The extremely early forecast for New Year’s Eve calls for temperatures in the mid-20s, dropping to the upper teens along the coast and the mid-teens the farther north you go. In other words: cold, but for a Mainer, not that cold. At least, not as cold as last New Year’s Eve when temperatures dipped to a godforsaken 16 degrees below zero in Bangor. So what does that mean? Well, compared to last year we’re in a downright heat wave. Here are five places across the state to ring in 2015 in style.
The City of Bangor routinely draws more than 3,000 people to West Market Square to say goodbye to the year that was. This year, some of the free activities happening around downtown include performances at 8:30, 9:30 and 10:30 p.m. by comedy group Improv Acadia at The Rock & Art Shop; cover band the Retro Rockerz and blues band the Juke Rockets, performing all night starting at 8 p.m. at the Union Street Brick Church and Bagel Central, respectively; the Bangor Symphony Orchestra’s Juniper Quintet at the Central Gallery; two performances at 5 and 8 p.m. of “Legends: The Music of Judy Garland” at the Bangor Opera House.
Kids activities this year include making hats, crowns, noisemakers and other crafts at both the Maine Discovery Museum and the University of Maine Museum of Art.
The new and improved West Market Square, of course, will be filled with live music from the Trendy Robots, fire-spinning and DJs, and the ball drop at midnight. For those who’d like a drink along with their fun, there’s grown-up fun, including rockers the Rotating Taps at Nocturnem Drafthaus, bluegrass band Maximum Blue at Paddy Murphy’s, Motor Booty Affair at Hollywood Casino, and EDM all night at Tantrum Nightclub, among others.
Belfast’s New Years By The Bay:
The eighteenth annual by the bay celebration is again chock-a-block full of fun. A short list of bands includes gypsy jazz trio Amereranouche, old timey band the Gawler Family, bluegrass band the Katahdin Valley Boys, the Leaky Boot Jug Band, R&B band the Willy Kelly Band, the Belfast Bay Fiddlers, rockers Captain Obvious, songwriter David Dodson, acapella group Ellacapella, Mes Amis jazz, Midcoast Ukuleles, Shades of Blue Jazz, the Jon Nowak Jazz Quartet, funk rockers People of Earth, the Mondaynight Jazz Orchestra, punk band Random Idea and guitarist George Lirakis and songwriters David Johnson and Rossi Meachum.
There’s also storyteller Jennifer Armstrong, juggler and mime Bob Lloyd, magician Conjuring Carroll, dancers Helena Malone and Droplet Dance and poet Toussaint St. Negritude. It all ends with the all-comers Drum & Rabble Corp. noisemaker parade to the Waterfront, set for 11:45 p.m., followed by a bonfire at midnight. Venues include the Colonial Theatre, the American Legion Hall, the Belfast Free Library, the First Church UCC, the Boathouse, the First Baptist Church and the Belfast Co-op. A button for admission is $18 for adults, $5 for under 18 and free for under 5, available all day at the Parent Gallery in downtown.
Portland’s many varied events:
While there’s no specific city-sanctioned public New Year’s Eve event in Portland, there’s still plenty of stuff to do. Why not do a 5k starting at Back Cove, before doing a polar bear dip in the East End Beach? Race at 11 a.m., dip at noon, $35 to register.
The Space Gallery is hosting a formal dance party, set for 8:30 p.m.; Empire is hosting an epic Clash of the Titans, pitting disco against R&B; Soulive and Rustic Overtones will perform at the State Theatre; the Ghost of Paul Revere, Spencer Alee and Dark Hollow Bottling Company will play at Port City Music Hall; and the Asylum hosts the Jack Daniels New Years Eve Ramblin’ Revival, with North of Nashville, Joe Gallant and the Transit and Sly-Chi.
In nearby Old Orchard Beach, you can bring your Christmas trees to throw on a massive bonfire that starts at 5 p.m. on the beach.
Eastport’s Maple Leaf & Sardine Drop:
The tenth annual Sardine and Maple Leaf Drop is set for Bank Square in downtown Eastport. From the third story of the Tides Institute & Museum of Art, a giant red maple leaf will be lowered to ring in the Canadian new year at midnight, Atlantic Time (11 p.m. EST), while the New Year’s Eve Brass Band will play a rousing rendition of “O Canada.”
At midnight EST, an 8-foot sardine will take the plunge, as the band plays “Auld Lang Syne.” If you kiss the sardine they say you’ll have good luck in the New Year. There’s also fun stuff in Eastport, including a funny Shel Silverstein play at 7 and 9 p.m. at the Eastport Arts Center, a black light DJ party at the Rose Garden, and the fiddle-licious sounds of rockers Live Bait at Studioworks.
New Years at Sugarloaf, Sunday River and Maine Huts & Trails:
If you prefer your New Year’s Eve with a little more mountainous, Maine’s ski areas have plenty of fun planned, along with skiing and snowboarding. At Sugarloaf, after you hit the slopes you can enjoy a Masquerade Ball at the Widowmaker with rockers Harsh Armadillo, magician Jason Bishop in the King Pine room at 7 p.m., and fireworks at 9:15 p.m. At Sunday River, the Dave Mello Band is at Sliders in the Jordan Hotel, the Aldous Collins Band is at the Foggy Goggle, and there are fireworks set for 8:30 p.m.
Finally, Maine Huts & Trails will be serving a champagne toast to overnight guests in all four of their eco-lodges on New Year’s Eve, but Stratton Brook Hut, Poplar Hut and Flagstaff Hut will host a special New Year’s Eve experience with a decorated dining room and a festive four-course meal serving locally sourced organic ingredients. Prices for food and lodging are $120 for non-members and $108 for members, $60 and $54 for youth 17 and under.
