The Boothbay Region Historical Society is pleased to present the history of the U.S. Coast Guard in Boothbay Harbor through photographs and stories in our collections. The service began as a Revenue Cutter service before 1800. Then as the need for rescuing coastal mariners grew, by the 1850s lifesaving stations started to be set up along the coast. The focus was on the major ports and merchant vessels. The first station here was built on Damariscove Island in 1897. By 1915 the government combined the lifesaving and revenue cutter service to form the U.S. Coast Guard.

Mine Oyster won first place at Claw Down 2025 on June 12 amidst applause, shouting, whistles and hollers. The winning bite, De-Constructed Lobster Bake, was composed of a fried potato crisp, warm corn salsa, butter poached lobster meat, hollandaise sauce, crispy fried clam, seaweed salt, seaweed nest and blueberry coulis.

Tickets are on sale now for comedian Paula Poundstone, who will bring her distinctive brand of spontaneous observational comedy to the Strand Theatre on Friday, Sept. 5 at 7:30 p.m.

 Poundstone regularly plays theaters across the country, hosts a weekly comedy podcast, “Nobody Listens to Paula Poundstone” and is a regular panelist on NPR’s “Wait, Wait… Don’t Tell Me.”  She also voiced the character “Forgetter Paula” in the feature films "Inside Out" and "Inside Out 2."

The Steep Canyon Rangers are excited to embark on their summer tour! They are head to many stops on this tour including New Hampshire, Maine, Pennsylvania, and several others. Steep Canyon Rangers are Asheville, North Carolina’s GRAMMY winners, perennial Billboard chart-toppers, and frequent collaborators of the renowned banjoist (and occasional comedian) Steve Martin.

Monica Wood,novelist, memoirist, and playwright will be the first speaker at this year’s “Summer Series” at the Popham Library, 965 Popham Road, Popham Beach. Wood will be talking about her latest best-selling novel, "H

Joseph Fiore (1925-2008) was a widely respected artist and active member of the Maine Art Gallery during the 1960s and 70s. In celebration of the 100th year of his birth, the gallery is partnering with Maine Farmland Trust (MFT) on an exclusive and overdue major retrospective, “Fiore at 100: Maine Observed.” The show runs June 19 - Aug. 24, with an opening reception and Solstice Party on Saturday, June 21. To mark the occasion, Maine Public will rebroadcast the documentary, "Joseph Fiore—The Nature of the Artist," at 9 p.m. on June 19 and again at 2 p.m. on June 21.

Summer is here at last, and it’s a perfect time to dive into a new artistic medium or enhance your skills in your favorite techniques and tools for making art. The Maine Art Gallery’s (MAG) experienced instructors have ways to bring out the artist in all of us. Sign up now for July classes. All classes are held in the gallery at 15 Warren St., Wiscasset. Space is limited.

Diana Young has been “making pictures” for as long as she can remember. She says that at a very early age she was praised for all her efforts, and since that early encouragement, she has approached her work with cheerful certainty. That she has been creating art with enthusiasm for eight decades is evident in the energy captured in her work.

Something remarkable is taking shape in Alna this summer. From July 5 to Aug.  3, the Puddle Dock Village Festival will turn the town into a stage for creativity, connection and courageous conversation.

On Wednesday, June 25, at 6 p.m. the Edgecomb Community Church will host the folk duo Castlebay performing songs and stories from the Celtic and maritime traditions. Through timeless songs, spritely dance tunes, and haunting aires they treat the audience to a musical journey across time and the Atlantic. Exuberant and expressive vocals are supported with Julia Lane's award-winning Celtic harp style, and Fred Gosbee's expertise on 12-string guitar, fiddle and woodwinds.

Lobster boat captains up and down the coast and right here in Boothbay Harbor are revving up for the 2025 racing season. The races begin with the Charlie Begin Memorial Lobster Boat Races Saturday, June 14. Since 2005, Boothbay Harbor’s races are held in honor of Begin, a beloved native lobsterman and racer.

Race categories include gas classes based on length and cubic inches, diesel classes based on horsepower and length, a wooden boat race, gas and diesel free-for-alls, and four races just for Boothbay Region boats, including Fastest Working Lobster Boat. 

"Thunderbolts*" - (PG13; 2 hours, 6 minutes) - Marvel assembles a chaotic crew of misfit antiheroes for a black-ops mission no Avenger would dare touch. Recruited by morally murky CIA director Valentina Allegra de Fontaine (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), the team includes assassin-turned-reluctant-hero Yelena Belova (Florence Pugh), the brooding Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan), the bombastic Red Guardian (David Harbour), and intense U.S. Agent John Walker (Wyatt Russell)—each carrying heavy baggage and shaky loyalties.

Have you ever taken a ride on Midcoast Maine’s very own authentic “Two-footer”? It's time to get on board for a trip on the heritage railway at 97 Cross Road in Alna. Whether you’ve never visited before, haven’t visited in years, or are a regular rider, you’ll find that lots of interesting adventures await this year on the railway of ‘Big Dreams and Little Wheels.’

"The Wedding Banquet" - (R; 1 hour, 43 minutes) -  A joyful comedy of errors about a chosen family navigating cultural identity, queerness, and family expectations. Frustrated with his commitment-phobic boyfriend Chris and running out of time, Min makes a proposal: a green-card marriage with their friend Angela in exchange for her partner Lee's expensive IVF. Elopement plans are upended, however, when Min's grandmother surprises them with an extravagant Korean wedding banquet.

The Second Congregational Church located at 51 Main St., Newcastle has long been a bastion of community spirit, a place where people gather not only to worship but also to celebrate the arts. In the spirit of fostering a deeper connection to music and culture, the church proudly presents its fifth community concert to be held Sunday, June 8 at 3 p.m. featuring Eric LaPerna with extraordinary Middle Eastern Music with the Tarab Trio.

Ahoy, movie lovers! 

Swashbuckling adventure is coming to the big screen at the Harbor Theater on Saturday, June 14th, when the beloved 1985 classic “The Goonies” sets sail in a special 2 p.m. matinee. The family-friendly fundraiser invites viewers of all ages to step into a world of hidden treasure maps, secret passageways, and pirate legends. The ragtag group of kids – the Goonies – race to uncover the fortune of the fabled One-Eyed Willy, a 17th-century pirate whose legacy lives on in Hollywood history and now, for one special day, in Boothbay Harbor.

River Arts is pleased to announce Ruth Monsell’s upcoming solo show, “Celebrating 25 Years in Maine: Works in Oil and Cut Paper”, in the River Room at River Arts. This retrospective show runs June 5 through June 25. Meet the artist at an opening reception on Saturday, June 7 from 2-4 p.m.

Monsell’s passion for the French impressionists shines through in her work engaging the viewer and spreading light and joy.

Boothbay Harbor's self-guided tour of galleries in the region.  Led by an art lover’s desire to exercise their imagination. Paintings … sculpture … mixed media … assemblage art … photography … pottery … weaving … fiber art.  New art, demos, refreshments...Take a walk on the creative side! (l. Kristoff)

In Boothbay Harbor ... 

Heartwood Regional Theater Company continues its 24-25 season with Lauren Gunderson's “Silent Sky,” opening Friday, June 20 at the Poe Theater at Lincoln Academy.

Gaelic Storm, a multi-national, Celtic juggernaut grows stronger with each live performance, and after two decades and over 2000 shows, they are a true force to be reckoned with. Music steeped in Irish tradition and stories well-told from the stage make an evening with Gaelic Storm a party from start to finish. On Saturday, June 14, the band comes to the historic Opera House in Boothbay Harbor and brings a storm of music with them.