Upcoming Events

Thursday, June 21
Seal Cove Auto Museum Presents: Demo Day
10:00am - 4:00pm: One of the vehicles in the Seal Cove Auto Museum’s collection will be featured, with talks by the Museum’s curators and additional related object and documents shared. Rides in antique autos offered, weather permitting. Free with admission. 244-9242

Thursday, June 21
Southwest Harbor Public Library Presents: Claremont Dinner & Silent Auction
6PM: Join us for this Fundraising Event benefiting the Library at the Claremont Hotel. Contact the library at 244-7065 for details.

Thursday, June 21
Island Housing Trust Presents: Housing Study Workshop - Free Public Event
6 PM - 8 PM at MDI High School. IHT has partnered with Camoin Associates and The Musson Group to offer a free, public workshop to unveil and discuss the preliminary findings of an island-wide housing study. Participants will have an opportunity to break into smaller working groups to discuss housing needs on the island. Free registration for the event can be found at IslandHousingTrust.org.

Saturday, June 23
The Salty Dog Gallery Hosts: Phil Steel's Celebration of a Colorful Life
2 PM - 5 PM: At the Causeway Club Red Barn. Come eat, drink, sing, dance and tell tall tales--- all the things Phil loved about being on the planet.

Sunday, June 24
Bass Harbor Boat Races-Pancake Breakfast & BBQ Lunch
Fuel up for a day of fun with a pancake breakfast and BBQ lunch sponsored by the Bass Harbor Memorial Library, at the Bernard Town Dock. Join us, support your local library, and cheer on the boat racers! Click here for more information.

Monday, June 25
ArtWaves Presents: Glass Mosaic Workshops with Liz Cutler
Stained Glass Birch at 9:30, Pet Mosaics at 1:00. Learn to cut, grind and grout glass. Bring home your own version with our huge colorful selection of glass and our step by step instructions. It’s like coloring with stained glass. Feel free to bring in a stone or something special to add in- you are welcome to do your own design as well! Click here for more information.

Tuesday, June 26
ArtWaves Presents: Print workshops all day long
Botanical Printmaking at 9:30, Linocut Printmaking at 1:00, Monoprint the Park at 6:00. No experience necessary for these workshops. We supply it all and the results are stunning- the gelatin plates pick up the intricacy of the plants and our Akua inks are vibrantly colored. Liz will guide you through endless possibilities of monoprinting on a variety of papers. Everything is included! Click here

Tuesday, June 26
Meet Justin Vandongen
The Southwest Harbor Board of Selectmen invite you to a Meet & Greet Event to introduce our new Town Manager, Justin Vandongen. 5PM at the Town Office, 26 Village Green Way.

Tuesday, June 26
Southwest Harbor Public Library Presents: Lyme Disease Talk with Emily Bracale and Dr Blake Rosso
5:30 - 7:00 pm. Emily Bracale has been a Lyme awareness advocate since 2009 when first diagnosed with Lyme disease and co-infections. Her educational art exhibit and book by the same name, In the Lyme-Light: Portraits of Illness and Healing have helped raise awareness of Lyme, giving voice to what thousands of other patient have experienced. 244-7065

Wednesday, June 27
ArtWaves Presents: Needle Felting with Jessica Harris
Bugs & Moths at 1:00, Painting with Needles from 6-9. Learn the basics of wet and needle felting. Students will learn how to create small creatures, such as moths with feathery antennae, wiry pipe cleaner legs, tissue paper wings and bright, fuzzy bodies, ladybugs, spiders, and other amazing itty-bitties inspired from our natural world. Click here for more information.

Thursday, June 28
Seal Cove Auto Museum Presents: The Great Race Visit
11AM - 1PM: Participants in the Great Race will be visiting the Seal Cove Auto Museum for lunch as a part of their journey. The Great Race is a long distance time-speed-endurance rally, in which 150 racers with vintage pre-1972 cars test their cars’ abilities over 2,000 miles cross-country. The route will take drivers from Buffalo, NY to Halifax, NS over the course of ten days. Click for more info

Thursday, June 28
Seal Cove Auto Museum's Car-B-Que
6-10PM: Car show, food, and live music, all wrapped up into one super-fun event! Held in conjunction with the Great Race visit earlier in the day. Stay tuned for additional details. 244-9242

Saturday, June 30
Bass Harbor Memorial Library Presents: Family Art Night: Inspired by the Sea
10 AM - 11:30 AM: Artist Erika Rosso will host our Family Art Night. Kids ages 4 & up will team up with an adult for an evening of hands-on creation at this relaxed family event inspired by the “Paint & Sip” format. Refreshments will be served. The class is free, all supplies included, but if you have a blowdryer at home please bring it. Space is limited - call to reserve you spot: 244-3798

Saturday, June 30
Southwest Harbor Public Library Presents: Fishing during WW II
4:00 - 5:30 pm: Ralph Stanley is known throughout the state and the nation as a master boatbuilder. He is also a writer, historian, genealogist and storyteller. In this talk, he will bring us back in time to the Maine coast, its fishermen and boatbuilding during World War II. Light refreshments will be served.

Sunday, July 1
Sips Presents: Austrian Wine Dinner
6 PM - 9 PM: Join us for the second dinner in our series of monthly wine dinners. Come sample some of the amazing wines that Scott had on his trip to Austria this past Spring. You will be some of the first in the country to try some of these so be sure to call and make your reservations. Call Sips at 207-244-4550.

Wednesday, July 4
Southwest Harbor's Annual Fourth of July Fireworks
(Rain date: July 7) Join us at 9PM for our Annual Fireworks Display! This is a true community event, made possible by your generous donations. Help us celebrate the birth of our Nation by supporting this event. 244-9264 for more information.

Thursday, July 5
Bass Harbor Memorial Library Presents: Artists Reception: Curtis Wells
6 PM - 8 PM: Join us to celebrate the opening of our July art exhibit, featuring Tremont photographer Curtis Wells. Come view his work, enjoy hors d'oeuvres and great conversation. The Library is located at 89 Bernard Road in Bernard. Call 244-3798 or find us online at bassharborlibrary.com.

Thursday, July 5
Claremont Hotel Lecture Series: “Cameo Fever:” From Catherine the Great to Scarlett O’Hara
8:15 PM in the Clarkpoint Room. Elizabeth Wees: Curator of American Decorative Arts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYC. Information available at 244-5036. Parking is reserved for hotel guests. Please use parking at the end of Claremont Road.

Saturday, July 7
The Barn Arts Collective Presents: Homeisland Project
7 PM - 9 PM: A work-in-progress showing from a resident artist of the Barn Arts Residency Program: Homeisland Project. Andrea Lepcio. We live here. A collaborative creation project with local actors. Part of our Local Residency Series, featuring local artists and stories Rated PG-13. Admission by donation.

Sunday, July 8
Wendell Gilley Museum's Exhibit Opening: Barbara Ernst Prey: Earth, Sea, Sky
5:30 - 7PM. Please join us for our opening reception. Earth, Sea, Sky highlights Barbara Prey’s work in Maine through large-scale watercolor paintings and newer oil paintings. Several recent paintings from Mount Desert Island and the town of Southwest Harbor are being exhibited for the first time. 244-7555

Tuesday, July 10
Mt. Desert Island Historical Society's 44th Annual Strawberry Festival
1-3PM at the Somesville Firehouse. Come enjoy our classic Strawberry Shortcake, and buy some berries to take home with you! This tasty event is a must-not-miss!

Tuesday, July 10
Acadia Family Center Presents: Helping Friends & Loved Ones Who Are Struggling with Addiction
5:30 PM - 7 PM: Dr. Johnson will be speaking about the challenges of having a friend or loved one suffering from an addiction. He will help us understand the origins of addiction, what is not helpful, and what is most supportive and caring in assisting those we are concerned about. We hope you will be able to attend!

Tuesday, July 10
Southwest Harbor Public Library Presents: Creating the Maine Sculpture Trail with Jesse Salisbury
5:30 - 7:00 pm: Steuben sculptor and Schoodic International Sculpture Symposium founder Jesse Salisbury will be at the Library with a visual presentation of the creation of the Maine Sculpture Trail. The Maine Sculpture Trail is a collection of 34 one of a kind sculptures that spans three counties in Eastern Maine. You can visit one of these sculptures, "Sisters", right here! 244-7065

Thursday, July 12
Claremont Hotel Lecture Series: The Art of the Maine Coast
8:15 PM in the Clarkpoint Room. Carl Little: Author and Maine Art Expert. Carl Little is the author of many art books. He lives and writes in Somesville on Mount Desert Island. Information available at 244-5036. Parking is reserved for hotel guests. Please use parking at the end of Claremont Road.

Friday, July 13
Harbor House's Annual Flamingo Festival
Continues thru July 18: Every year, Harbor House holds this very PINK fun-filled family festival that truly has something for everyone. This 3-day festival has a parade and kid’s carnival, a lobster dinner, a cocktail party, a road race and a concert. 244-3713

Friday, July 13
22nd Annual Hospice Regatta of Maine
Friday, July 13: Juniors & SWH Fleet Races. Saturday, July 14: NEH Fleet Races and Hospice Regatta Rendezvous - Rendezvous: 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. at Morris Yachts, NEH More information to come!

Saturday, July 14
Camp CaPella's Miles For Smiles Motorcycle Ride
9 AM - 4 PM. Camp CaPella "Miles For Smiles" Motorcycle Ride in partnership with Maine Motorcycle Xperience and Jim’s Precision Auto. This event will benefit Camp CaPella. The 70-90 mile ride route will begin at Jim's Precision Auto in Brewer. Registration will begin at 9:00am. Kickstands Up at 10:00am! The route will end at Camp CaPella with a lunch and live band! More info: 207-843-5104

Sunday, July 15
Harbor House's Annual Flamingo 4-Miler
Our 4 mile race is part of the Eden Athletics – Side Street Cafe Points Series. This scenic race runs through part of Acadia National Park and ends at the Tremont Community Center. Walkers are welcome to join this event. Click here for more info!

Tuesday, July 17
Southwest Harbor Public Library Presents: Moral Combat: How Sex Divided American Christians and Fractured American Politics with Marie Griffith
5:30 - 7:00 pm: Why are religious conflicts over sex & sexuality so inescapable in American politics today? Dr Griffith says the answer lies in sharp disagreements that emerged among American Christians almost a century ago. Her talk will touch on debates about birth control, censorship, interracial marriage, sex education, abortion, sexual harassment, & LGBTQ rights, among others. 244-7065

Thursday, July 19
Claremont Hotel Lecture Series: Protecting Maine’s Environment: Defense, Progress and Plans
8:15 PM in the Clarkpoint Room. Lisa Pohlmann: Executive Director, Natural Resources Council of Maine. Lisa Pohlmann brings to her leadership role a deep passion for the environment and a strong history of advocacy for the people of Maine. Information available at 244-5036. Parking is reserved for hotel guests. Please use parking at the end of Claremont Road.

Tuesday, July 24
Southwest Harbor Public Library Presents: Earth Optimism: Reasons to Feel Positive About Maine's People and Places and (even) the Planet with Kate Dempsey
5:30 - 7:00 pm: Even in the face of very real challenges in Maine, there are plenty of reasons to feel optimistic. Hear from Kate Dempsey, The Nature Conservancy in Maine's Executive Director, about the Conservancy's priorities and stories of why she is hopeful for a future where nature and people thrive together. For more information, please call the Library at 244-7065.

Thursday, July 26
Charlotte Rhoades Garden's 2018 Annual Butterfly Release
3:30 PM - Reservations required. This annual event is a wonderful family affair that is fun for everyone! Money raised at the event helps support the park by providing funds for plants, supplies, and equipment for maintaining the garden, and producing educational materials. Click here for info and to purchase tickets.

Thursday, July 26
Claremont Hotel Lecture Series: An In-Depth Look at the History of the Mt. Desert Land & Garden Preserve
8:15 PM in the Clarkpoint Room. Rodney Eason: Executive Director, MDI Land & Garden Preserve. Eason earned a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture from North Carolina State University and a Master of Public Horticulture from the University of Delaware and the Longwood Graduate Program. Information available at 244-5036. Parking is reserved for hotel guests; use parking at the end of Claremont Road.

Sunday, July 29
Claremont Hotels' Annual Croquet Classic
Continues through August 4: Players compete in a week-long nine-wicket double-elimination tournament in both singles and doubles competition. The players and spectators alike enjoy this annual event. For more information, call 244-5036.

Tuesday, July 31
Southwest Harbor Public Library Presents: Family Sing-along with Paul Kaplan
5:30 - 7:00 pm: Join veteran musician and songwriter Paul Kaplan for a family sing-along. Kaplan has been a part of the folk music world since the late 1960's, singing songs in the old troubadour tradition. His warm style and gentle humor promise to make this a fun evening for people of all ages. For more information, please call the Library at 244-7065.

Thursday, August 2
Wendell Gilley Museum's Annual Flight of Swallows
Join us at the Neighborhood House for another round of delicious wines and food pairings. Learn more about each wine through conversation with the pourers and The Field Guide to the Swallows created for this event. Bird carving demonstration, jazz music, and excellent conversation make for a fun and festive evening. Please call 244-7555 for info and tickets.

Thursday, August 2
Claremont Hotel Lecture Series: The Search for the Elusive Baby Lobster: A Unique Collaboration Between Scientists, Harvesters and a Lobster Wholesaler
8:15 PM in the Clarkpoint Room. Curt Brown: Staff Marine Biologist at Ready Seafood, Portland ME. Information available at 244-5036. Parking is reserved for hotel guests. Please use parking at the end of Claremont Road.

Tuesday, August 7
Harbor House's Annual Lobsters on the Sound
Come join us at The Hinckley Company in Southwest Harbor for a night of fun. 5:30 - 7:30pm Cocktails & Silent Auction. 7:30pm Dinner, Live Auction & Dancing. Proceeds from Lobsters on the Sound support the many programs and services Harbor House provides to the communities of Mount Desert Island. For information about Harbor House or to purchase tickets, contact Diana Novella at 207-244-3713.

Tuesday, August 7
Southwest Harbor Public Library Presents: Keepers of Baker Island with Cornelia Cesari
5:30 - 7:00 pm: Baker Island, one of the five Cranberry Isles, is mostly owned by Acadia NP, with only two privately owned buildings. Its fascinating history includes the 1806 settlement by the Gilley family; its lighthouse keepers from 1828 until 1955; and many young schoolteachers. In her research, author Cornelia Cesari discovered many fascinating stories of tragedy, joy and adventure. 244-7065

Thursday, August 9
Claremont Hotel Lecture Series: A Voyage to Antarctica
8:15 PM in the Clarkpoint Room. Peter Plumb, Esq.: Portland Attorney and Long-Distance Sailor. Peter is a member of Maine State, Cumberland County, and American Bar Associations, as well as being an avid sailor, skier, tennis player, and traveler. Information available at 244-5036. Parking is reserved for hotel guests. Please use parking at the end of Claremont Road.

Thursday, August 16
Claremont Hotel Lecture Series: Over There and Down Home: Mainers and World War I
8:15 PM in the Clarkpoint Room. Angela Goebel-Bain: Curator of Historical Collections, Maine State Museum. "I am thrilled to have returned to New England to take the position of Curator of Historical Collections at the Maine State Museum." Information available at 244-5036. Parking is reserved for hotel guests. Please use parking at the end of Claremont Road.

Tuesday, August 21
Southwest Harbor Public Library Presents: Two Great Maine Authors with Margaret Broucek & Joan Dempsey
5:30 - 7:00 pm: Novelists and friends Margaret Broucek (The Futility Experts) and Joan Dempsey (This Is How It Begins) will read briefly from their work and talk about becoming debut authors later in life and the joys of a literary friendship. For more information, please call the Library at 244-7065.

Thursday, August 23
Claremont Hotel Lecture Series: Fulfilling the Promise of Never Again: Arresting & Trying Perpetrators of Mass Atrocities
8:15 PM in the Clarkpoint Room. Stephen Rapp, Esq.: Chairman of the Commission for International Justice & Accountability, The Hague, The Netherlands. Rapp is an American diplomat & prosecutor with more than 30 years of legal experience in the US government & the UN working on issues of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity. Info: 244-5036. Park at the end of Claremont Road, please.

Tuesday, August 28
Southwest Harbor Public Library Presents: The Geological Evolution of Mount Desert Island with Duane and Ruth Braun
5:30 - 7:00 pm. Preregistration is required - call 244-7065. Have you ever wondered about the geological origin of Mount Desert Island? How it was put together? What effect the glaciers had on the current landscape? The Brauns are back by popular demand to take us on a geologic history tour! Their talk will begin around a billion years ago!

Thursday, August 30
Claremont Hotel Lecture Series: What in the World is Russia Doing - & Why? Core Ideas Animating Russian Foreign Policy
8:15 PM in the Clarkpoint Room. James Warhola: Professor of Political Science, University of Maine. Information available at 244-5036. Parking is reserved for hotel guests. Please use parking at the end of Claremont Road.

Saturday, September 8
Maine's Open Lighthouse Day: Bass Harbor Head Light
9-3PM: This popular annual event, which is sponsored by the United States Coast Guard, the Maine Office of Tourism and the American Lighthouse Foundation, attracts between 15,000 to 18,000 visitors each year and offers the general public the rare opportunity to climb and learn about over two dozen historic Maine lights.

Tuesday, September 11
Southwest Harbor Public Library Presents: Carey Kish and The Maine Mountain Guide
5:30 - 7 pm: Kish's latest edition of the Maine Mountain Guide, was on sale in bookstores & online in late July. It now covers 300 mountains, 625 trails & nearly 1,500 miles of hiking. In this talk MDI's own Carey Kish will highlight some of the best hikes in Maine from Mt. Agamenticus to Acadia to Aroostook, including more than just a few hikes that folks have likely never heard about! 244-7065

Saturday, September 22
Fee Free Day in Acadia National Park
Celebrate National Public Lands Day with free admission to Acadia National Park on Saturday, September 22.

Friday, October 5
9th Annual Wine Tasting
4-6PM at Smuggler's Den Campground. Join us for our 9th Annual Wine Tasting. Sample more than 30 wines from around the world, and from around Maine. Tasty treats will be served, and enjoy the beautiful fall season with your friends. Click here for more information.

Friday, October 5
YWCA MDI Presents: Women Of Distinction: Writing Your Own Story
6 PM - 8 PM: In addition to presenting Girl, Young Woman, and Woman of the Year as nominated by our community, our keynote speaker will be Gia Drew, a fantastic speaker, advocate for Equality Maine, and one of the first out transgender teachers in the country, also happens to be a writer. Suggested donation of $25/person includes two drink tickets & appetizers. Click here for more info.

Saturday, October 6
23rd Annual Acadia's Oktoberfest
Noon - 5PM at Smuggler's Den Campground. What could be greater than craft beer, music, food and games in the autumn on Mount Desert Island? You will get all these and more at Acadia's Invitational Oktoberfest! For more info, click here!

Friday, October 5 through Sunday, October 14
2nd Annual Southwest Harbor Week - Celebrate the Quietside of Acadia
Join us for a week-long celebration of the Quietside of Acadia. We kick off with Acadia's Oktoberfest, and close out with the MDI Marathon. In between, we will feature tours, boat cruises, special programs and may other interesting events. Access information by clicking here - as programs are added, we will add them to the calendar!

Sunday, October 14
Mount Desert Island Marathon
Presenting the award-winning Mount Desert Island Marathon, voted 'most scenic' and runner-up 'best overall' marathon by Runner's World! Race day is held annually on the Sunday following Columbus Day. Hosted by Crow Athletics. Click here for more information.

Saturday, November 3
Friends of Acadia's Annual Take Pride in Acadia Day
Each fall, enthusiastic volunteers descend upon Acadia’s historic carriage roads to rake leaves & clear drainage ditches from miles of carriage roads in preparation for winter. Perhaps the most important volunteer event of the year in Acadia, Take Pride in Acadia Day is key to the park’s ability to maintain the carriage roads in pristine condition. We hope you’ll join us! Info: 288-3340

Sunday, November 11
Fee Free Day in Acadia National Park
Celebrate Veteran's Day with free admission to Acadia National Park on Sunday, November 11.