On Wednesday, May 6, at 6 p.m., at Rockport Public Library, University of Maine Associate Professor Dr. Phillip Buckley will give a presentation examining freedom of speech from two overlapping perspectives: American constitutional law and American culture.

Rockland-based artist Bruce Weis, 84, will present a new collection of pencil drawings titled "Eight by 12," on view from May 1 through May 31, 2026, at Steelhouse (639 Main Street, Rockland). The exhibition opens on Friday, May 1 as part of Rockland’s monthly First Friday Art Walk.

Wellness coach Hester Brooks will return to the Rockport Public Library on Friday, May 1, at 3:30 p.m., to lead an event called “Full Moon Rest Circle.” This free, 1-hr. program is part of the library’s “Let’s Feel Better in 2026” series.

Brooks will guide participants through a meditation designed to help them unwind their nervous systems, release tension, and reconnect with peace and tranquility. Since the event coincides with a full moon, Brooks will also focus a portion of the meditation on manifesting abundance and fulfillment.

The Inthrive Film Festival, the nation's only touring festival dedicated to showcasing the genius of incarceration survivors, is screening at the Maine State Prison, Damariscotta, and Waldoboro, May 1 and 2.

This isn't just a film screening, the organizers said, in an April 20 news release.

Young families: Attend a free singing, dancing, jamming time when Music Together from the Midcoast Music Academy visits the Belfast Free Library, Mondays, May 4 and June 1, from 10 - 10:45 a.m., at 106 High Street, Belfast.

Adults of all ages are invited to join librarian Patty King on Wednesday, May 6, at 2 p.m., in the Community Room at the Rockland Public Library, for “Crafting Community”, an afternoon of casual crafting and conversation.

"This month we’ll explore making paper flowers and there are always adult coloring pages available, but participants are welcome and encouraged to bring their own projects," said the Library, in a news release.

On Saturday, May 2, at 7 p.m., Maine songwriters Sara Trunzo, Skip Bailey, and Seth Gallant will perform in the round for an evening of heartfelt folk, country, and roots music, at Underground Lounge in Belfast. 

Located at 17 Court Street, the Underground Lounge is a volunteer-run, DIY music series committed to sustaining live music through Maine’s long off-season.

Beginning May 4, Spanish Storytime will be held every Monday, at 10:30 a.m., in the Rockland Public Library Children's Room.

Spanish Songs & Stories with Jared McCannell, director of Penobscot Bay Language School, is "perfect for infants to elementary," said Library news release.

This storytime focuses on basic exposure to foreign language and culture through traditional folk and children’s songs from Spain and Latin America. Vocabulary and themes are reinforced through read aloud activities with children’s books, poems, and other authentic sources.

Join Belfast Free Library in celebrating the work of young Waldo County poets as they present their works on the theme of “Where the Land Meets the Sea: Poems about Home, Saltwater and Soil.”

The reception will be held Monday, May 4, from 4 - 5 p.m., at the Belfast Free Library, 106 High Street, Belfast. 

Prizes will be awarded in age categories and all entrants are invited to share their poems.  

On Thursday, April 30, from 5 to 6 p.m., the Jackson Memorial Library in Tenants Harbor will host "Author Conversation: Laura Bonazzoli and Maureen Anne Jennings: What Did She Know and How Did She Know It? Revealing Secrets in Fiction."

"A conversation about secret-keeping in fiction, this talk is perfect for mystery writers and readers alike," said a Library news release.

Quarry Hill welcomes Matthew Mank, chairman of the board of directors of Honor Flight Maine, to the Anderson Inn on Wednesday, May 6, at 1 p.m. ​

Get an inside look at the mission behind Honor Flight Maine, part of a national network dedicated to honoring veterans by providing a free, unforgettable trip to Washington, D.C., to visit memorials built in their honor—"a powerful tribute to their service and sacrifice," said a Quarry Hill news release.

DAMARISCOTTA — Coastal Rivers Conservation Trust will host the 9th annual Wild & Scenic Film Festival on Thursday, April 30, from 7 to 9 p.m., at Lincoln Theater, in Damariscotta.

BELFAST — "On Friday, May 1, celebrate May Day on the dance floor as you do-si-do at the First Friday Community Dance & Contras," said Belfast Flying Shoes, in a news release.

The intergenerational program begins at 6 p.m., when the All Comers Band warms up and chooses their tune sets. The band is open to all ages, instruments, and skill levels; a collection of frequently played tunes is posted at belfastflyingshoes.org. Chrissy Fowler calls the easy-to-learn Community Dance starting at 6:30 p.m.

The next United Midcoast Charities LEARN@UMC workshop will be “AI 2.0: Moving from Prompts to Personalized Workflows,” led by Patrick Gotham of CCS Fundraising. This 90‑minute session will be held virtually via Zoom on May 8, from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Please note that, unlike most LEARN@UMC workshops, which are typically held on Wednesdays, this session will take place on a Friday.

Watts Hall Community Arts has been selected by the Maine Humanities Council to host a Maine Speaks program, bringing historian Libby Bischof to Thomaston for a free public talk titled "A Visual History of Maine Through Postcards" on Monday, May 4 at 6:00 pm at Watts Hall, 174 Main

The Camden Art Walk occurs every third Thursday from May through October. From 5 - 7 p.m., Bay View Street in downtown Camden is closed to traffic and features live music, a food truck, and crafts. Galleries and shops are open throughout the town.

May 21, June 18, July 16, August 20, September 17, and October 15.

“Current Student Work” opens at the Messler Gallery of the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship on Monday, April 20. The opening reception will be held Friday, April 24, from 5 - 7 p.m., and the public is encouraged to attend, enjoy refreshments, and meet the makers. The exhibition, which runs through May 27, features furniture and furnishings by students in the school’s flagship Nine-month Comprehensive course. 

ROCKLAND — Boston Dance Theater (BDT) will perform their work “The Carol Kaye Project” on Saturday, May 23, at 7:30 p.m., at the Strand Theatre. “The Carol Kaye Project” is a collection of fun, short dance works that celebrate seminal bass guitarist Carol Kaye.   

Coastal Recovery Community Center teamed up with the Maine CDC to get the word out about reducing stigma associated with substance use and the local recovery community. CRCC is hosting a "See the Person Not the Use" art making journey in May, with open art making days each Friday, from 1 - 4 p.m.

These events will give people a chance to create a project and work on it throughout the month if needed, according to CRCC, in a news release.

Quarry Hill will host author Brenda Smith for a free presentation on “The Journey of Becoming Amazed” on Thursday, April 23, at 3 p.m., at the Anderson Inn.

Through tales of travel, reflection, and transformation from her adventure memoir Becoming Amazed, Smith illuminates how embracing wonder can reshape life.