Guest Blogger: Evan Zarkadas

There is so much to do in Presque Isle this summer! In addition to the Northern Maine Fair July 28 – August 5 and the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest August 24 – 26, there are numerous fun events taking place in the historic downtown as well. The Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce hosts an ART Walk weekly on Friday evenings, Presque Isle Police Department sponsors a free outdoor movie series geared towards families and Presque Isle Downtown Revitalization Committee offers the “Rockin’ on Riverside” concert series. presenting different local bands every other Thursday beginning May 31.

The free outdoor movie series, “Movies in the Park”, take place twice a month on Fridays around Dusk beginning June 1. Movies for 2018 will include Despicable Me 3, Deep, Wonder, Cars 3, Peter Rabbit, Spark, Coco, Early Man, The Nut Job 2, and, for a Halloween theme, 1408 by Stephen King. The movies are held in the Public Market Pavilion at 19 Riverside Drive. For more information on the movies, visit www.presqueislepd.com.

“Rockin’ on Riverside”, the free concert series, also takes place in the Public Market Pavilion, every other Thursday beginning May 31 from 6:00pm-8:30pm. Some of the bands that will be performing at the event include Common Crossing, Star City Syndicate, Tennessee Haze, Wally and the Virginians, and Rock Dox. Keep up with all of the action by visiting Presque Isle Downtown Revitalization Committee’s Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pidrc/.

While visiting downtown, don’t forget to check out the Farmers’ Market in the Pavilion on Saturdays. Plan on being in the area for the 4th of July? Join the celebration held every year in Riverside Park. This year, the celebration begins on Tuesday, July 3 with a free performance by the 195th Army National Guard Band at 6:00 p.m. in the Pavilion followed by a free cook-out sponsored by the Elks on the 4th.

Want to know more about the area? Presque Isle, founded in 1828 and originally known as Fairbanks Mills, has direct ties to state, national and international history. Join Presque Isle Historical Society for some of the fascinating tours offered including a Guided Walking Tour of Historic Downtown, a Narrated Tour of the 1875 Vera Estey House Museum, a Guided Walking Tour of Historic Fairmount Cemetery, or a City-Wide Narrated Historical Tour aboard Molly the Trolley. For information on these and other Society tours and programs, visit www.pihistory.org.