorial Weekend Craft Fair at Village Green, Bar Harbor, featuring vendor tents and dates of the event: May 23-24, 2023.

BOOM Concert, May 24.

BAR HARBOR—Baroque Orchestra of Maine (BOOM) will perform at the Bar Harbor Congregational Church on Sunday, May 24 at 4pm. Heidi Powell, baroque violin and Max Treitler, baroque cello will perform violin concertos from ‘La Cetra’ by Antonio Vivaldi, as well as sonatas by Biber, Handel and Matteis. Audience members will learn about the historical context of the composers, music and instruments as part of the concert. Tickets are available at the door, adults are $30, students are free. For more information contact fiddleheadheidi@gmail.com, or visit: baroqueorchestraofmaine.org.

SOUL BENDERS FOR FOOD ACCESS

Live performance by The Soulbenders at a benefit concert for Food for Health, featuring musicians singing and playing instruments under warm lighting.

An evening of music, community, and purpose will take center stage on Sunday, May 24, from 6–9 p.m. at The Grand in Ellsworth, as FarmDrop and partners Healthy Island Project and Healthy Acadia host a benefit concert supporting the Food for Health Program.

KIDS CHESS CLUB AT CHOCO-LATTE

A close-up of a chessboard featuring various chess pieces, including a white knight, black king, and pawns, with the text 'Chess Clubs for Kids' in the corner.

Our chess club is great for beginners (at least know how the pieces move) and also intermediate level. All are welcome. We meet most Sundays from 4-5:30 p.m. at Choco-latte in Bar Harbor.

Move Free Run Club

Logo of Move Free Run Club featuring stylized waves and a rising sun.

BAR HARBOR—The runs take place every week of the year and meet Tuesdays at 6 p.m. from the Bar Harbor Village Green and Sundays at 7:30 a.m. from Choco Latte.

The Move Free Run Club (Acadia Chapter) meets every Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. from the Bar Harbor Village Green and every Sunday morning at 7:30 a.m. from Choco Latte! Hope to meet more members of the community!

Sunday events via the Chamber:

ONGOING…

Event schedule for The Annex bar featuring live music performances from May 18 to May 31, listing artists and dates.
Promotional flyer for ArtWaves community arts center featuring dance classes and summer arts camp schedules, including ballet and contemporary dance for various age groups.
A colorful monthly schedule for ArtWaves in May 2026, detailing various art and dance programs, workshops, and summer camps for kids, along with a QR code for more information.

KIDS’ SCAVENGER HUNT AT SOUTHWEST HARBOR PUBLIC LIBRARY

A colorful promotional graphic for a kid's scavenger hunt at the Southwest Harbor Public Library, featuring a girl holding a magnifying glass and surrounded by bookshelves. The text invites participants to find ten hidden pictures to win a special prize, with details about checklists and event accessibility.

COMMUNITY BLANKET PROJECT

Promotional graphic for a Community Blanket Project featuring colorful rolled blankets and folded blankets with logos. The text encourages donations for providing warm, washable blankets to community members in need.

FUTURE EVENTS!

MAY 25—MEMORIAL DAY

SOUTHWEST HARBOR AND TREMONT

Memorial Day Parade event schedule poster for Southwest Harbor - Tremont on May 25th, 2026. Includes activities like a family fun run, parade lineup, ceremonies, and refreshments.

BAR HARBOR

Memorial Day event invitation with details about a remembrance ceremony on May 25th, featuring a keynote speaker and music from The US Army Band, alongside images of commemorative activities.

MOUNT DESERT

The Memorial Day parade begins at the Mount Desert Elementary School at 10:30 A.M. It ends at the Village Green. Ceremonies begin at 11. The Neighborhood House hosts a cookout on the Green. Veterans eat for free. All others have a suggested donation of $5.

MAY 25 and 26 MEMORIAL DAY BOOK SALE

Promotional poster for a Memorial Day Book Sale with details of the event on May 25 and 26, featuring colorful stacked books and timing information.

MAY 26 — ASSEMBLING THE MOUNT DESERT ISLAND GEOLOGY PUZZLE

Event flyer for 'Assembling the Mount Desert Island Geology Puzzle' featuring Duane and Ruth Braun, scheduled for May 26th at 5:30 p.m. Includes a QR code for registration and images of the speakers along with a book cover on geology.

MAY — WEDNESDAY BOOK CLUBS

SOMESVILLE LIBRARY BOOK CLUB

Meets the last Wednesday of every month at 1:30 p.m., everyone is welcome.

May: The Correspondent by Virginia Evans

MAY 28—COMMUNITY ART FOR A THRIVING EARTH

Promotional flyer for an event titled 'Community Art for a Thriving Earth' featuring Maine-based artists exploring art and climate action. The event includes photography, songwriting, landscape embroidery, art therapy, and poetry. Scheduled for May 28th at Hidden Barn Books.

MAY 28 — LEARNING AND ART EXHIBIT

Event flyer for a Learning & Art Exhibit for first and second grade students at Trenton Grange, featuring details about the date, time, and location.

MAY 28 — ACADIA SENIOR COLLEGE’S Fieldtrip to The Farnsworth Museum

A dramatic seascape featuring rugged cliffs, turbulent ocean waves, and a sailing ship in the distance under a cloudy sky.

Bus Trip to Rockland, ME

Thursday, May 28, 2026

departing 8am- returning late afternoon

Leaving from The Acadia Gateway Center, Trenton, ME

$65/person, includes transportation

and museum fees

Invite your friends & make a day of it!

Please join us for a field trip to the Farnsworth Museum in Rockland on May 28, 2026 leaving at 8am from the Acadia Gateway Center in Trenton. Hop aboard our chartered coach bus for a relaxing ride to the museum where we will gather for docent-led tours of new exhibits. There will be plenty of time to enjoy downtown Rockland and artist Eric Hopkins will be waiting to greet you in his gallery!

Register for Rockland Fieldtrip

MAY 29—GOLDEN OAK

Promotional image for ACTT's 10th Anniversary concert featuring GoldenOak. It displays the event details including date, time, and location.

MAY 30 — SEAL COVE AUTO MUSEUM BUILT, NOT BOUGHT

Promotional poster for the Seal Cove Auto Museum's 'Cars & Coffee' event in 2026, featuring a vintage car and coffee beans, listing the schedule of events from May to October.

May 30 Kids Storytime at Acadia Wildlife Center

Saturday, May 30, 2026

Acadia Wildlife Center, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States

Free

MAY 31 — HIGH TEA AT THE TRENTON GRANGE

TRENTON—Join us for a cozy High Tea at the Trenton Grange with tasty treats and great company on Sunday, May 31 from 2 PM – 4 PM

Come sip and snack in person at the charming Trenton Grange! Enjoy a relaxing afternoon filled with delicious teas, tasty treats, and great company. Whether you’re a tea lover or just looking for a cozy way to spend your day, this event is perfect for you.

To register.

QUICK NOTE

“Things To Do” is mostly curated by me looking for things happening in the upcoming week, which takes a lot of time and I truly do not know all that is going on.

If there’s something in the MDI region that you’d like me to mention, please let me know, because I’m definitely always missing some events every week.

If you’d like to donate to help support us, you can, but no pressure! Just click here.

Follow us on Facebook. And as a reminder, you can easily view all our past stories and press releases here.

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