Editor's Pick
New England Art Book Fair 2026
SPACE · Arts District
“Small presses, zines, and risograph printers take over SPACE, 5 to 8, free. Bring cash, the good tables empty out fast.”
Free
Things to Do in Portland, Maine This Weekend
I've lived off Congress Street for a decade, and this is the list I text my friends every Thursday: everything worth leaving the house for, sorted by day and filtered to your taste.
The Short Version
Labor Day weekend, and Portland is not going quietly. SPACE hands its floor to the New England Art Book Fair on Friday and Saturday, both free, while Cross Insurance Arena trucks in real dirt for a sanctioned rodeo on Saturday afternoon. Thompson's Point runs Sierra Ferrell and the sold-out Ghost of Paul Revere reunion back to back, and Aura gives yacht rock two full nights. If you want the cheap version, the Friday art walk and the museum's free evening cover downtown for nothing.
Editor's Picks
The weekend's best bets
Three things I'd clear the calendar for — with a note on why.
Editor's Pick
Portland Bulls N’ Broncs
Cross Insurance Arena · Arts District
“They truck arena dirt onto the Cross Insurance floor for a sanctioned rodeo: bull riding, bareback, saddle bronc. Doors 3.”
Editor's Pick
An Evening With Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country
Portland House of Music · Old Port
“Night two at HOME, different setlist from Saturday, doors 7. Sunday sets in this room run looser and longer.”
Thursday
Sep 3Nothing here on Thursday. Check Friday.
Sherman’s March
Portland Museum of Art · Arts District
Ross McElwee's 1985 documentary, a Civil War road trip that keeps derailing into his own dating life. 3 p.m., screened at the PMA.
Arts & Culture
Summer Sunsets Live!
Thompson's Point · Libbytown
Free waterfront hang at the Point, 5 to 9, food trucks and a full bar. One of the last Thursdays before the season packs up.
Food & Drink
Free
Darksoft, Cigarettes for Breakfast, Crystal Canyon, XO
SPACE · Arts District
Four bands, shoegaze into noise pop, doors at 7. Fifteen dollars in advance and two off if you are a member.
Live Music
$15-18
Jackie Greene
One Longfellow Square · Parkside
Greene has played guitar behind the Black Crowes and Phil Lesh. At OLS he does it about 40 feet from you. 8 p.m.
Live Music
Friday
Sep 4 75° / 61° Areas Of Fog then Partly SunnyNothing here on Friday. Check Saturday.
Free Friday Evening at the PMA
Portland Museum of Art · Arts District
Admission drops to nothing from 4 to 8 every Friday, so the whole museum costs you only the walk over.
Arts & Culture
Free
Summer Sunsets Live!
Thompson's Point · Libbytown
The Friday version of the free Point cookout, 5 to 9. Bring cash for the trucks, stay for the sun going down over the Fore.
Food & Drink
Free
First Friday Art Walk
Downtown Portland · Arts District
Galleries and studios downtown stay open 5 to 8, free, no map required. Start on Congress Street and follow the crowd.
Arts & Culture
Free
New England Art Book Fair 2026
SPACE · Arts District
Small presses, zines, and risograph printers take over SPACE, 5 to 8, free. Bring cash, the good tables empty out fast.
Arts & Culture
Free
An Enemy of the People
Crewe Center for the Arts - Blossom ArtsLab · Parkside
Ibsen's whistleblower play in the Crewe black box, 7:30. Thursday already sold out, so this is the weekend to catch it.
Arts & Culture
$35
The Maine Stage: Burlesque, Drag & Flow
Mayo Street Arts · East Bayside
Burlesque, drag, and fire spinning on the Mayo Street stage at 7:30, pay what you can. 18 and over.
Arts & Culture
Pay what you can
Portland Yacht Rock Festival 2026
Aura · Old Port
SHIP to SHORE, local ringers playing Toto, Christopher Cross, and Michael McDonald with a straight face. Doors 7, two nights.
Live Music
$35-46
Funkationland
One Longfellow Square · Parkside
Local funk outfit filling One Longfellow's 200 seats at 8. Small room, good sightlines, nowhere bad to sit.
Live Music
CONFESSIONS (Madonna Night)
Portland House of Music · Old Port
Madonna night at HOME, 9 p.m., DJs working the whole catalog end to end. Dress for it.
Live Music
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Saturday
Sep 5 69° / 56° Partly Sunny then Chance Rain ShowersNothing here on Saturday. Check Sunday.
Portland Farmers’ Market at Deering Oaks
Deering Oaks Park · Parkside
Deering Oaks, 7 to 1: last of the corn, first of the apples, half the West End walking their dogs. Go early for produce.
Food & Drink
Free
New England Art Book Fair 2026
SPACE · Arts District
Day two of the book fair, 11 to 4, free. More room to browse than the Friday opening, same publishers.
Arts & Culture
Free
Ad Libitum Ensemble
Portland Conservatory of Music · East Bayside
Free 12:15 chamber concert at the Conservatory. RSVP, sit down, and you are back outside inside an hour.
Arts & Culture
Free
Portland Bulls N’ Broncs
Cross Insurance Arena · Arts District
They truck arena dirt onto the Cross Insurance floor for a sanctioned rodeo: bull riding, bareback, saddle bronc. Doors 3.
Kid-Friendly
Sierra Ferrell
Thompson's Point · Libbytown
Ferrell's Appalachian torch songs outdoors at the Point, doors 6 and music at 7. Sold out, so watch resale.
Live Music
$46 advance
An Enemy of the People
Crewe Center for the Arts - Blossom ArtsLab · Parkside
Saturday night in the Crewe black box, 7:30. Ten dollar seats exist in small numbers if you ask the box office.
Arts & Culture
$35
An Evening With Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country
Portland House of Music · Old Port
Nashville guitar slinger playing country through a jam band lens, night one of two. Doors 7, second set is the reason.
Live Music
Portland Yacht Rock Festival 2026 Night 2
Aura · Old Port
Second night of the yacht rock run at Aura, doors 7. Friday usually sells first, so Saturday is the easier ticket.
Live Music
$35-46
Sunday
Sep 6 67° / 55° Mostly SunnyNothing here on Sunday this weekend.
An Enemy of the People
Crewe Center for the Arts - Blossom ArtsLab · Parkside
Closing performance of the run, 5 p.m. on Bedford Street. Two hours with an intermission, then you still have your night.
Arts & Culture
$35
Ghostland ’26 feat. The Ghost Of Paul Revere
Thompson's Point · Libbytown
The Ghost of Paul Revere reunion, with Futurebirds, Weakened Friends, and Mikaela Davis. Doors 4, music 5. Sold out.
Live Music
$55 advance
An Evening With Daniel Donato’s Cosmic Country
Portland House of Music · Old Port
Night two at HOME, different setlist from Saturday, doors 7. Sunday sets in this room run looser and longer.
Live Music
The Week Ahead
Looking Ahead
The early-week standouts to catch before next Thursday's guide lands.
WED · SEP 9
Food & Drink
Portland Farmers’ Market at Deering Oaks (Wednesday)
Deering Oaks Park
WED · SEP 9
Live Music
LCD Soundsystem with Victoryland
Thompson's Point
WED · SEP 9
Arts & Culture
Orpheotic
Mayo Street Arts
WED · SEP 9
Live Music
Dead Wednesdays with A Band Beyond Description (Final Night)
Portland House of Music
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