There’s no shortage of exciting events to explore this long holiday weekend!
This weekend, join us in honoring Indigenous Peoples’ Day with dedicated programming at the Portland Museum of Art, where you can engage with local Indigenous artists and celebrate their rich cultural heritage. For a taste of fall, head over to Allagash Brewing Co. for their Fall Fest, or savor delicious bites at the Food Truck Festival at Austin Street Brewery. If you’re in the mood for some lively festivities, don’t miss Oktoberfest celebrations at both Alto Terrace Bar + Kitchen and The Thirsty Pig. Plus, for the animal enthusiasts, the Maine Reptile Expo is sure to intrigue with fascinating creatures and exhibits.
Here’s The Weekend Guide for Friday, October 11th – Monday, October 14th, 2024
Friday the 11th
Fall Fest | Allagash Brewing Co. | All Month Long
This October, Allagash Brewing Company is transforming into a fall wonderland, perfect for the whole family! The B-Corp certified brewery will host a cornucopia of seasonal activities and events fit for the whole family at their Portland Tasting Room, complete with festive decorations, beer label drawing, fall-themed beer samplings and more. The brewery will be decked out in festive decorations, and beer lovers can enjoy signature fall brews like Ghoulschip, Haunted House, and house-made cider. You can even take part in guided tastings and a fall scavenger hunt! Most events are free, with some special ticketed ones throughout the month.
Oktoberfest | The Thirsty Pig | All Weekend
Get ready to celebrate Oktoberfest all weekend at The Thirsty Pig with vibrant live music, hearty German fare like bratwursts, sauerkraut, and pretzels, and of course, a stellar lineup of Maine Oktoberfest beers alongside authentic German brews. From stein-hoisting contests and pretzel-eating challenges to a fall friendship bracelet station, there’s plenty of fun for everyone. With live performances from Leaf (Friday 7 PM – 11 PM), Garrett Smith (Saturday 2 PM – 5 PM), and Xander Nelson (Sunday 2 PM – 5 PM) throughout the weekend, it’s the perfect time to don your Dirndls and Lederhosen, grab a pint, and enjoy the festive vibes!
Food Truck Festival | Austin Street Brewery | 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Kick off your holiday weekend at Austin Street Brewery’s Food Truck Festival! Expect a delicious lineup of food trucks like Black Salt Dining, Eighty8 Donuts, The Muthah Truckah, and Vintage Dogs Maine, plus live music from Eli & Noah Music to set the perfect vibe. Don’t miss out on the cornhole tournament hosted by Port City Cornhole—grab your friends and sign up prior. Great eats, tunes, and brews all in one place!
Jake Blount & Mali Obomsawin | Portland House of Music | 8:00 PM
Award-winning artists Jake Blount and Mali Obomsawin are bringing their boundary-breaking music to the stage at PHOME. Fresh off their Smithsonian Folkways release Symbiont (2024), Blount, a master interpreter of Black folk music, and Obomsawin, a renowned composer and bassist-vocalist, are known for their genre-defying sounds. Blount’s innovative use of banjo, fiddle, electric guitar, and synthesizer breathes new life into his Afrofuturist roots, while Obomsawin’s work draws on Indigenous traditions and jazz to create a unique sonic landscape. Together, they create a powerful fusion that challenges the limits of genre, time, and tradition. An extraordinary collaboration! Tickets.
Saturday the 12th
Oktoberfest | Alto Terrace Bar + Kitchen | 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
One night only—Alto Terrace Bar + Kitchen is celebrating Oktoberfest with a special prix-fixe menu that brings German flavors to the heart of Portland! The evening starts with a House Baked Jumbo Pretzel served with whole grain brown sugar bourbon mustard. For the main course, choose between the House Bratwurst with homemade sauerkraut and Kasespetzal, or the Schwiene Schnitzel paired with mushroom gravy, German potato salad, and roasted Brussels sprouts. End on a sweet note with either the Apple Streusel Cake or a slice of German Black Forest Cake. Prost! Reserve.
Maine Lit Fest Kids Book Fair | Portland Public Library | 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Get ready for a fun-filled day of books, stories, and creativity! The Maine Lit Fest is bringing its Kids Book Fair to the Portland Public Library on October 12th from 10 AM – 2 PM. With free activities for the little ones (and grown-ups, too!), it’s the perfect way to dive into the world of storytelling. Catch Drag Queen Storytime at 10:30 AM for a fabulous reading session, followed by an interactive Draw Along at 11 AM. Stick around for some puppet fun and music at 11:30 AM, and don’t miss the Illustrator Draw Off at 12:30 PM—watch artists compete in a live drawing showdown! It’s a day of community, creativity, and all-around family fun.
ONYX w/s/gs Ben Shorr + DJ Myth & Rhythm Rebels Dance Collective | Bayside Bowl | 8:00 PM
Hip-hop legends ONYX are back in Portland at Bayside Bowl for an all-ages show that’s sure to bring the heat! Known for their intense energy and iconic hits like “Slam,” ONYX is set to light up the stage with support from local hip-hop artist Ben Shorr, DJ Myth, and the Rhythm Rebels Dance Collective. Whether you’ve been a fan since the ‘90s or are just getting into their hard-hitting sound, this is your chance to see Sticky Fingaz and Fredro Starr bring their legendary New York attitude to Maine. It’s going to be a night full of high-octane performances! Tickets.
ColoniAle | Tate House | 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Step back in time and sip your way through history with ColoniAle at the Tate House Museum! This all-new, beer-centric tour will have you learning the secrets of 18th-century brewing, kitchen duties, and even a colonial dish called “pounded cheese”—which you’ll get to sample. Plus, discover how Indigenous culinary practices influenced colonial food and drink, including cocktails made from beer! After the hour-long tour, relax in the backyard with a Tate House pint glass and two pints of Mast Landing ale. Tours start at 3 PM and 4 PM, with social hour from 4 PM – 6 PM. It’s history, ale, and good vibes—imbibing encouraged! Tickets.
Portland Maine Reptile Show | Portland Expo | 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM
Dive into the world of reptiles at the Portland Maine Reptile Show! Get up close with fascinating creatures like pythons, chameleons, and tortoises. Whether you’re a seasoned reptile enthusiast or just curious, there’s plenty to learn from passionate experts. Feeling brave? Hold a gecko or snap a pic with a friendly tortoise! Plus, browse the marketplace for hatchlings, exotic species, and all the supplies to create the perfect habitat. It’s a fun, hands-on experience for critter lovers of all ages! Tickets.
Voices of Maine: Immigrant Stories in Song | Mayo Street Arts | 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM
Join for Voices of Maine, a moving concert that brings the stories of Maine’s immigrant community to life through seven original documentary songs. Local musicians—including Jenny Van West, Americana artist and founder of Immigrant Music Connection; Alex Millan, performing under the moniker Juniper Ginger; and Lukebana, a passionate singer and multi-instrumentalist from Angola—collaborate with immigrant storytellers to explore themes of home, identity, and belonging. The performance is followed by a discussion with the musicians and storytellers. Open to all ages, though some songs contain mature themes. Tickets.
80s Dance Party & Movie Screenings | Definitive Brewing Co. | 8:00 PM – 12:00 AM
Get ready to dance, watch, and indulge at Definitive After Dark! The taproom transforms into an 80s dance floor with local DJs spinning classic 80s beats, while the patio turns into a cozy movie lounge featuring iconic films like The Goonies and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. Dress up in your favorite 80s gear, grab a beer (or wine, cider, or NA drink), and enjoy tasty bites from Fat Kid Culinary until 10 PM. The best part? It’s free to attend! 21+ after 8 PM.
Sunday the 13th
The Rock and Roll Playhouse plays: Music of The Beatles + More for Kids | PHOME | 12:00 PM – 3:00 PM
Get ready for a rockin’ good time at the Rock and Roll Playhouse this weekend! This family-friendly concert series invites kids aged ten and under to move, play, and sing along to the iconic sounds of The Beatles and more. The talented band will perform classic tunes while incorporating games and storytelling, making it a fun and engaging experience for the whole family. With a focus on comfort, the volume is turned down to protect little ears, and hearing protection earmuffs, like Baby Banz, are available for purchase. Don’t miss this chance to introduce your little rock stars to the magic of live music! All children must be accompanied by a parent or adult caregiver. Tickets.
Mindy Smith | One Longfellow Square | 7:00 PM
Mindy Smith returns with her sixth studio album, Quiet Town, proving once again that good things come to those who wait. Her heartfelt journey has only deepened the emotional resonance of her music, and fans can expect a live experience filled with new tracks alongside cherished classics. Just a heads up: bring a hanky or tissue, as her poignant lyrics will likely have you laughing and crying in equal measure. As she puts it, “Humor is how I compensate for singing so many sad tunes back-to-back.” A Long Island native now based in Nashville, Mindy is an Americana award-winning artist known for her clear passion across genres like jazz, pop, rock, and folk. With over 750,000 albums sold and 175 million streams, she has also penned songs for artists like Alison Krauss and Faith Hill. Tickets.
Monday the 14th – Indigenous Peoples’ Day
Indigenous Peoples’ Day | Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine | 9:00 AM
Join at the Children’s Museum & Theater of Maine for a vibrant celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day! Experience the outdoor exhibit Ckuwaponahkiyik Atkuhkakonol: Wabanaki Storytelling Through Art and Traditions, showcasing Wabanaki storytelling and art traditions that have enriched our cultural landscape for over 12,000 years. From 10 AM to 11 AM, don’t miss the return of the Burnurwubskek Singers from the Penobscot Nation. This talented drum group will captivate audiences with their powerful drumming and share stories that reflect their deep cultural heritage. All activities are included with admission, so bring the whole family and immerse yourselves in this meaningful experience.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day | Portland Museum of Art | 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Join for special Monday hours at the Portland Museum of Art as they honor the rich cultural heritage of our local Indigenous communities with dedicated programming and free admission all day! The celebration kicks off with interactive storytelling by Wolastoqeyik artist and writer Mihku Paul at 10 AM and 11 AM, perfect for ages 10 and under. From 1 PM to 4 PM, get creative with Mi’kmaq artist Marissa Joly as you make your own dream catcher to take home. Don’t miss the PMA Films screening of Sugarcane from 2 PM to 4 PM, a stunning documentary that pays tribute to the resilience of Native people and their way of life. Finally, join artist Maya Tihtiyas Attean (Penobscot) for a gallery talk at 2:30 PM, where she will share insights into her artistic practice and those of her peers as part of the As We Are exhibition.
For more events head to our Events Calendar here.