The Aroostook Common

12/04/2025

FESTIVAL OF TREES, HOLIDAY LIGHT PARADES, HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS, & MORE!!

We're calling it! It's the busiest holiday weekend in Aroostook County and aroostookcommon.com is your guide! Get out there and have a jolly ole time!!

12/01/2025

What Aroostook Christmas Event should people be sure attend this year?! Comment below 👇

11/28/2025

The reviews are coming in and critics are saying Zootopia 2, like its predecessor, is another hit! Find out where you can see it this weekend in Aroostook at aroostookcommon.com!

11/27/2025

Happy Thanksgiving Aroostook County! We were out and about today helping some wonderful organizations cook and deliver hundreds of meals to folks in Central Aroostook. A huge thanks to Central Aroostook Association, the City of Presque Isle, County Cares, and Freedom Church Maine for organizing and executing this awesome initiative each year! It feels great to help out in our communities! Cheers to you and yours!

11/20/2025

We want to know, will you be going to see WICKED: FOR GOOD this weekend?! Catch it early tonight at the Temple Theatre in Houlton or tomorrow at the Braden Theater, Fort Kent Cinema, and Big Bang Theaters tomorrow. For showtimes visit AroostookCommon.com - your one stop shop for movies and events in Northern Maine!

11/20/2025

The Aroostook Common here, and it’s the weekend before Thanksgiving 2025! Are you ready?! Let’s see what’s happening in The County!

As always, this is just a sampling of events. For the full list or to post your own event for free, head to AroostookCommon.com and click “Post My Event.”

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Friday brings two great ways to kick off the holiday giving season:
• The St. John Valley Chamber of Commerce is hosting their 4th Annual Festival of Baskets in Madawaska — a chance to win beautifully assembled baskets filled with locally donated goodies.
• Meanwhile, in Houlton, the Health Services Foundation opens their annual Festival of Trees, another beloved holiday tradition. Both events support wonderful causes and offer a chance to snag some gifts just in time for Christmas.

Friday afternoon and evening, Main Street Mania takes over Downtown Presque Isle from 4–10 PM, featuring holiday deals and festive stops at local favorites like Bike Board & Ski, Morning Star Art & Framing, Wilder’s, The Northeastland Hotel, and more.

And opening night is here for Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical, presented by Shipmates Playhouse at the Presque Isle High School Auditorium. The curtain rises at 7 PM, and tickets are just $8. You can find all showtimes listed on our website.

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Caribou kicks off the Christmas season on Saturday with a vendor event in Lyndon Square from 10 AM to 2 PM, featuring local makers and small businesses — a great way to shop local and support the community.

Over in Van Buren, Gandy Dander will be giving a special presentation on model trains at the CONNECT Center from 11 AM–1 PM — sharing stories and inspiration for both beginners and seasoned hobbyists.

At 4:30 PM, the Fort Fairfield VFW hosts a Spaghetti Supper Fundraiser to support a community member undergoing medical treatment.

And Saturday night, kids can get creative at the Pioneer Kids Creative Zone at the Presque Isle Forum — a hands-on activity where young artists can paint canvases and even hockey pucks to create Pioneer-inspired masterpieces during the Presque Isle hockey home games.

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On Sunday, don’t miss Northern Maine Figure Skaters’ “Smiles on Ice” — an in-house skating competition happening at the Presque Isle Forum. A fun way to cheer on local skaters and enjoy some Sunday community spirit.

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For more details on all of these events — plus many more — visit AroostookCommon.com. And remember, posting your event is always free. Just click “Post My Event.”

ListerPix Photography & Design - Some festive cocktails at the Northeastland Hotel last year during Main Street Mania

11/16/2025

As part of the Aroostook Partners in the Arts 6th Annual Art Auction Fundraiser this year, we've donated 6 months of advertising on our website - a $300 value - as an item up for bid!

If you have a small business and are looking for a way to spread the word about yourself to others in The County, this is a great opportunity to do so and help a great cause! Our website gets over 2500 site views a month and we'll give you a shout out on our FB page as well which gets monthly reaches of over 30k. Your ad will be hyperlinked to your website or social media page, whatever you like so people can reach your business info easily! It's only currently at $75 so it's a steal right now!

And while you're at it, check out the other items currently up for bid, they've gathered together some seriously beautiful artwork and all funds raised go directly to youth art programming in Aroostook! Auction closes tonight at 8 PM. Link to all auction items - https://www.facebook.com/media/set?set=a.1277040251123254&type=3

Lot #95
WINNING BID: $75

Donor: The Aroostook Common - Aroostook’s guide to events in Northern Maine - aroostookcommon.com

Description: 6 Months of advertising on our website with hyperlink ($300 value)

11/13/2025

The Aroostook Common here, bringing you this week’s roundup of events happening around Northern Maine!

Before we dive in — if you’ve got an event coming up, big or small, don’t forget to share it on aroostookcommon.com!
Just head to the site and click “Post My Event” at the top — it’s free, it’s easy, and it helps everyone in The County find out what’s happening right here in our community.

Now, let’s check out what’s going on this week! Remember this is just a sampling; to see the full listing of events go to aroostookcommon.com!

- On Friday and Saturday, you’ve got not one — but two chances to solve a mystery over dinner. The County Community Players are performing “Like a Totally Radical 80’s Murder Mystery Dinner” at the Northeastland Hotel starting at 6 PM both nights. Tickets are almost sold out, so grab them fast! It’s $60 per person, and that includes a full three-course dinner — plus all the suspense, laughs, and 80s flair you can handle.

- Then on Saturday night, W & E Events and Rentals presents Mystery 207’s 1920’s Murder Mystery Dinner at The Presque Isle Hotel. Step back in time to the roaring twenties for a night of glamour, intrigue, and great food. Tickets are $75 per person, also including a three-course dinner.

- Holiday spirit is starting to sparkle across The County! The St. John Valley Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Festival of Baskets, where you can enter to win beautiful baskets filled with holiday gifts and goodies. Tickets are just $1 each or 10 for $5, and the event runs Tuesdays through Fridays from 9 AM to 4:30 PM at the Chamber Office at 356 Main Street in Madawaska. Drawings will be held December 13th, so stop in soon!

- Down in Houlton, the Festival of Trees is back at the Health Services Foundation located at 346 Foxcroft Road. It opens at noon on November 14th and runs daily from 9 AM to 8 PM until November 23rd at 2 PM, when the tree drawings will be held. It’s a beautiful way to get into the holiday spirit while supporting local causes.

- For live music lovers — Janice Santos will be performing Friday night from 4 to 8 PM at the Limerock Golf Club. Stop by for great music, food, and company!

- On Saturday, the UU Church of Houlton will host a Holiday Craft Fair at 61 Military Street from 9:30 AM to 2 PM. It’s the perfect chance to find local handmade gifts and festive crafts.

- Then, Saturday night in Caribou, the Caribou VFW is hosting DJ Jake Ball during a dinner and dance to celebrate the grand opening of Pete’s Pub! There’s a $10 cover charge, and it’s sure to be a fun night of food, music, and dancing.

So whether you’re solving a mystery, shopping local, or getting into the holiday spirit — there’s plenty happening across Aroostook County this week!

And remember — you can make sure your events are included too by visiting aroostookcommon.com.

Just click “Post My Event” at the top of the page — it’s completely free, and it helps keep our community connected and thriving.

Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce Greater Houlton Chamber of Commerce St. John Valley Chamber of Commerce The County Community Players W & E Events and Rentals LLC. DJ JAKE BALL

11/11/2025

Thank you to all those who have served our country and their families. We’re forever grateful for the sacrifices you’ve made.

11/05/2025

Do you want to know what’s going on?!

Well The Aroostook Common is here to save the day, bringing you this week’s roundup of events happening across Northern Maine!

This is just a sampling though! For a full listing of everything going on, head over to aroostookcommon.com.
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*Starting things off in Fort Kent — the Fort Kent Community High School Theater Company continues their production of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas. Shows are Thursday night at 7 PM, Friday at 7 PM, and a Saturday matinee at 2 PM. Tickets are $12 per person and $8 for students — a fun show for all ages that’s full of heart, music, and a little Halloween-meets-Christmas magic!

*If you’re in the Presque Isle area, Carrie: The Musical returns this weekend at the University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Gauvin Center for Cultural Arts, presented by Broadway Kids in the County. Performances are Friday and Saturday night at 7 PM. Tickets are $12 for adults and $10 for students, and it’s rated PG-13 — a perfect night out for theater lovers and Stephen King fans alike.
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*Friday night also marks Presque Isle’s Monthly First Friday Art Night, where local artists invite the community to come out, explore, and celebrate art all across town!

-At the Aroostook Agency on Aging, the RSVP Knitting Group will be displaying their work from 4:30 to 7:30 PM.

-At The Common Gallery, don’t miss the 6th Annual Partners & Friends Art Auction Fundraiser from 5:30 to 7:30 PM — this is Aroostook Partners in the Arts’ biggest fundraiser of the year, helping raise money for local kids to access art experiences right here in The County. You can preview the artwork that’ll be auctioned off, enjoy light refreshments, and take in live music by Janice Santos and Doug Drew — it’s sure to be a fun night celebrating art and community!

-Meanwhile, at the Presque Isle Library, the art show “4 – Series III” will be open from 5 to 7 PM, featuring four UMPI Art Department alumni — Lynn Cote (’11), Carol Pelletier (’92), Jasmyn J.H. Shaw (’10), and Victoria Shorey (’92).

-And over at UMPI’s Reed Gallery, the exhibit “Roots and Wings” is closing with a special reception from 6 to 8 PM, showcasing more incredible work from UMPI Art Department alumni.

-You can also stop by the Northeastland Hotel, where Fort Fairfield artist Renee O’Neil is displaying her beautiful holiday-themed oil paintings in the lobby.
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*On Saturday, there’s a lot more happening! Head to the Oakfield Community Center for a craft fair from 9 AM to 3 PM, where local makers will have handmade goods, gifts, and seasonal items.

*The Children’s Museum of Aroostook County is celebrating its grand reopening at 52 Sweden Street in Caribou, from 10 AM to 4 PM — fun for the kids and a great way to support an important local space for families.

*Saturday evening, the band 40 Thieves will be playing live from 6 to 8 PM at the Lime Rock Golf Club — so stop by for some great local music.

*And if you’re looking for a fun night out, the Van Buren American Legion is hosting a Mom Prom from 6:30 to 11 PM, with the theme “What Happens in Vegas, Stays in Vegas!” Sounds like a great night of dancing, laughter, and glam for a good cause.
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The Aroostook Common has also just added a new COMMUNITY PAGE on our website to help connect people with local food pantries, community meals, and other resources across the region. We know that November can be a tough month for some, and we want to do our part to help. Visit aroostookcommon.com/community to learn more and please share it with friends and neighbors — community helping community, that’s what it’s all about.
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And of course, don’t forget — you can post your own events for free on our website! Just go to aroostookcommon.com and click “Post My Event.” It’s quick, easy, and helps everyone find what’s happening right here in The County.

*The Aroostook Partners in the Arts / 5th Annual Partners & Friends Art Auction Fundraiser / Nov 2024

11/04/2025

This coming Friday check out local artwork in Downtown Presque Isle! AroostookCommon.com is your official guide to the Art Night each First Friday of the month! 🎨✨P.I. First Friday Art Night