There is no shortage of fun in and around the region as the July 4 holiday weekend approaches.
Celebrate in red, white and blue
Lewiston and Auburn are just two of many communities across the state firing up July 4 events this week. Solemn ceremonies and touching tributes will blend with fireworks, food, music, parades and more to celebrate Independence Day.
Lewiston and Auburn’s Liberty Festival is a three-day event this year, with Friday being jam packed with festivities, and the musical fun continuing Saturday and Sunday. Go to libertyfestival.org for more information.
Many other Maine towns and cities are hosting similar celebrations from Farmington to Rumford to Oxford and beyond. Of special note is The Wall that Heals coming to Farmington for a four-day run starting Thursday. The traveling version of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial pays tribute to the many men and women who fought and sacrificed in the Vietnam War. For more information on the wall and a schedule of events, go to thewallthathealsjuly2025farmington.com/events.
Make mirth with Mike Miclon
SOUTH PARIS — “The Early Evening Show with Mike Miclon,” a spoof of late-night talk shows, will be presented by Celebration Barn Theater on Saturday, July 5, from 7:30-9:45 p.m.
The show created by the Buckfield native has been performed from New England to Switzerland. Twenty-three years and over 200 performances have made it the longest-running live variety show in Maine history.
Packed with surprise guests and audience interactions, “CBS Sunday Morning” called it “must-see reality!”
For tickets and more information, go to celebrationbarn.com. Celebration Barn is at 190 Stock Farm Road.
Hear Bach at the Basilica
LEWISTON — On Wednesday, July 2, at 12:15 p.m., renowned baritone Aaron Engebreth will be joined by Lewiston musicians Billie Jo Brito, Greg Boardman and Scott, Linda, Madeleine and Genevieve Vaillancourt for a performance of Bach’s Cantata 82 at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.
The poignant and expressive work will be presented in the acoustics of Maine’s largest church, offering a “profound listening experience for audiences of all backgrounds,” organizers said.
A leading interpreter of art song and oratorio, the Grammy-nominated Engebreth brings deep emotional resonance and vocal mastery to this iconic solo cantata.
Ich habe genug (“I have enough”) is one of Bach’s most intimate sacred works, composed in 1727 for the Feast of the Purification of Mary. Through its rich melodic lines and spiritual depth, the cantata expresses a soul’s peaceful readiness for eternal rest.
For more information visit: princeofpeace.me/performer-programs-bios.
Take in ‘Tootsie’
BRUNSWICK — Maine State Music Theatre continues its 2025 summer season with the Broadway comedy “Tootsie,” running through July 12 at the Pickard Theater on the Bowdoin College campus.
Full of big laughs, bigger feels and a healthy dose of Broadway razzmatazz, “Tootsie” is a high-energy musical comedy that proves sometimes you have to think fast — and dress faster — to make your dreams come true.
Based on the Dustin Hoffman film, “Tootsie” tells the story of Michael Dorsey, a talented but notoriously difficult actor who reinvents himself as the unstoppable Dorothy Michaels to land a starring role in a Broadway musical. What begins as a desperate career move spirals into a comical and heartfelt journey through fame, chaos and unexpected lessons about love, honesty and identity.
“Tootsie” features a book by Robert Horn (“Shucked,” “Dame Edna: Back With a Vengeance”) and music and lyrics by Tony Award-winning David Yazbek (“Dead Outlaw,” “The Full Monty,” “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels”).
For tickets and more information, visit www.msmt.org or call the MSMT Box Office at 207-725-8769.
Rock the classics with the Cobblestones
POLAND — The Cobblestones will perform in the Poland Spring Summer Concert Series on Monday, July 7, from 6:30-7:30 p.m. at the Poland Spring Resort Gazebo.
The Cobblestones are a western Maine band that includes brothers Mark and Mike Plourde, Danielle Tran, Carolyn Plourde and Steve Moore. The band performs well-known music from a variety of artists including John Mellencamp, Fleetwood Mac and Jackson Browne, as well as an eclectic mix of songs ranging from the ’60s to contemporary music.
Chairs will be provided, but people are encouraged to bring their own chairs or blankets for the event. In case of inclement weather, the concert will be held in the dining room of the main inn. Poland Spring Bottling Co. will provide complementary bottles of water. Food and drinks will be available for purchase.
Tickets are $5 per person at the gate and proceeds benefit the Poland Spring Preservation Society. The resort is at 620 Maine St. in Poland Spring.
Get musically patriotic with the Auburn Community Band
AUBURN — The Auburn Community Concert Band will present an evening of patriotic music on Wednesday, July 2, at Festival Plaza on Main Street in downtown Auburn. The free concert will take place from 7-8:30 p.m.
Attendees should bring their own lawn chairs. Ample free parking will be available in the parking garage located across the street from the plaza, with portable toilets located alongside the garage. Auburn’s Age Friendly group will be onsite selling refreshments. In case of inclement weather, visit auburncommunityband.com for concert status.
For more events, go to www.sunjournal.com/lifestyle/encore/.
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