Food
A RiverWalk along the Kennebec and a multi-use Colby structure in the Concourse dramatically alter the downtown Waterville landscape. How better to take in the changes than at the Taste of Waterville? This annual alfresco foodie feast has the ambiance of a summer reunion with friends and family.
From 11 a.m. -11 p.m. on Wednesday, August 8, downtown Waterville becomes all things Taste.
More than 14 Bite booths and 24 vendor booths open in the Concourse for food, games, giveaways, shopping and more.
New to the Children’s Events, again located behind the Concourse’s Key Bank, kids can play bucket drums and visit the instrument zoo, thanks to Snow Pond Center for the Arts volunteers.
Emery’s Meats and Produce will sponsor two afternoon enhanced cooking demonstrations in Castonguay Square. Consult the Taste website or Facebook page for times.
Back by popular demand, Sparks the Rescue again fills the Beer Garden with music. The Garden opens at 5 p.m. at its new location in the southwest section of the Concourse, near the Habitat for Humanity Re-Store.
At least 12 restaurants will begin offering their specialties on Main Street at 5 p.m. Mix or match to create a dinner of personal favorites, then have a seat and enjoy the Downeast Brass Band.
Strollers can stop to enjoy youth dance and gymnastic team performances on Main Street. Consult the Taste website or Facebook page for location and timing.
Sunny with chance of meatballs! It’s Amici Cucina’s fifth annual marvelously messy Meatball Eating Contest at 7:30 p.m. in front of their restaurant at 137 Main Street.
Parking for the Taste will be at Head of Falls, assuming the RiverWalk project is complete. For those needing assistance, golf cart transportation will be available.
As always, the Taste is a smoke-free event. And no pets, please.
For updated information on all events, menus and parking, please consult tasteofwaterville.com, or facebook.com/tasteofwaterville/ or call the Chamber office at 873-3315.
Kids
Libraries Rock! begins Saturday, June 22 at the Waterville Public Library, 73 Elm Street where summer adventures await pre-readers, beginning readers and readers up to age 12. Here’s a sampling of program highlights: crafts on Tuesdays, story time at the Farmers’ Market on Thursdays, weekly hands-on science projects, and a special performance by Maine singer Matt Loosigian on August 11. Check for times and a full listing of activities, including music, science, computing, plus arts and crafts projects on the Library’s events calendar at watervillelibrary.org or telephone 872-5433.
Film
Attention cinemaphiles. For ten days, in over 100 films, international stars will shine in Waterville during the 21st annual Maine International Film Festival (MIFF). From Friday, July 13 through Sunday, July 22 dozens of restored classics, documentaries, shorts, premieres and foreign language films fill screens at Railroad Square Cinema and the Waterville Opera House.
Actors, directors and producers will appear for Q&A sessions following several films. This Global Filmmakers Forum brings together film talent from Hollywood, Europe, the United Kingdom, Africa, South America and beyond for a rare, interactive audience opportunity.
Film restorations include “Jabberwocky” and “Picture of Light.” A new film profiles iconoclastic director Hal Ashby, whose acclaimed films from the 60s and 80s include “Being There” and “Shampoo.” “Being There” is among the digital restorations included in this year’s showings.
A 35-millimeter print of “Bound for Glory,” Woody Guthrie’s biopic, will screen his life “as it was meant to be seen” says Maine Film Center Director of Programming Ken Eisen.
Premieres include high-powered stars such as Oscar winner Emma Thompson in “The Children Act” a contemporary remake of “Papillon” and a midcentury British film entitled “The Bookshop” starring Emily Mortimer.
“Witkin and Witkin,” a documentary about painter Jerome Witkin and his twin brother, photographer Joel Witkin, will be introduced by Jerome.
Short films, including Maine short films, should continue to delight filmgoers as they have in the past.
Mid-life and Lifetime Achievement Awards highlight MIFF’s special events. Past winners include actor Glenn Close and director Jonathan Demme.
Watch for the detailed MIFF broadsheet at the end of June.
Films will screen in the Waterville theaters of Railroad Square Cinema, 17 Railroad Square, and the Waterville Opera House, 1 Common Street, Waterville. Tickets may be purchased online or by calling (866) 811-4111. For more information, please consult the MIFF website miff.org or telephone 861-8138.
Art Exhibitions
Ongoing through May 30, Common Street Arts (CSA), 93 Main Street, exhibits “Prints at the Scale of People” – experimental printmaking by four printmakers exploring oversized examples of the medium.
August 1 through September 8, CSA co-hosts “ebb+flow: reflections on the Kennebec River” a visual exploration of the River’s role in shaping, providing and sustaining commercial and leisure pursuits.
Continuing the Kennebec River theme, three Maine artists will install public art works at Castonguay Square, CSA and Quarry Road Trails in Waterville. Works will remain on view through September.
Special Events
Baby Hats for Hearts provides free yarn, tools and instruction for knitting red baby hats for the American Heart Association from 1 – 4 p.m. Saturday, June 23 at CSA, 93 Main Street.
Art in the Park, a free, family-friendly art program, schedules weekly artmaking projects from recycled masks to mini Mason jar river “aquariums” Thursdays from 4 – 6 p.m. in Castonguay Square beginning June 7 and ending August 30. Shop at the Farmers Market, then make some art!
Music
Waterville Rocks! in four free Friday evening Castonguay Square outdoor concerts. Each two-hour concert begins at 6 p.m. on the following dates: July 6, July 27, August 17 and September 28. A beer garden flavors the ambience.
The Waterville Opera House raises the curtain on six “Seussical the Musical” performances beginning Friday, June 15 and ending Sunday, June 24. Other Opera House events include:
A free, all-day celebration of the R. B. Hall Band on Saturday, June 30.
A Wednesday, July 25 Carbon Leaf concert at 8 p.m.
Three weeks of Missoula Children’s Theater Camp. Call 873-7000 to register.
The Weight Band concert at 8 p.m. Friday, August 10.
For dates, times, tickets and additional information on Waterville Opera House events, consult operahouse.org or telephone the ticket office at 873-7000.
Explore expanded Waterville arts information at WatervilleCreates.org, Instagram and Twitter @WTVLCreates or its Facebook page.
Day or night, indoors and out—things are happening this summer in Waterville.
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