Sandy Smith
| October 30, 2026|Issue #57|Penobscot Valley |
Illustrative photograph by Dennis McKinnon on Unsplash; not a photo of Bangor’s event. HALLOWEEN WEEKEND AROUND THE VALLEY Bangor’s Touch a Truck & Treat leads this weekend’s family fun. Head to Parking Lot E at the Cross Insurance Center, 515 Main Street, on Friday from 5:30–7:30 PM for decorated trucks, costumes and treats. Admission is free. See the organizer’s details. Saturday brings Orono’s Trunk or Treat, Glenburn’s Halloween Trail, and free books for trick-or-treaters in Dover-Foxcroft. For grown-up evenings, there’s an ABBA tribute concert in Orono and Rocky Horror in Dover-Foxcroft. We’ve also gathered quieter choices, weekend markets and Monday activities below. And remember to turn the clocks back early Sunday morning. | ||||||||
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Trivia Question❓In which year was Orono incorporated? A. 1776 B. 1806 C. 1834 D. 1901 Answer at the end of the issue. Answer at the bottom of the newsletter |
WEEKEND WEATHER | OCTOBER 30–NOVEMBER 2 Bangor-area forecast checked Thursday, October 29, using the National Weather Service. Conditions may vary in other Valley towns. Friday, October 30: Mostly sunny, high near 63°F; overnight low in the mid-30s. A west wind could gust to about 30 mph during the afternoon. Saturday, October 31: Sunny, high near 49–50°F; overnight low in the mid-20s. Breezy, with northwest gusts up to about 25 mph. Sunday, November 1: Sunny, high around 55°F; overnight low in the low-to-mid 30s. Monday, November 2: Sunny to partly sunny, high near 59–60°F; overnight low in the mid-30s. For Halloween: The temperature will fall quickly Saturday evening. Bring warm layers for children and adults, especially for outdoor trails and trick-or-treating. The listed low temperatures are overnight readings, not daytime temperatures. |
KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Clocks go back: At 2 AM Sunday, November 1, daylight saving time ends. Set your clocks back an hour. Orono: Mill Street is traffic-free during Saturday’s Trunk or Treat. Park behind the Town Office off Goodridge Drive or in the Pine Street lot. Outdoor walks: October 31 is resident deer-hunting day and November 2 opens the regular firearms season. Dress visibly, heed posted notices and check local trail conditions. |
HIDDEN GEM | WALDEN-PARKE PRESERVE, BANGOR Bangor Land Trust’s Walden-Parke Preserve offers an easy escape into the woods. The 2½-mile Blue Jay Loop begins at the Tamarack Trail cul-de-sac off Walden Parke Way and passes through forest and wetland habitat. Leashed dogs are permitted on the Blue Jay Loop only. Check current conditions or closures before choosing a walk, particularly with hunting season approaching. |
CAN’T MISS EVENTS Touch a Truck & Treat — Bangor | Friday, 5:30–7:30 PM MANIA: The ABBA Tribute — Orono | Friday, 8 PM Rocky Horror Picture Show — Dover-Foxcroft | Friday and Saturday, 10 PM Penobscot Theatre Costume Gala & Concert — Bangor | Saturday, 6–10 PM |
TRUNK OR TREAT & HALLOWEEN FAMILY FUN Glenburn Halloween Trail — Friday and Saturday, 4–9 PM Orono Trunk or Treat — Saturday, 4–6 PM Trick or Treat for Books — Dover-Foxcroft | Saturday, 4:30–6:30 PM Halloween After Dark — Orono | Saturday, 6–9:45 PM |
QUICK PICKS Halloween Craft Fair & Trick or Treat — Bangor | Saturday, 9 AM–2 PM: Browse local craft vendors and enjoy Halloween treats at a free-admission gathering listed by Downtown Bangor. Check the organizer’s event listing for the exact venue before you go. Event listing Saturday Story Stop — Bangor | Saturday, 11–11:30 AM: Stories, songs and games for ages 3–6 at Bangor Public Library. Details Monster Mash — Orono | Saturday, 2–3 PM: Halloween music and planetarium visuals, Versant Power Astronomy Center, 167 Rangeley Road. $11; intended for adult audiences, may include explicit lyrics and flashing lights. Details UMaine women’s hockey vs. Providence — Orono | Saturday, 2 PM: Harold Alfond Sports Arena. Confirm ticket details. Details Million Dollar Documentary escape room — Dover-Foxcroft | Sunday: Center Theatre lists one-hour reservation slots from 10 AM to 6 PM. $60 per group of one to six; visitors under 15 require adult accompaniment. Slots subject to availability. Reservations Next Level Conditioning — Guilford | Monday, 5:30–6:15 PM: Friends of Community Fitness, 31 High Street, Suite A. Free for members, $10 drop-in. Details |
FARMERS’ MARKETS It’s the final October weekend for several outdoor markets. Check organizers’ updates for any last-minute changes. Friday, October 30: Hampden, 2–5:30 PM, 70 Western Avenue; Holden, noon–4 PM, 723 Main Road. Saturday, October 31: Brewer, 8:30 AM–1 PM, 318 Wilson Street; Dover Cove, 9 AM–1 PM, 1049 West Main Street, Dover-Foxcroft; Bangor European Market, 8:30 AM–12:30 PM, 117 Buck Street. Sunday, November 1: Bangor Farmers’ Market, 11 AM–1:30 PM, Abbot Square, 140 Harlow Street, across from Bangor Public Library. Brewer, Dover Cove, and Holden follow published October seasonal schedules; the European Market is year-round. Bangor’s Sunday market continues through November. Maine Federation of Farmers’ Markets: regional schedules · October 31 Bangor European Market listing · Bangor Farmers’ Market |
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LOCAL STORIES | MAINE THRIVE VOICES Jennifer Goddard of Thriving Proof — Episode 16 In our latest podcast episode, meet Jennifer Goddard of Bangor’s Thriving Proof and hear another of the stories behind the neighbors and businesses that make our region what it is. |
LOOKING AHEAD November brings holiday craft fairs, community breakfasts and cookie swaps. We’ll share confirmed events in our Tuesday edition as organizers announce them. If you’re organizing a local event, let us know the date, place and details so neighbors can plan ahead. Next Tuesday, November 3: Look for your full Penobscot Valley Voice weekly edition. |
Illustrative donut photograph by Rod Long on Unsplash; not a photograph of The Donut Grove’s products. The Donut Grove — A Sweet Weekend Stop in Orono
Here’s a little Orono business worth knowing about. At 153 Park Street, Suite B, The Donut Grove makes its donuts from scratch, without animal products. The bakery started as a small local project, built a following at farmers’ markets and eventually found a permanent home in Orono.
There are both cake-style and raised donuts, with flavors inspired by familiar Maine ingredients, including potatoes. You don’t have to follow a vegan diet to appreciate a locally made treat. Just remember that vegan doesn’t mean allergen-free; the bakery uses ingredients such as wheat, soy and nuts.
Weekend hours: Friday, 8 AM–noon; Saturday and Sunday, 8 AM–1 PM. If you’re heading through Orono for a Halloween outing or a quiet Sunday morning, it could be a nice stop. Go early for the best selection and check for any schedule changes.
The Donut Grove website | ||||
With Halloween, good music and a few quieter choices, there is something for nearly everyone this weekend. I hope you find an outing close to home that you enjoy. Remember to turn the clocks back Sunday morning, and take care around trails and roads as hunting season gets underway. A note about our illustrations: when we don't have an actual event or location photo, we sometimes use AI-generated images. Our event details are linked to organizers whenever possible. Thanks for reading, and thanks to the local sponsors who make this possible. Scout and I will see you Tuesday. — Sandy |
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Nancy Marshall, The PR Maven® — Public Relations, Strategic Communications & Visibility. Maine Based, Globally Connected. |
Marshall Communications |
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SEE YOU TUESDAY Our full weekly edition returns Tuesday morning, November 3. Enjoy the weekend—and keep reading for the Trivia answer below. Know a neighbor who would enjoy the Voice? Forward this weekend edition to them. They can subscribe free to Penobscot Valley Voice and get local stories and weekend plans in their inbox. |
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💡 Answer to Trivia Question: B. 1806. Orono was incorporated on March 12, 1806. Town of Orono’s annual report (page 2). |