How often have you heard someone say, “There’s nothing to do”? Well, here in beautiful central Aroostook County there is never a shortage of things to do, you just have to look around a little and be creative. We are blessed with an abundance of outdoor activities here regardless of the season. Hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, fishing, hunting, bird-watching, ATVing, snowshoeing, skiing, snowmobiling and the list goes on.
Not into the outdoors? No problem. The Mark and Emily Turner Library always has an interesting program of some kind scheduled (www.pimainelibrary.org). There are numerous cultural activities, usually free, offered at the University of Maine at Presque Isle or Northern Maine Community College.
In addition to the Northern Maine Fair July 28-Aug. 5 and the Crown of Maine Balloon Fest Aug. 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. Check out the events listing at the Chamber by visiting www.centralaroostookchamber.com or go to www.visitmaine.com.
The free outdoor movie series, “Movies in the Park,” takes 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 to 8:30 p.m. 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 p.m. in the Pavilion followed by a free cookout sponsored by the Elks on the 4th.
Like museums? Great — visit the Maysville Museum or the Northern Maine Museum of Science in Presque Isle, the Nylander in Caribou or the Francis Malcolm Science Center in Easton. If you have transportation, there are many more wonderful museums and historical sites around the area.
Into arts and crafts? Check out the programs at Wintergreen Art Center. In addition to great programs for children, the center also has a Ladies’ Night. Find out more at www.wintergreenarts.org.
Feel like something a bit more active? Visit www.tamc.org and take a look at their Fit & Fun series. And if you are even more adventurous, take part in the Aroostook Musterds Running Club’s County Challenge Series (www.facebook.com/AroostookMusterds).
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.
Still looking? Other activities can be found on the WAGM TV Community Calendar and the City’s Channel 16 Public Access listing, as well as The Star-Herald.
As you can see, there is always something going on and, regardless of your interests, you can probably find it here in central Aroostook.
Kimberly Smith is grant writer/public information officer for the city of Presque Isle. She can be reached at 760-2722 or via email at ksmith@presqueisleme.us.
