A- Overview:
The summer holiday home of the rich and famous and the playground of the wealthy at the turn of the 20th century, this is a place that is unique among the thousands of island communities lining the Maine coast. Nestled among the mountains, forests, and the vast expanse of the Atlantic Ocean is the picturesque village of Bar Harbor. The masts of fishing boats tilt rhythmically back and forth as the waves lap against the rocky shore.
When the first Europeans settled the eastern side of Mount Desert Island, they named their town Eden. This was in honor of an English statesman, Sir Richard Eden. The name they chose proved to be well-suited. Even after the name was changed to Bar Harbor in 1918, the air of paradise remained.
Mount Desert Island is blessed with a unique ecology that makes it a garden of plenty. The early settlers discovered that while the soil was poor, the sea was rich, both in food and opportunity. The thin, rocky earth provided perfect conditions for the trees that were used to build ships. Seafarers also worked the frigid waters of Maine, harvesting the wealth of the sea.
In the 1840’s the sea brought two visitors who inadvertently redirected the energies of Bar Harbor. The two were the Hudson River Valley School artist, Thomas Cole and artist Frederic Church. Their artistic renderings of the sea, the forests and the majestic mountains aroused the interest of wealthy patrons in viewing first hand the locale in which these magnificent works of art originated. Suddenly, Eden was filled with visitors from around the world.
The majestic mountains of Acadia Park, the lovely lakes, the forests, the brooks, with shady pools in which the trout love to hide; the streams leaping from rock to rock in their headlong course to the sea: in every direction there were wonderful and inspiring sights to behold. wealthy families poured in, built mansions, and settled in them with their staffs of servants during each summer season.
No longer the exclusive realm of the wealthy, Bar Harbor is now a place in which people settle and raise their families as well as a favorite summer vacation destination. Bar Harbor is a place where lobstermen ply their trade; and it is also a cultural and educational center. You can breakfast with lobstermen, explore the trails and mountains of Acadia National Park, and round out the day by dining on the catch of that morning’s companions as you listen to a jazz trio or a string quartet. A day in Bar Harbor is never boring!
For the adventurous, Bar Harbor makes the perfect base camp. Surrounded on three sides by Acadia National Park and on the fourth by the Atlantic Ocean, Bar Harbor has outfitters, guides, mariners, suppliers, and instructors whose daily work is centered upon helping residents and visitors make the most of the opportunities the incredible environment offers. Acadia maintains fifty five miles of carriage roads for walking, riding, biking, and skiing, and over one hundred miles of trails for hikers. The lakes, rivers, and oceans provide unlimited possibilities for those interested in boats, kayaks, and canoes.
The combination of the sea breeze and mountain air is revitalizing and invigorating. Some days are full of activity; while others can be spent enjoying a late breakfast, a relaxed stroll, some time browsing through stores, and later, dining at leisure. The pace of life in Maine reflects a time, when not everything had to be done “yesterday, ” and every season is beautiful.
Downtown Bar Harbor has four major streets, and an assortment of side streets, alleys, squares, and places running between them. The first street from Route 3, West Street, showcases some of the fine mansions that made Bar Harbor the queen of the east coast at the turn of the century. Some remain private homes, while others have become elegant, inns. At the foot of West Street is the working waterfront, where fishing boats, schooners, yachts, excursion boats, and even cruise ship tenders bustle with their cargoes of seafood and passengers.
It also marks the beginning of the Shore Path, which leads to the front lawns of some of Bar Harbor’s biggest “cottages”, Up the hill from the town pier, lies Main Street with its stores, restaurants, and green spaces to sit and reflect.
The first major intersection on Main Street is with Cottage Street, where there are bikes, canoes, kayaks, and skis for rent. Also available are guided trips on the water or into the mountains. This is the spot to sign up for a whale watching excursion and to look over all the latest in sporting equipment.
A trail of restaurants extends down the side streets toward the Village Green. In the summer the Green is the venue for biweekly concert series, art shows, and other cultural events. On the other side of the green lies Mount Desert Street, a national historic district filled with beautiful echoing the early days of the discovery of Bar Harbor’s natural wonders by the wealthy. Many of these homes now serve as luxurious inns. There is also an impressive trio of churches: Saint Saviour’s with its stained glass windows, the Congregational with its classic New England lines, and Holy Redeemer with it’s imposing stone architecture.
Outside of town, Main Street becomes Route 3 . Its side roads lead to the shore or up into the hills, passing beneath sheer mountain walls of bare granite and beside beaver ponds and birch stands.
The waters around Mount Desert Island, offer magnificent scenery and some of the best sailing in the world. There are excellent private and public golf courses; hundreds of clear-water rivers and lakes producing trout and salmon. There is excellent hunting for deer, moose, bear, and wild turkey. There are the mountains, islands, and trails of Acadia National Park. With seventeen mountains and four lakes, Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor are magnets that draw thousands every year. The Park and its 120 miles of hiking trails, views from Cadillac Mountain, and the roar of Thunder Hole provide visitors with memory-filled vacations. Artists flock to photograph or paint the landscape. Bar Harbor’s neighbors, Northeast Harbor and Southwest Harbor, attract visitors by land and by water.
The term “Down East” comes from the days when schooners were used to carry cargo along the coast. The prevailing winds here blow from the southwest, pushing sailing vessels downwind, to the eastward. Down East/ Bar Harbor is a source of treasure for all ages. Children love the downtown area where they can play in the parks, buy ice cream, and watch the activity on the waterfront. There are art galleries and museums including the Abbe Museum, where you’ll find native American artifacts. The July and August music festivals are outstanding.. Whale-watching cruises depart daily, and Maine seafood is freshly prepared at many restaurants. The new high speed ferry, The Cat, travels daily to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia and back.
The only problem with a vacation in Bar Harbor at any time of the year, is that it is so hard to leave. Many visitors have extended the time of their stay well beyond the intended “two weeks in August” and remain longer each year, well into the season of colorful Fall foliage and even beyond.
B- City Information:
Population:
4,700 permanent residents: many more in summer.
Elevation:
240 feet
Location:
Bar Harbor lies at the entrance to Acadia National Park on Mount Desert Island, the largest rock-based island on the Atlantic coast. Bar Harbor is positioned 44.38 degrees north of the equator and 68.21 degrees west of the prime meridian.
Area:
45 square miles.
Time Zone:
Eastern Standard Time. Daylight savings time is observed from April-October.
Average Temperatures (in Fahrenheit):
High Low
January – March 40 15
April – June 71 54
July – September 76 52
October – December 57 21
National Holidays:
New Year’s Day – Jan. 1
Martin Luther King Jr. Day – 3rd Mon. in Jan.
President’s Day – 3rd Mon. in Feb.
Memorial Day – last Mon. in May
Independence Day – July 4
Labor Day – 1st Mon. in Sept.
Thanksgiving Day – 4th Thurs. in Nov.
Christmas Eve and Christmas Day – Dec. 24 and 25
New Year’s Eve – Dec. 31
Getting there:
By Air:
Bar Harbor is serviced by a local airport, the Hancock County Airport, located just 12 miles from the village, and by Bangor International Airport, 50 miles away.
Bus Service:
During the summer months, Bar Harbor is serviced by Greyhound/Vermont Transit from Boston. Year-round, there is local bus transportation from Bar Harbor to Ellsworth (Concord Trailways) and a shuttle from the Bangor Airport. Since schedules vary, it is best to check with the bus line.
Driving to Bar Harbor, Maine:
Bar Harbor is easily accessible by car. From Boston (268 miles) – follow Interstate 95 through to Bangor (exit 45-A – 395), then on Rt.1A to Ellsworth, and follow Rt.3 to Bar Harbor. Another route would be to take I-95 to Augusta, take Route 3 to Belfast over to Route 1 to Ellsworth, then back to Route 3 into Bar Harbor.
By Boat:
Since Bar Harbor is an island and a popular place for both sailing and power boating, there are many suitable moorings. You should check with the Harbormaster’s Office at 207-288-5571. You can also take the “The Cat” (Bay Ferries Limited) from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia to Bar Harbor.
Telephones:
The country code for the United States is 1. The area code for Bar Harbor is 207. All U.S. telephone numbers consist of 10 digits; the three-digit area code, followed by a seven-digit local number. If you’re calling a number from another area-code region, dial “1” then all 10 digits. For calls within the same local calling area, just dial the seven-digit number. A map of U.S. area codes is printed in the front of most local telephone directories.
Directory & Operator Information:
For assistance from an operator, dial “0”. To find out a telephone number within the same area code you’re calling from, dial 411; in a few places it is necessary to dial 555-1212. If you want to charge a long-distance call to the person you’re calling, call collect by dialing “0” instead of “1” before the 10-digit number, and an operator will come on the line to assist you the party you’re calling, however, has the right to refuse the call.
International Calls:
International calls can be direct-dialed from most phones; dial 011, followed by the country code and then the local number the front pages of many local telephone directories include a list of overseas country codes. To have an operator assist you, dial “0” and ask for the overseas operator. The country code for Australia is 61; New Zealand, 64; and the United Kingdom, 44. To reach Canada, dial 1 + area code + number.
Tipping:
At restaurants, a 15% tip is standard for waiters.
C- Attractions/Things To Do:
Instruction and Tours
Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School
288-8186
198 Main St. , Bar Harbor.
Daily 8 a.m.- 8 p.m. in season.
Avail. off-season. 207-866-7562
Full service climbing shop.
Professional climbing instruction & guiding for all levels in Acadia for half, full & multiple days. Instructors blend years of climbing experience with guide education to provide comprehensive instruction tailored to individuals, family, and small groups. AMGA accredited climbing school employing Maine’s only certified guides.
Atlantic Climbing School
207-288-2521 Open daily – May to October.
PO Box 6003, 24 Cottage Street
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Learn to rock climb on the spectacular granite sea cliffs of Acadia National Park. Climbing since 1974. Safe, professional instruction for anyone from complete beginners to advanced climbers of any age or fitness level. Courses are small, personalized and tailored to suit each client. All equipment is provided. Individuals, families and groups welcome.
Bar Harbor Bicycle Shop
207-288-0342
During season we’re open daily 8am-8pm. Open March – December.
141 Cottage St., Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Rentals, sales and repairs. Reasonable mountain bike and road bike rentals starting for 1/2 day and full day; multi-day rates are also available. Helmets, locks, maps and child seats are included.
Down East Nature Tours
207-288-8128
P.O. Box 521, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Personalized nature tours for individuals, couples, families and small groups. Bicycle, hiking and cross-country ski tours; 1/2 day & full day, camping and more. We help you discover the flora and fauna of Mt. Desert Island and Down East Maine with special emphasis on native birds. Bald Eagles, Osprey, Shore-birds, Warblers. A truly unique and enjoyable learning experience.
Kebo Valley Golf Club
207-288-3000
Public welcome. Spring, Summer, Fall. Open Daily.
100 Eagle Lake Road, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
For over 100 years members and visitors have been attracted to the challenges of the finest 18 holes of championship golf in Maine. Rich in tradition, each hole has been carved into the mountains creating spectacular scenery. Our expert PGA staff is always ready to make your day a memorable occasion. Fully modern clubhouse for banquets & lunch on the deck.
Kind Cycle
207-288-0444
108 Cottage St., Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Quadracycles and mopeds. Quadracycles are 4-wheel cycles. They’re a safe and comfortable way to ride the carriage roads of Acadia Nat’l Park. We offer delivery to a Carriage Road Entrance. We have 2-Seat, Single Seat, Kids Quads, trailers and infant seats. We offer hourly, half-day and whole-day rentals. Perfect for everyone, regardless of skill level! We now offer mopeds and scooters. Reservations suggested.
Acadia & Island Tours Oli’s Trolley
207-288-9899
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Tickets at 1 West Street, Harbor Place Building. Next to Town Pier, Acadia Rest., 62 Main St. or aboard the trolley
Tour Daily, May thru October, 10 & 11:30 a.m., 2 & 3:30 p.m.
It looks like a trolley; but it is a modern, comfortable luxury bus. Climb aboard, and take an historical tour of days gone by. Catch a glimpse of the cottage days of Bar Harbor with whimsical tales of a lost era. Then tour the highlights of Acadia National Park. Fun for the whole family. 2 1/2 or one hour trolley tours with stops for walks and pictures.
Acadia and Bar Harbor Tours
207-288-0300
Reservations recommended.
Tours daily 10 & 2 May – Oct.
Ticket sales: 53 Main St. Ticket Sales, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Bar Harbor and Acadia’s premier sightseer: 2 1/2 hours of the best sights, sounds & stories available with 3 – 15 minute stops in Acadia National Park. Tour includes Bar Harbor, the mansions, Cadillac Mountain., Park Loop Rd., Sand Beach, Thunder Hole, Otter Cliffs, etc. Native naturalists give thorough and humorous narrative.
Acadia Bike & Canoe
207-288-9605 800-526-8615
Located in downtown Bar Harbor, across from the post office. Open daily at 8am.
48 Cottage Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Acadia Bike features the largest bicycle rental fleet in New England. Enjoy Acadia’s natural wonders as you pedal the car-free carriage roads or Ocean Drive. Bicycles (all new each summer) are meticulously maintained and custom-fitted to ensure you’ll have a great ride. All sizes available, plus tandems, trailers & kids’ bikes at special low rates.
The Cat (Bay Ferries Limited)
207-288-3395 888-249-7245
121 Eden Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Ferry service to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. Casino, dining, duty free shopping, movies, bar. June 1 – October 15. Daily 6am-10pm.
Coastal Kayaking Tours
207-288-9605 800-526-8615
48 Cottage St., Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Open every day at 8a.m.
Mt. Desert Island’s kayaking company offers group tours and highly personalized service. Up to 15 departures daily. Trips from two-and-a-half hours to three days. Families welcome, no experience necessary. Located in downtown Bar Harbor, across from the post office.
Diver Ed Live Underwater Video Tours
207-288-DIVE
2 1/2hr trips, Mon-Sat. 11am & 2:30pm.
Memorial Day weekend-Columbus Day.
PO Box 860, Bar Harbor Inn Pier, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Great for families! Journey to the bottom of the sea-without getting wet! Among spectacular coastal scenery, you will stay aboard the 50′ motor vessel Seal & dive into Maine’s only underwater sightseeing trip. After a short boat ride, Diver Ed suits up & you push him overboard. Watch on a 4′ screen as he maneuvers a digital video camera. Back on board, Diver Ed empties his catch bag of fascinating sea creatures for you to hold and see up close.
Island Adventures Sea Kayaking
207-288-3886 800-824-2453
Call for reservations
137 Cottage Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Island Adventures offers half day, two and a half-hour, and sunset tours daily, with Custom Group Tours also available. Some of Acadia’s most experienced Registered Maine Guides want to share our region’s beauty by sea kayak. No experience is necessary and beginners are always welcome. To ensure you get the attention you deserve we run small groups, (six couples max). Come with us and experience an adventure of a lifetime.
Lulu Lobster Boat Ride
207-963-2341
Lulu’s 2-hr. tour takes 6 people at a time for this unique cruise.
Bar Harbor Regency Dock, 123 Eden St., Bar Harbor, ME 046
Discover Frenchman Bay’s best kept tour boat secret. Lulu, a traditional Downeast wooden lobster boat previously in Hancock, now cruises out of Bar Harbor. See an up-close demonstration of lobster fishing, look for seals and share Captain John’s interest in nature and local history/folklore.
National Park Sea Kayak Tours
207-288-0342/ or 800-347-0940
Call for rates.
39 Cottage Street (Next to Criterion Movie Theatre), Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Everything provided for an all-inclusive price. Reservations suggested. Open Daily 8am-8pm, 7-days. Open June – Sept.
Personalized (6 couples maximum) 1/2 day am; pm , Sunset Guided Sea Kayak Tours. See seals, eagles, porpoises, seabirds, other Marine life. Paddle along Acadia’s coastline/islands in stable two-person ocean style kayaks. A fun, safe, & simple activity for beginners & experienced alike. Registered Maine Guides.
Sea Venture Custom Boat Tours
207-288-3355
Affordable prices. Free no-hassle parking.
RR#1, Box 1224, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Captain Winston Shaw, an expert naturalist with 23 years of local experience, offers unique private boat tours for individuals and families of up to 6. Wide variety of enjoyable 1 to 8 hour trips custom designed around your interests and timetable. Discover eagles, seals, loons, and other fascinating wildlife, along with spectacular sea cliffs, secluded coves, picturesque island lighthouses, and breathtaking sunsets.
More Attractions
Abbe Museum
The Abbe is located at Sieur de Monts Spring in Acadia National Park. The museum is a five-minute drive south of Bar Harbor, just off the Park Loop Road and off Route 3. It is on Mount Desert Island, which is joined to the mid-coast mainland by a causeway. A second, year-round facility is currently under construction in downtown Bar Harbor. (207) 288-3519
Admission charged.
The Abbe Museum is dedicated to furthering the understanding and appreciation of Maine’s Native American cultures, history and archaeology through exhibitions, educational programs and research. A private, not-for-profit institution, the museum is devoted solely to preserving and celebrating the heritage of all four Native communities in Maine: Maliseet, Micmac, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot.
Acadia National Park
One of the smaller National Parks in the country, Acadia is one of the most heavily visited. There are 17 high points of land with Cadillac mountain being the highest on the east coast. There are numerous lakes in the park, with Eagle Lake, the gem when viewed from the summit of Cadillac. The views of the ocean from the summit are breathtaking. Acadia is a combination of attractions that make it unique as a destination.
Natural History Museum At College Of The Atlantic
Route 3 between downtown and the ferry terminal. Open Monday-Saturday, 10AM-5PM, high season. Call for off season times.
207-288-5395
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
The Natural History Museum investigates and interprets the natural history of Maine. The Museum is housed in the original headquarters of Acadia National Park, renovated and expanded to provide a unique site for exhibits, programs and activities. A museum store offers quality books, toys, cards and other keepsakes.
Oceanarium & Lobster Hatchery
207-288-5005
Rt. 3, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Combination tickets available.
Enjoy an up-close experience with marine life. At the oceanarium on Rt. 3 see a seal program, take a guided tour of a salt marsh and the Maine Lobster Museum. At the working lobster hatchery we take you on a fascinating tour to see mother lobsters & baby lobsters & the hatchery process.
Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf
288-2133
Open mid April-mid Oct. 9am-11pm.
Route 3, RR2 Box 1150, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
There’s really no adventure like Pirate’s Cove! Come test your skills on 36 challenging holes and explore the wonderful hideout of Pirates! At Pirate’s Cove you putt your way through mountain caves, over foot bridges and under waterfalls. Located just 4 miles from downtown Bar Harbor on Rt. 3.
Acadia National Park Outdoor Recreation Center
207-288-0007/244-5854
1 West St., Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Tour the island and surrounding areas by water. Guided sea kayak tours depart from the waterfront location next to the Bar Harbor pier. If lakes & ponds are more your style, acanoe and kayak rental facility is located at the tip of Long Pond. If you prefer to stay dry, explore the carriage roads within Acadia National Park by renting either a mountain or hybrid bike from the Bar Harbor location which is only 1 mi from the Carriage Rd. entrance.
Atlantic Brewing Company
207-288-BEER 1-800-475-5417
RR1 Box 2810 Knox Rd, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Visit the estate brewery located just outside of Bar Harbor. Three free brewhouse tours at 2, 3 & 4PM daily, and free tastings every 1/2 hour, starting at noon in the gift shop. Learn about brewing, how our root beer is made, and enjoy a pint in the quiet Maine woods. Bring your family to our estate & our open air tavern, serving food from 11:30 to closing and a Brewer’s Barbecue on Saturdays.
Bar Harbor Brewing Co. & Soda Works
207-288-4592
The microbrewery is 5 minutes from downtown Bar Harbor. Follow Main St. to Rte. 3 East. It’s on the left, 3 miles past Jackson Laboratory. Don’t miss Bar Harbor’s unique microbrewery.
Tour, taste & talk beer (free) with award winning brewer Tod Foster. Taste World Beer Champions Cadillac Mountain. Stout & Thunder Hole Ale, the beers that beat Guinness, Samuel Smith, Newcastle, Sam Adams & Shipyard. There’s homemade Bar Harbor Root Beer & Blueberry Soda for the children.
Bar Harbor Whale Museum
288-2025
52 West St.
Bar Harbor Historical Society
33 Ledgelawn Ave.
288-0000
Arts and Entertainment
Bar Harbor Music Festival
59 Cottage St.
288-5744
Criterion Theatres, Inc.
35 Cottage St., Po Box 242
288-3441
Arcady Music Festival
PO Box 780/93 Cottage St.
288-3151
Carmen Verandah
207-288-2766
119 Main St., Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Carmen Verandah features live music 2-3 nights a week, Bar Harbor’s largest dance floor, pool tables, and great food. Our open air verandah overlooks the village green and is perfect for lunch, or dinner and then dancing. No covers, just great original blues, rock, funk & jazz. Also featuring Miss Hylies Tuesday Show and great DJ nights. Something happening every night!
Maine Lobster And Fish Company
207-288-0188 or 877-887-4460
Open 7 days a week! Open Year Round.
1 West Street at Harbor Place, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Maine Lobsters shipped fresh daily, worldwide! Usually within 24 hrs. Wide variety of seafood, wholesale and retail.
Bark Harbor
207-288-0404
Open Year Round.
200 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Bark Harbor carries a complete line of dog and cat theme gifts and accessories. From jewelry to art, designer ceramics to plush animals. Pet supplies and gourmet treats are also available.
Domus Isle
207-288-5511 800-647-GIFT
On Main Street across from the Village Green.
134 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Domus Isle offers a myriad of fountains, outstanding collection of CDs and cassettes, aromatherapy candles and personal care products. Now carrying fine wine, crystal, and accessories
Grandfather’s Collection
207-460-9555 207-667-7700
Open year round.
PO Box 1357, Ellsworth, Me 04605
Grandfather’s collection offers photographic reproductions from original antique glass plate negatives. Late 1800/early 1900 images feature lobsterman, schooners and lighthouses off the coast of Maine. Images are matted and backed with museum quality material and are sold In 8×10, 11×14, and 16×20 sizes. Prices include shipping in the United States.
D- Family Fun Attractions:
Acadia Zoo
Bar Harbor Road
Rt. 3 Trenton
(207) 667-3244
Daily early May until mid-October. Opens at 9:30
A non-profit educational facility with more than 100 animal species, including reindeer, bison, wolves, moose, as well as a simulated rain forest with monkeys, Amazon fish, tropical birds and reptiles. There is also a petting zoo. Pony rides are offered in July and August.
Seacoast Fun Park
Bar Harbor Road
Rt. 3 Trenton
(207) 667-3573
Daily Memorial Day-Labor Day
General admission covers all day on the water slide plus one round of mini-golf and go-karts. Water slide is heated on weekends. Picnic tables, video arcade; sand-volleyball court; snack bar.
Oceanarium & Lobster Hatchery
207-288-5005
Rt. 3, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Combination tickets available.
Enjoy an up-close experience with marine life. At the oceanarium on Rt. 3 see a seal program, take a guided tour of a salt marsh and the Maine Lobster Museum. At the working lobster hatchery we take you on a fascinating tour to see mother lobsters & baby lobsters & the hatchery process.
Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf
288-2133
Open mid April-mid Oct. 9am-11pm.
Route 3, RR2 Box 1150, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
There’s really no adventure like Pirate’s Cove! Come test your skills on 36 challenging holes and explore the wonderful hideout of Pirates! At Pirate’s Cove you putt your way through mountain caves, over foot bridges and under waterfalls. Located just 4 miles from downtown Bar Harbor on Rt. 3.
E- Events & Entertainment:
Year Round:
Arcady Music Festival
93 Cottage Street
Bar Harbor, Maine 04609
288-2141 or 288-3151
Presents 8pm concerts Thursday evenings on the College of the Atlantic campus. Offers a broad range of music from ragtime to classical.
April:
Healthy Kids Day
Sponsored by MDI YMCA
21 Park St.
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
288-3511
A local family event that stresses healthy activities and games. Various agencies attend to promote healthy kids. Also first day of sign-ups for YMCA day camps.
Car Free Day
Sponsored by Acadia National Park
Park Loop Road, Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
288-3338
This special day is to promote alternative means of travel for a healthier environment. Walk, hike, bike to enjoy the park.
May:
Classical Theater
Sponsored by MDI High School Theatre
MDI H.S. Theatre
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
288-5011 ext 239
Student performance of a classical theater production. Annual event.
Tour de Cure (Late May)
Sponsored by American Diabetes Association
College of the Atlantic, 105 Eden St.
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
1-888-DIABETES
Cycling event for all levels & ages. Join a 25K, 50K or 100K ride to benefit the American Diabetes Association. Rest stops along the way providing snacks, drinks & mechanical support to riders. Lunch for all participants at no charge. There is a minimum pledge in addition to the registration fee. Prizes will be awarded to the top fundraisers and free t-shirts to everyone meeting their minimum pledge!
Annual Warblers & Wildflowers Festival
Sponsored by Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce
Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
288-5103
Week long festival celebrating Warblers & Wildflowers in Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Events include bird walks, garden tours, lectures and socials.
June:
Annual Spring 5K and Fun Run
Sponsored by MDI YMCA
21 Park St.
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
288-3511
Annual 5K and a one-mile fun run for children twelve and under. All finishers receive ribbons.
Blessing of the Fleet and Seafarer’s Memorial Day Festival
Sponsored by Maine Seacoast Mission
Waterfront, & Maine Seacoast Mission
127 West St.
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
288-5097
Celebrate the traditional opening of the sailing and boating season. The clergy of the Maine Sea Coast Mission, from aboard their vessel the Sunbeam, bless each boat as they pass by in procession. Memorial service follows.
Legacy Of The Arts – Ragtime Weekend
Sponsored by Bar Harbor Chamber Of Commerce
Legacy Committee
Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce, PO Box 158
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
288-5103
The Ragtime Festival weekend takes you back to a time when Bar Harbor was the world’s most exclusive resort. Step back in time to a world of silent movies and antique cars when the Ragtime Festival returns to Bar Harbor. Events include a silent film showing at the historic Criterion Theatre, dances, Victorian walking tours, vaudevillians and an antique car show. Friday & Saturday nights, Arcady Music Festival’s Artistic Director Masanobu Ikemiya, a classically-trained pianist with a love and talent for ragtime and improvisation, will lead an ensemble in Ragtime performances. Join us for an exciting, fun-filled weekend!
July:
Weekly Events/Annual Shows
Bar Harbor Music Festival
Bar Harbor Town Band
Blueberry Pancake Breakfast
Annual Antique Show & Sale
Concert (July 4)
Bar Harbor Town Band
Fireworks Over Frenchman Bay
Sponsored by BH Town Band
Village Green, Mt. Desert St.
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Parade and Seafood Festival (July 4)
Sponsored by MDI Rotary Club
Bar Harbor Athletic Field, Park St.
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Seafood Festival starts after the parade. Enjoy lobster, mussels, corn, strawberry shortcake and much more.
Native American Festival
Sponsored by Abbe Museum, College of the Atlantic, & Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance
Abbe Museum
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
288-3519
Free event that celebrates the cultures of the four Maine tribes: Maliseet, Micmac, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot. The festival features demonstrations and sales of Native American basketry, wood carving and other crafts, dancing, drumming, singing and storytelling.
Annual Finest Summer Crafts Festival
Sponsored by Penobscot Valley Crafts Association
College of the Atlantic, 105 Eden Street
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
244-0175
Over fifty-five of Maine’s best crafters display their wares at one of Maine’s finest summer craft festivals.
August:
Annual Book Sale
Sponsored by Jesup Memorial Library
34 Mt. Desert St.
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
288-4245
Thousands of books, magazines, audio books, videos, puzzles, records for sale. Homebaked food sale and restaurant raffle.
National Park Day
Sponsored by National Park Service
Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
288-3338
Free admission to all national parks on this day. This is the anniversary of the National Park Service, created in 1916.
September:
Annual Golf Tournament
Hawkwatch
Sponsored by Mother Nature/Acadia National Park
Acadia National Park
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
288-3338
The Hawkwatch starts at the beginning of September and sometimes runs through mid-October. Raptors migrating through Acadia often ride air currents up the ridge of Cadillac. It is likely that participants will get close looks at many of the birds that fly by and within Acadia National Park. Interpreters are on hand to assist in spotting and identification.
October:
Bar Harbor Scottish Performing Arts Workshop
Sponsored by West Eden Highlanders
Mt. Desert St.
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Bar Harbor Scottish bagpipes workshops.
Instructors: John Walsh – bagpipes, Michael Rutan-Heningham
244-7193
Great Man-es-ayd’ik Race
Sponsored by Branch Pond Paddlers
Public Landing on Long Pond
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
288-3519
Canoes, kayaks and the Maine War Canoe Championship race benefiting the Abbe Museum. “Man-es-ayd’ik” is Penobscot/Passamaquoddy for “clam gathering place”, a Native American name for Bar Harbor. Individual events will be organized for racing & recreational canoes, sea kayaks & war canoes.
December:
Island Arts Association – Holiday Fair
Sponsored by MDI YWCA
Municipal Building, 93 Cottage St.
MDI YWCA
36 Mt. Desert St.
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
288-5008