Fair rides, tall ships and drone lights

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Plus Hank Williams Jr., comedy, theater and four quick picks for the weekend.

Sandy Smith

Jul 31, 2026

July 31, 2026|Issue #44|Penobscot Valley, ME

This weekend gives us plenty of reasons to get out of the house. The Bangor State Fair is underway at Bass Park, Hank Williams Jr. takes the waterfront stage Saturday night, and Sunday closes with a drone light show over Bangor and Brewer at 8:45. Pick one, take someone with you, and enjoy a Maine weekend with plenty happening close to home.

WEEKEND WEATHER

Friday: Mostly sunny with a high near 79. North wind 7 to 9 mph.

Saturday: Patchy morning fog, then mostly sunny with a high near 83.

Sunday: Partly sunny with a high near 82. It’ll turn breezy, with south winds gusting as high as 29 mph and a slight chance of a late-afternoon shower.

This is a good weekend to make plans outdoors. Just keep an eye on the sky Sunday afternoon—and remember the Maine rule: look out the window.

Source: National Weather Service, Caribou.

Bangor State Fair

The fair fills Bass Park all weekend with rides, fair food, agricultural exhibits and grandstand events. Hours are Friday, 4–10 p.m.; Saturday, noon–10 p.m.; and Sunday, noon–8 p.m. Admission is $18.95 online, $5 for ages 65 and older, and free for children 5 and younger; ride wristbands cost extra. Friday’s schedule includes the Championship Demolition Derby at 7 p.m., with truck pulls Saturday at 2 and 6 p.m.

Hank Williams Jr. on the Waterfront

Hank Williams Jr. brings his country catalog to the Maine Savings Amphitheater Saturday at 6:30 p.m., with Joe Nichols opening the show. Tickets start at $57.25, and the concert goes on rain or shine.

Tall Ships and Drone Lights Along the Penobscot

The 4-Port Loop celebration reaches Bucksport Saturday and Bangor and Brewer Sunday. The schooner Harvey Gamage is open for free public tours in Bucksport from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, while Bangor hosts free gig-boat rowing lessons and river races Sunday. Each waterfront closes its day with 300 drones over the river at 8:45 p.m.—Bucksport Saturday, then Bangor and Brewer Sunday. The drone shows are weather-dependent.

Catch a Friday-night laugh at Hollywood Casino. High Stakes House of Comedy brings Kelly MacFarland and Jack Burke to the Epic Room tonight from 8–10 p.m. Tickets are $28.
See the Summer Theatre Showcase in Dover-Foxcroft. Young performers take the Center Theatre stage Saturday at 2 and 6 p.m., with a suggested $5 donation.
Walk or paddle at Hirundo Wildlife Refuge. The trails are open from dawn to dusk, and Saturday canoe and kayak rentals are free with an advance reservation.
Build Sunday lunch at the Bangor Farmers’ Market. The market runs from 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. in Abbot Square, with produce, meats, bread, cheese, flowers and plenty you can eat before you get home.

Eighteen Years of Showing Up

Suzan Prendergast has spent nearly two decades seeing the Bangor Humane Society through full kennels, hard decisions, successful adoptions and the small victories that keep shelter workers coming back. In Episode 10 of Maine Thrive Voices, she explains what a normal day inside an animal shelter really looks like—and why she would be delighted if the need for shelters someday disappeared. It’s an honest conversation with someone who has made caring for animals and their people her life’s work.

Listen to Episode 10: “I’d Love to Go Out of Business on Spotify

EXPERT TIP

Before you leave for a crowded event, save your tickets to your phone and take a screenshot as a backup. Cell service can slow down when thousands of people arrive in the same place.

WELLNESS TIP

Big crowds and packed schedules can wear you down faster than you expect. Build in a quiet hour somewhere this weekend and give yourself permission not to do everything.

WEEKEND SPONSOR

North Star Property Solutions

Tony LaPrino helps homeowners, landlords and real estate professionals get properties ready for what comes next—from exterior cleanup and repairs to rental turnovers, listing preparation and seasonal maintenance.

North Star Property Solutions — Property Preparation Specialist serving the Penobscot and Kennebec Valleys.

207 745-5304

That’s plenty to choose from for one weekend. Catch the fair, see a show, visit the waterfront, or keep it simple with a walk and a farmers’ market stop. However you spend it, I hope you find a little time with people you enjoy. Scout & I’ll be back Tuesday morning with Edition #45 of the Penobscot Valley Voice.