FROM SANDY

Good morning, neighbors.

This is a weekend for browsing a craft table, catching a show and making a little room for company. There’s a practical change for anyone headed to the Bangor Mall craft fair, two special concerts in Orono and a singalong in Dover-Foxcroft.

We’ve included indoor choices for a rainy forecast, and I hope you’ll make time for my conversation with Patricia Nielsen of The Furniture Gallery in our Worth Listening section.

— Sandy

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WEEKEND WEATHER | NOVEMBER 6–9

Bangor-area outlook checked Thursday, November 5, with the National Weather Service. Other Valley towns may differ.

Friday: Rain likely, high around 65°F; low around 47°F.

Saturday: Rain, high around 54°F; low around 41°F.

Sunday: Rain likely, high around 51°F; low around 35°F.

Monday: A slight chance of rain, high around 52°F; low around 32°F.

This looks like a good weekend to keep an indoor option in your plans. Bring a raincoat for the trip between the car and the fair or theater. Updated National Weather Service forecast

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Bangor Mall access has changed. The mall’s interior corridors are closed following a city condemnation order. Dick’s Sporting Goods and JCPenney remain accessible through their exterior entrances. The weekend craft fair is continuing in the separately owned former Furniture, Mattresses & More space. Go to the fair’s own entrance and follow posted directions. Current closure and fair update

Concert offers for veterans. Both the Collins Center and Gracie Theatre have complimentary-ticket offers for eligible guests. Arrange those directly with the box offices before going. Details are in our concert picks below.

On the road: Leave a little extra time for wet roads and evening trips. Live road conditions

HIDDEN GEM | MARIBEL’S BAKING COMPANY, WINTERPORT

A thoughtful local gift can be something made for the table. Maribel’s Baking Company offers artisan breads and baked treats from Winterport, with sourdough among its specialties. Maribel Varghese’s business grew from baking for family and friends.

This is an order-ahead, pickup-only business. Contact Maribel about what is available, quantities and pickup timing before making the trip. Custom requests go through her contact form. It’s a useful option to explore while planning a gathering or a gift for someone who already has enough things.

Explore the bakery · Ask about an order · 207-610-4399

CAN’T MISS EVENTS

Graceful Warrior — Orono | Saturday, 7 PM; Sunday, 1 PM
The Bangor Symphony Orchestra, Gary Sinise and the Lt. Dan Band share the Collins Center for the Arts stage, 2 Flagstaff Road. The program honors Mac Sinise’s music and includes personal stories and video. Tickets $35–$62 plus the facilities fee. Veterans, active military and first responders may request up to two complimentary tickets through the box office, 207-581-2787. Program and tickets

Choir! Choir! Choir! — Dover-Foxcroft | Sunday, 7 PM
“Landslide” turns the Center Theatre audience into a Fleetwood Mac singalong. No singing experience is needed. Bring a friend who knows the chorus. Center Theatre, 20 East Main Street. Select seats and current prices through the theater’s ticket page. Tickets

Bruce in the USA — Bangor | Saturday, 7 PM
Matt Ryan and his band bring a Bruce Springsteen and E Street Band tribute to the Gracie Theatre at Husson University. Tickets $32.50–$42.50. Veterans and a guest can request free tickets through the box office at 207-941-7888; veterans must show military ID at pickup. Show details

HOLIDAY CRAFT FAIRS & MARKETS

East Sangerville Grange — Saturday, 9 AM–3 PM
287 East Sangerville Road, Sangerville. Browse handmade gifts, clothing, soaps and specialty foods across two floors. Lunch fare is available and Timberdoodle provides live music. Admission is a $1 donation toward the building fund. Fair details

Red Sleigh Bazaar — Old Town | Saturday, 9 AM–2 PM
Holy Family Parish Center, 429 Main Street. Use the Brunswick Street entrance and parking lot. Knit goods, crafts, homemade donuts, sweets and a puzzle swap are among the offerings, with a soup-and-chowder lunch buffet available. For questions, call Joan at 207-827-2594. Organizer’s listing

Bangor Mall Christmas Craft Fair — Saturday, 9 AM–5 PM; Sunday, 10 AM–4 PM
Free admission. This weekend’s fair is moving into the former Furniture, Mattresses & More space at the Bangor Mall property, 651 Stillwater Avenue. The mall corridors remain closed. The fair also returns November 14–15. Hours and fair update

QUICK PICKS

Friday coffee and conversation — Bangor | 9:30–10:30 AM
Free coffee, snacks and an informal chance to meet neighbors in the Bangor Public Library atrium, 145 Harlow Street. Library calendar

Juston McKinney — Bucksport | Saturday, 7:30–9 PM
The comedian returns to the Bucksport Performing Arts Center, 100 Miles Lane. The Bucksport Area Cultural Arts Society’s ticket page has current prices and availability. Tickets

Saturday Story Stop — Bangor | 11–11:30 AM
Books, songs and games for children ages 3–6 in Bangor Public Library’s Story Room. Storytime details

Broomstick — Bangor | Friday and Saturday, 7 PM
Penobscot Theatre’s play closes its run November 8 at the Bangor Opera House, 131 Main Street. The 90-minute production has no intermission and includes adult language and references to violence and sexual situations. Tickets and production details

Learn about rug braiding — Bangor | Monday, 10 AM–noon
Meet local rug braiders at Bangor Public Library’s Crofutt Community Room. This is an informal introduction with time for questions. Session details

Kiwanis bean supper — Hampden | Saturday, November 7, 4:30–6 PM
Gather over a traditional supper at the VFW Hall, 41 Canoe Club Road. The menu includes three kinds of beans, goulash, red hots, coleslaw, biscuits and a dessert buffet. Carryout is available. Cash only: adults $10, children $8, family maximum $25. Proceeds support Hampden Kiwanis community activities. Town’s fall newsletter — supper details on page 6

FARMERS’ MARKETS

Friday, November 6 — Hampden Winter Farmers’ Market, 2–5:30 PM
The market is back at Citizens of Maine, 177 Coldbrook Road. Find produce, meats, baked goods and other local products indoors. Market’s current winter schedule

Saturday, November 7 — Bangor European Market, 8:30 AM–12:30 PM
117 Buck Street. A year-round stop for local and international foods, baked goods and gifts. Market information

Sunday, November 8 — Bangor Farmers’ Market, 11 AM–1:30 PM
Abbot Square, across from Bangor Public Library on Harlow Street. The Sunday outdoor season continues through November. Market details

Orono shoppers: The organizer’s published 2026 outdoor dates ended in October. Its website lists indoor December markets at ASA Adams School, so we’re leaving Orono off this weekend’s market list. Orono’s seasonal schedule

WORTH LISTENING | MAINE THRIVE VOICES

Patricia Nielsen of The Furniture Gallery — Episode 17

If you’ve shopped for a couch in Greater Bangor, you’ve probably walked through The Furniture Gallery’s Bangor store, which holds more than an acre of furniture under one roof. Patricia Nielsen grew up in that business. She started out sweeping the warehouse and now helps lead the company her father built from a handful of small mattress shops. She was refreshingly candid about working beside her dad every day, the two things shoppers get wrong about furniture, and why, in her words, “selling furniture is the easy part.” If you’ve ever wondered what you actually get by buying local instead of clicking “add to cart,” this one’s worth a listen.

Listen to Patricia’s conversation with Sandy

LOOKING AHEAD

Veterans Day dinner — Milo | Wednesday, November 11, 11 AM–2 PM
Three Rivers Kiwanis, 15 Harris Pond Road. Free for veterans and their families. Doors open at 11, close at 11:45 for a POW/MIA ceremony and reopen at noon for turkey dinner. Dinner details

Business After Hours — Bangor | Thursday, November 12, 5–7 PM
Day’s Jewelers, 930 Stillwater Avenue. The Bangor Region Chamber’s current listing gives free admission as a member benefit. Registration and details

A Thanksgiving planning date — Dover-Foxcroft
The Mill Inn + Cafe lists November 22 as its Thanksgiving preorder deadline. Take a look at its offerings before the holiday week arrives. Ordering information

Holiday help: apply by November 13 — MSAD 4 families
Parkman Grange’s Santa Project provides winter coats, boots and a toy for children from newborn through high school senior in the MSAD 4 district whose families could use help. Applications are available through the school, Parkman Town Office and the Grange porch bulletin board. Return by mail to PO Box 114, Guilford, ME 04443, or the locked box on the Grange porch, at State Highway 150 and North Dexter Road. Distribution is December 20, 10 AM–noon. Application and project details

PCCA annual hunters’ breakfast — Brewer | Saturday, November 14, 4:30–9 AM
Penobscot County Conservation Association, 570 North Main Street. Breakfast includes meats, eggs cooked to order, home fries, French toast, pancakes, baked beans, sausage gravy and biscuits, coffee and juice. Adults $10; children under 12 $5. Current PCCA calendar

Anah Shriners Feztival of Trees — Bangor | November 27–29, 11 AM–7 PM daily
Plan a holiday outing to Anah Shrine Temple, 1404 Broadway, to browse decorated trees and enter raffles for trees and their accompanying gifts. Feztival information and updates

A bookshop stop on Bucksport’s Main Street

With rain in the forecast, a bookstore is a pleasant place to spend part of an afternoon. BookStacks at 71 Main Street offers an independent local stop for finding your next read or starting a gift list.

There’s an early start this Saturday. The store’s current announcement says its annual Early Bird Sale with neighboring Saplings Toy & Gift begins at 6 AM November 7, with the deepest discounts early. Regular Friday hours are 10 AM–5 PM; Sunday is 10 AM–2 PM. The store is closed Mondays.

Looking for a particular title? Contact the shop directly to arrange an order for store pickup. A little lead time makes it easier to plan a gift.

BookStacks updates · 207-469-8992

SANDY’S MAINE MINUTE

A book for someone who could use a good story. A handmade gift. A ticket to a show with a friend. Those are the sorts of small plans I like seeing in a November weekend.

If you have a few minutes between outings, give Patricia’s podcast episode a listen. Her stories about growing up in the family business bring a familiar Maine business a little closer.

Thanks to our local sponsors for helping us bring these choices to you, and to everyone who sends an event or a suggestion from their town. Scout and I will see you Tuesday.

— Sandy

SEE YOU TUESDAY

Your full Penobscot Valley Voice weekly edition returns Tuesday, November 10. Enjoy the weekend, and keep sending us the local events and places you’d like neighbors to know about.