** CulturePass and Artsipelago.net welcome the submission of local classes, events, and exhibitions held online, or in compliance with local state or province public health
recommendations.

Events should be considered tentative due to potential pandemic-related cancellations. When possible, contact organizers in advance or check their Facebook page before attending. ** 

Holidays 

** Winter Solstice - December 21 (Earth) **

** Christmas - December 25
(US & Canada) **

** New Year’s Day - January 1
(US & Canada) **

Event Calendar  

Children's Craft Club

at Grand Manan Community Centre Gym – Grand Manan, NB December 20  1:00 pm - 2:00 pm AST   Children between the ages of 2-5 are welcome to come take part in organized crafts at the Grand Manan Community Centre Gymnasium on December 20 from 1:00 to 2:00 pm. Parents/Guardians are asked to stay and help chaperone while their children participate at Craft Club.

LAMPS Carol Sing

at Lubec Brewing Company – Lubec, ME December 21  3:00 pm - 8:00 pm EST   LAMPS invites you to join in at the Lubec Brewing Company beer garden on December 21 at 3:00 pm for an afternoon of caroling and good cheer around the fire! The rain or snow date will be December 22.

Stories from the Dawnland

Online Event – Wabanaki Confederacy December 21   6:00 pm - 7:00 pm EST   Join Wabanaki Public Health & Wellness virtually from the comfort of your own home each month this winter for songs and storytelling from members of our Wabanaki communities. Our first Stories from the Dawnland will take place during the Winter Solstice, Tuesday December 21, from 6-7 pm. For more information, contact Minquansis Sapiel at msapiel@wabanakiphw.org or Lauren Stevens at lstevens@wabanakiphw.org.

Children's Christmas Party at Ross Memorial Library

at Ross Memorial Library – St. Andrews, NB December 22  10:30 am - 12:00 pm AST   Come to the Ross Memorial Library in St. Andrews on December 22 at 10:30 am or 3:15 pm for bilingual storytime and decorating gingerbread people (supplies included!). A mask, adult supervision, and proof of vaccination is required. Please register by calling 529-5125 as space is limited.

Christmas Bird Count

Eastport, ME December 26; register ASAP   Eastport's participation day in the Christmas Bird Count - the longest citizen scientist project in the country, dating back to 1905 - is December 26! If you're willing to count the local birds that visit your feeder on that day, contact Phil Krajewski ASAP at Krajewsk@epix.net to sign up and get more detailed information. Participants must register in advance to receive guidelines. Those in other areas around Washington and Charlotte Counties, contact Phil or see the Audubon Christmas Bird Count page to find out how and when you can participate.

New Year's Eve at the WaCo Diner

at WaCo Diner – Eastport, ME December 31  5:00 pm - 12:30 am EST   The WaCo Diner is offering a special menu in the Schooner Room for New Year's Eve, including options of prime rib, baked stuffed haddock, and seafood pasta. Click to see the menu. Reservations are recommended between 5:00 and 8:00 pm; limited seating may be available on a first come, first serve basis. Select appetizers and drinks will be available until midnight.

Against the Grain at Old Sow Grill

at Old Sow Grill – Eastport, ME December 31  8:00 pm - 12:30 am  January 1 EST   Against the Grain will be at the Old Sow Grill in festive Eastport on December 31 starting at 8:00 pm to bid farewell to 2021 and welcome 2022 with open arms. Put your dancing shoes on and come join Brad, Jeff, Kevin and Leo as they rock in the new year.

The Trisha Mason Band at Dragonfly Bar & Grill

at Downeast Dragonfly Bar & Grill – Lubec, ME December 31   9:00 pm - 12:30 am  January 1 EST   Ring in the New Year with the Trisha Mason Band, playing on December 31 at the Downeast Dragonfly Bar & Grill (882 County Road) in Lubec beginning at 9:00 pm and continuing through into 2022. Trisha and her ensemble are based in Ellsworth and play an "Americana roots funk folk alternative Irish backwoods heavy metal" flavor of music.

New Year’s Eve Sardine & Maple Leaf Drop

at Tides Institute & Museum of Art - Eastport December 31 11:00 pm EST (midnight AST) December 31 midnight EST   Join us for the 17th annual New Year’s Eve Great Sardine and Maple Leaf event on Friday, December 31, 2021! This year’s celebration will be different, with community safety in mind, in light of the pandemic. TIMA is planning new ways to celebrate the New Year’s arrival in Canada and the US, including the traditional drops by the Great Sardine & Maple Leaf (watch online or in person!), online programming for those near and far, and take-home party and craft kits with free downloadable components. Click to find out more about the event (with more information and online streaming link forthcoming) and the hours of businesses in the area! Pick up craft kits on December 30 or 31 at StudioWorks between 12:00 pm and 4:00 pm.

'Almost, Maine' returns to Eastport

at Eastport Arts Center (EAC) – Eastport, ME December 31 – January 2   The cast and crew of Stage East’s Almost, Maine are hard at work on the show, which will have two more showings – on December 31 and January 1, with a matinee on January 2. Evening shows are at 7 pm; matinee is at 2 pm. Featuring music by the Moose Island House Players, and directed by Mark Macey, the play is a must see. Tickets, $15, are available under the 'Now Playing' tab at stageeast.org or at the door; attendees 17 and under will be admitted free of charge. More information

Exhibitions

Tides Institute & Museum of Art

 

Maine Bicentennial Book

As part of Maine’s Bicentennial, the Tides Institute & Museum of Art mounted an exhibition of works from its collections ranging in date from 1820 to the present. In addition, the Tides Institute will publish a Bicentennial book featuring 100 works from its collections and the stories behind the works and how they came into the Tides Institute’s collection. Each week, one of the selected works will be featured in CulturePass. 

This week's piece is a large (25” x 30”) oil on canvas painting by American artist, George Elmer Browne, of the Magaguadavic Gorge and Falls in St. George, New Brunswick. The painting captures the dramatic setting of the falls, with its drop of nearly 70 feet, and that has long been used for power generation. A very historic New Brunswick and Canadian River, the name “Magaguadavic” is a Passamaquoddy name that means “river of eels.” The painting likely dates to about 1930. George Elmer Browne was a well known and well regarded American Impressionist painter of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts in 1871 and studied art at the Museum School of Fine Arts and the Cowles School of Art in Boston. Soon afterwards, he went to Paris where he attended the Academie Julian and studied under Jules Lefevbre and Tony Robert-Fleury. He later returned to the United States, moving to New York City and set up his studio there. In 1895, he won a bronze medal award for his art at the Mechanics Fair in Boston. He spent many summers at Provincetown on Cape Cod in Massachusetts. Browne also achieved success in France having been named Officer of Public Instruction and Fine Arts. In 1926, he was made Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor. Browne died in Provincetown in 1946. The painting was acquired by the Tides Institute from the Grogan and Company auction house of Boston, Massachusetts in 2014.

Photo caption:Large oil on canvas painting (25” x 30”) by American artist, George Elmer Browne, of the Magaguadavic Gorge and Falls in St. George, New Brunswick. The painting likely dates to about 1930.

Museum hours are by appointment. Contact: 207-853-4047 or tides@tidesinstitute.org
 

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Tides Institute Online

 

For online resources from the Tides Institute, click here. Included in these online resources are Tides Institute publications, exhibitions, videos and StudioWorks artists talks. Direct online access to many of the works in the Tides Institute’s collections can be found through this link.  Our museum store is online and can be found by clicking here.
   

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2022 Artist-in-Residence

Application materials and program description for TIMA's 2022 International StudioWorks Artist-in-Residence Program are now live online and can be found here. Applications are due February 1, 2022.
 

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Deck the Halls at Sunbury Shores

 

at Sunbury Shores Arts and Nature Centre – St. Andrews, NB through December 23   Just in time for holiday shopping! This exhibition at Sunbury Shores in St. Andrews showcases over 250 pieces by over 50 local artists: pottery, jewelry, paintings, photography, woodworking, fine textiles, and more. It will run through December 23.

Christmas in Blacks Harbour

at Main Street Park - Blacks Harbour, NB December 24  2:30 pm - 3:30 pm AST   Santa, Mrs. Claus and a Christmas elf or two will arrive in Santa's sleigh at Main Street Park in Blacks Harbour on December 24. Come for photos and a family visit between 2:30 and 3:30 pm and share in the Christmas cheer in this traditional visit. The rain location will be the municipal office. All public health guidelines will be followed.

Ongoing Classes/Events

Win a $1,000 shopping spree at R&M IGA

Online Event – Eastport, ME through December 20  9:00 am EST   Eastport Elementary School's 8th grade class is holding a raffle to win a $1,000, 8-minute shopping spree at R&M IGA in Eastport. The drawing will be held on Monday, December 20 at 11:00 am, but last-minute tickets can be purchased. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased by contacting Rebecca Lingley on Facebook. Payment can be made electronically via Cashapp, Venmo, or Paypal. For more details, click here.

Be a Santa for a Senior

Grand Manan Village Office, Grand Manan, NB through December 20   If you'd like to brighten the life of a senior in Grand Manan Village, please stop by the office to choose an ornament (with age, gender, and items they would like) and be their Santa. The process is anonymous (meaning givers won't know receivers and vice versa). We ask that all gifts be returned under the tree with the ornament taped to the gift by December 20. If you know of senior that can't see their families this year or may need something extra, please call us at 660-0395 and we will make sure there is an ornament up for them.

Silent Santa collecting funds for Eastport children

Eastport, ME through December 20   Donations to provide Eastport area children with much-needed gifts are being requested by the Silent Santa group. This group helps more than 100 children a year and is currently experiencing a deficit due to increased need. To donate, send a check made out to Silent Santa Program to Bangor Savings Bank, 54 Washington Street, Eastport, ME 04631.

Santa's Helper Seeking Donations

Greater Calais area, ME through December 20   The Calais Lions Club is seeking donations for the long-running Santa's Helper program in Calais. This program seeks to provide eligible families with children with gifts they would not otherwise receive in the spirit of the season. Donations can be sent to Calais Lions, P.O. Box 1280, Calais, ME 04619.

Christmas cards for nursing home residents

Online Event – Grand Manan, NB mail by Dec 21 or drop off by Dec 24   Be the bringer of Christmas cheer by sending Christmas cards to the 30 residents of the Grand Manan Nursing Home at: 642 Route 776 Grand Manan, NB E5G 1A5

Light up Eastport 2021

Eastport, ME through December 22   It's that time of year! Get out your Christmas decorations and start celebrating. The best decorated homes and businesses in the Eastport area will be awarded with prizes with judging taking place on December 22. Contact Reid Kozloski to enter or make donations at Reidkozloski@gmail.com or 413-485-8655.

Birthday cards for Phil Miller

Online Event – Lubec, ME mail before December 24   The family of Phil Miller, who was born and raised in Lubec and turns 90 on December 31, is trying to get 90 birthday cards to him this year. If you are interested, please send a card to his stepdaughter at: Mary Brown Morris 3304 Legacy Ln Mobile, Alabama 36695

Registration open for upcoming 8-week pottery courses

Cobscook Institute – Lubec, ME ongoing until classes begin Jan 3 and Jan 6   Join us for 8 weeks of pottery classes with instructor Michelle Cousineau at the Cobscook Institute. This class will focus on hand building, wheel demonstration and practice, and various glazing and decorating techniques. Two class sessions are available, one starting January 3 and continuing on Mondays and the other starting on January 6 and continuing on Thursdays. To see more about the courses and register for the one you're interested in, click here.

Registration open for Making in Place

Online Event – Lubec, ME until slots are filled; classes start Jan 31   The Making in Place Intensive will empower artists/creatives over the course of 8 weeks. We invite creative people of all ages to engage in weekly group zoom sessions and daily independent practice. This series is facilitated by artist & organizer Anne Shields Hopkins. Annie will act as artistic coach, providing creative prompts and facilitating reflection. Participation is limited to 14 people, so please register early if you are interested. Click here to learn about the program and to register.

Country by Design Ceramics

at Lubec Community Outreach Center – Lubec, ME Mondays and Wednesdays 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm EST   Come to the Lubec Community Outreach Center on Mondays and Wednesdays evenings to get some hands-on instruction in ceramics with Gina Brown-Delnicki of Country by Design. Sit and paint or classes are $5 a night. There are a limited number of seats available, so please contact Gina Brown-Delnicki on Facebook to reserve yours. These classes are adults only, but classes for children 10 and up may be starting later in the fall if there is enough interest.

Portrait Drawing Zoom Group

Online Event – Trescott, ME Wednesdays 4:00 pm – 5:00 pm EST   Host Anne Shield Hopkins is offering group online portrait drawing via Zoom. Artists will take turns posing for between 5-20 minutes (though modeling is voluntary and not required of all participants). At right, an anniversary portrait of Paula Ressler & Becca Chase with renditions from Sue Riddle, KERIN & Anne Hopkins.

Water Color Painting Classes with Helen Messemer

The Hub – Calais, ME Thursdays 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST Saturdays 9:30 pm - 11:30 pm EST   Instructor Helen Messemer is an award winning artist from the Downeast area who has been showing across Maine for decades. She is a member of “Made in Maine Americas Best”. Classes are available in afternoon or evening sessions. Suitable for any level of artist, whether beginner, emerging or experienced. Choose the time and subject, or attend them all! All classes are $35 each. Click here for more information.

Art Lab: Wabanaki Virtual Creators Circle

Online Event  – Wabanaki Confederacy Adult Night (ages 17+) Thursdays   7:00 - 8:00 pm EST   Join us for our virtual Wabanaki Art Labs. Bring your beads, your ash, and your paint and sign in with other Wabanaki creators once a week to vibe and create. We’re hosting spaces for Wabanaki artists of different ages to socialize, create, and build community together. Please note, our art labs are not instructional classes but are opportunities to create together. More information

Thursday Writers Group

Online Event – Robbinston, ME December 30   11:30 am - 1:30 pm EST   New and/or seasoned (salt/pepper) writers are welcome to join the Thursday Writers group. We gather on Zoom every other Thursday from 11:30am - 1:30pm. No fee, donations always appreciated. For more information and current dates, please contact Michael Brown at mrbrown64@msn.com.

Monday Night Music Circle

Online Event – Trescott, ME Mondays 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm EST   We will be hosting virtual Monday Night Music Circles via Zoom. A cornerstone of Cobscook Institute events, bring an instrument, or your voice, or just come to listen. You’re sure to have a great time. Donations warmly accepted. Join the event on a computer or smartphone by clicking here, or by phone: +1 (646) 876-9923 with the Meeting ID: 885 9692 5274. Watch previous Monday Night Music Circles here.

Passamaquoddy-Maliseet Language Class with Newell Lewey

Online Event – Pembroke Tuesdays 2:00 pm - 3:00 pm EST   Learn Passamaquoddy and Maliseet words and culture with Newell Lewey on Zoom every Tuesday. Open to the public. Click here to register for an upcoming class, or here to see a recent lesson.

Community Cider Press

at Cobscook Institute – Lubec, ME by appointment   Get into the fall spirit with the community cider press at Cobscook Institute! Make a reservation online and book your time with the cider press, using it to make your own fresh and delicious apples. Everyone who books the press will receive a short training on how to use it. Click here to access the online sign up sheet.

Coffee, Donuts, and Conversation

at Pembroke American Legion Auxiliary 59 – Pembroke, ME Wednesdays  8:00 am - 10:00 am EST   If you're a fan of coffee, donuts, or conversation - or all three - you're in luck! Come on down to the American Legion in Pembroke (92 Front Street) every Wednesday from 8:00 am to 10 a.m. to join the community in sharing a morning get-together. Bring a friend! Contact Muriel Lincoln Leighton on Facebook for more information.

Weekly Bingo

at Lubec American Legion Post 65 – Lubec, ME Sundays   1:00 pm - 4:00 pm EST   Every Sunday, weekly Bingo games will be held at the American Legion Hall Event Hall (500 County Road) in Lubec. At 1:00 pm, the doors will open; at 2:00, the Bingo games begin! Cash prizes awarded for all games! There will be refreshments (non-alcoholic only in the Event Hall) available for purchase. We welcome all to come out for a great afternoon of fun!

Lubec Winter Market

at Lubec Community Outreach Center – Lubec, ME first and third Saturdays of each month   Beginning December 4, there will be a winter market in Lubec every first and third Saturday from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm at the Lubec Community Outreach Center (44 South Street, Lubec). It will feature locally grown vegetables, sweet and savory baked goods, culinary delights, health products, fine art, and crafts. Masks are required. For more information, call 207-733-4688 or email Herbminder@gmail.com.

Little Wild Ones Club

at Grand Lake Stream School Building – Grand Lake Stream, ME Thursdays   Join DLLT Education and Volunteer Coordinator Sarah Cote, every Thursday from 10 am – 12 pm, for the Little Wild Ones Club! Geared for ages 0-5, the Little Wild Ones will go on nature adventures in the Downeast Lakes Community Forest. Hiking, stream exploration, games, activities, and more! This program is free for everyone, and no commitment or reservations are needed – come when it’s convenient and stay as long as you’d like! Be prepared for outdoor weather. The Little Wild Ones Club will meet at the Grand Lake Stream School Building. For more information, please contact Sarah at scote@downeastlakes.org, or call (207) 796-2100.

Saturdays at the Hive

at Milltown Elementary School – St. Stephen, NB Saturdays   If you have a child between grades 1-5 who's buzzing with energy on Saturday, come on down to the Hive with Bee Me Kidz! Now at Milltown Elementary School every Saturday, the program teaches positive reinforcement, collaboration, and social and emotional skills development with dedicated childhood educators! Siblings and parents are welcome to come. For grades 1 and 3, the session runs 8:50 to 11:00 am; for grades 2, 4, and 5, it will run from 11:30 to 1:40 pm. This is a free program and parents can register any time. Call or text 506-271-1626 to register.

Aerobics with Julie Richard

at Woodland Elementary School – Baileyville, ME Wednesdays   6:00 pm - 8:00 pm EST (other times TBD)   Join experienced instructor Julie Richard for aerobics at Woodland Elementary! Classes will be suitable for all levels with a goal of elevating heart rates and inspiring circulatory health as the cold weather approaches. Classes are tentatively set for Wednesdays at 6 pm and Sundays at 4 pm, with an option for Saturday mornings at 9 am if there is enough interest. Contact Julie Richard on Facebook for more information.

St. Croix Valley Pickleball

at Calais Elementary School – Calais, ME Mondays and Thursdays 5:00 pm EST   Those interested in joining America's fastest growing sport can head to Calais Elementary on Mondays and Thursdays at 5:00 pm. Balls and nets will be provided, and paddles will be available if needed. Please dress for indoor playing and wear non-marking court shoes. For more information, send a message to the St. Croix Valley Pickleball page.

Skating in St. Andrews

at W.C. O’Neill Arena – St. Andrews, NB varied schedule   The Town of St. Andrews offers multiple opportunities for skating at W.C. O'Neill Arena. Public skating is available Mondays from 12:00 to 1:00 pm, Wednesdays from 3:30 to 4:30 pm, Sundays from 11:15 am to 12:15 pm for $2; Teens with Sticks (intended to train on stick skills) is open from Sundays, 1:00 to 2:00 pm for $2; and Tykes with Sticks (under age 12) is open on Fridays from 3:30 to 4:30. Helmets are required for all youths.

Submissions open for Dream First photo contest

Online Event – Maine through June 2022   If you're a photographer who enjoys the scenery of Maine as their subject, consider submitting your work to First National Bank's Dream First photo contest. The winning images (up to 14) will be featured in the bank's 2023 desk and wall calendars and net $150 for the photographer. Submit your entries (no more than two) here by June 30, 2022.

 

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Charlotte County Adult Learning, Inc. 

St. George, NB Charlotte County Adult Learning is a non–profit organization providing FREE learning opportunities to adults throughout Charlotte County. Come to finish your year 12 requirements at any age, or enroll in one of our digital literacy courses.    More information     Axiom Education & Training Center Machias, ME Washington County Adult Education (WCAE) programs offered by Axiom Education and Training Center (AETC) are available at online for Washington County residents, from Danforth to Cherryfield.   Fall catalogue is here!         Sunrise Senior College  Machias, ME Being over 50 has never looked so good! Sunrise Senior College at University of Maine, Machias  began in June 2002, and in its first year 80 people were registered members. SSC was established as a part of the Maine Senior College Network and in partnership with the University of Maine at Machias.   Click here to see the Winter-Spring 2022 schedule!    Walking Opportunities Don’t let the winter slow you down with these indoor and outdoor walking opportunities! The Fundy Aquarium is offering indoor walking on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings from 8:30 to 10:00 am AST through December 15 for adults 55+. Cost is $2, no registration required. Shead High School allows masked walkers Monday through Friday (except Wednesday) from 7:00 to 9:00 am EST on days that school is in session. Anchorage Wellness Walks take place Fridays at 7 pm AST and Saturdays at 4 pm AST at Anchorage Park in Grand Manan. Tickets are $5 per adult, $3 per child, or $14 for a family and support the park. Contact Heather Brown for tickets at 506-662-4246. [Note: on hold until the new year] Grand Manan Recreation offers indoor walking Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays from 8:00 to 10:00 am AST at the gym. Day Adventure Centre is the place for families with children under 6 to meet in St. George, Wednesdays from 1:30 to 2:30 AST with Family Resource Centre members.   Yoga, Fitness, and Tai Chi Classes Online Local mindful movement instructors are offering online versions of their popular local classes: Katie Melancon is offering yoga online, please email anchorandbalanceyoga@gmail.com or click here! Find Get Fit with Tina on Facebook for a current class schedule and Zoom offerings. Healthy Acadia is now offering online Tai Chi for Health classes through November. Lilli Danaea is now offering mindfulness & yoga classes via Zoom on Tuesdays from 8:30-9:30. For more information, email Lilli at lillireally@gmail.com. Samantha Williams is offering Tai Chi and yoga online. Please email boldcoastyoga@gmail.com for times and links.    Outside the Region     Downtown Bangor New Year's Celebration   Downtown Bangor, ME  December 31  8:00 pm - 2:00 am January 1, 2022 EST   Celebrate Maine’s largest public New Year’s in Downtown Bangor! More than 17 bars, 9 entertainment venues, and 19 restaurants are holding events to ring in the New Year. Don’t forget to meet in the square at midnight for the annual ball drop from the roof of Paddy Murphy’s! To help keep everyone safe, Republic Parking Garage is open and free all day and night so leave your car behind to get your party on. For a full day schedule click here!