Note: I tried to get a real picture of outdoor movie night! Wednesday, Bar Harbor’s movie night was cancelled and Thursday, I got to Ellsworth too late to take a great photo. I will try to get one so you can see how cool the setup is when this next happens!
Have you ever watched a movie while underneath the stars? Attended a theater production in the great outdoors? Summertime in Maine is such a special (and fleeting) time, that many of us take every opportunity we can to be outside. Sitting in a stuffy movie theater can feel sacrilegious on a perfect summer evening, but luckily here around MDI we have options! There are a variety of organizations in our community bringing great outdoor movies and theater to residents and visitors alike.
Bar Harbor
Seaside Cinema– Seaside Cinema is a program hosted by the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce and held in Agamont Park. Overlooking Frenchman’s Bay is a pretty stunning place to view a movie, and the giant inflatable movie screen it something you just have to see to believe. Free movies are shown on Wednesday evenings starting in mid-July and running through mid-August. In 2019, the first movie will be on July 17th and the season will end on August 21st. Movies start at dusk (the website says about 7pm). Bring your blanket and your appetite for their delicious free popcorn.
You can find Agamont Park on the corner of West and Main Streets in Bar Harbor. If you have questions about parking in Bar Harbor, check out this helpful guide and map.
Diver Ed’s Dive-in Theater is not your typical theater, but that is what makes it such a memorable experience! Diver Ed is a two hour boat tour that projects real time video of Diver Ed exploring the depths of Frenchman’s Bay. Guests stay (mostly) dry on the boat and have the opportunity for up-close encounters with a variety of sea life. Trips leave from the College of the Atlantic dock and happen rain or shine. Tickets to Diver Ed’s Dive-in Theater sell out quickly and can be reserved by calling 207-288-3483.
Mount Desert and Around
Acadia Community Theater is a community theater group on MDI that typically puts on two to three productions each year. In the summer, plays are sometimes performed outdoors. That is the case in 2019, when ACT will be performing Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Northeast Harbor Marina. Come support your friends, neighbors, and volunteers as they perform their hearts out. The 2019 show will run July 26-28th and Aug 2-4th at 7:30pm. Find more information and tickets here.
Tremont and Around
Barn Arts provides a variety of indoor and outdoor performances at their Barn in Tremont and all around MDI during the summer months. Even their indoor performances at the Barn in Tremont offer opportunities to be outdoors, socialize around the campfire, and enjoy incredible views of Bass Harbor. You can find a list of their upcoming performances here.
Ellsworth
Ellsworth Arts typically hosts outdoor movies for the summer at Knowlton Park in Ellsworth. A tradition since 2009, Ellsworth Arts outdoor movies are offered in partnership with the City of Ellsworth. Movies are shown in the outdoor amphitheater and are projected onto a giant 16 by 9 foot inflatable screen. In 2019, free weekly movies start on July 11th and run every Thursday through August 22nd. You can find their list of movies here.
Please note that parking at Knowlton Park is limited and walking or ride sharing is suggested. It is recommended that you bring lawn chairs, bug spray, and a flashlight (it is dark once the movie is over!). Find last minute updates on the Ellsworth Arts Facebook page.
Note: If there is rain or otherwise bad weather, sometimes start times can be delayed and/or the movie or performance cancelled so check with the organizer if you are unsure!
Did we miss any outdoor movie or theater venues? Have updates on your venue to share? Please post them in the comment section below!