Programs + Events
Upcoming Events
There’s always something happening at Maine MILL. From exhibition openings and family activities to workshops, lectures, performances, and community gatherings, our events invite visitors of all ages to explore Maine’s stories of innovation, labor, and creativity. Check back often to see what’s coming up and join us at the museum.
Tours of the permanent collection are offered daily at 11am.
Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival
10am-4pm Saturday, September 26
Join Maine MILL as we celebrate the Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival with a day of hands-on activities inspired by this year’s featured books! All activities are included with admission; admission is free for children and students.
10:30 a.m. – Storytime & Activity
Special guest reader Melissa Hue will read Saturday by Oge Mora and 123 I like you and me byAnna Forgerson Hindley. We will then create colorful collage portraits in the same style as Oge Mora.
12:00 p.m – Live Music by Baba Ly
Baba Ly is a Fulani musician and storyteller from Mauritania, West Africa, who brings thesounds and stories of his culture to life for audiences of all ages. Through singing, storytelling, and music, Baba invites children and families to experience the joy, rhythm, and rich traditions of West Africa while discovering how music connects people across generations and cultures.
1:00 p.m. – Family Art Workshop – Kolo Box
Inspired by The Case of the Missing Kolo, children will create their own kolo box. As they design their boxes, participants will learn about the idea of a kolo as a place for saving money and
connect the activity to themes of creativity, family, community, and resourcefulness found in the story.
Available All Day
- Pick up free copies of this year’s Beautiful Blackbird Children’s Book Festival book selections while supplies last.
- Design your own Beautiful Blackbird button at our button-making station.
- Explore special Design Lab activities inspired by the festival’s books and themes.
Whether you join us for a single activity or spend the day exploring, Maine MILL invites families to celebrate stories, creativity, and community through books. This community event is a collaboration between Indigo Arts Alliance, Maine MILL and The Third Place.
Artist Dialogue with Featured Artists from A Common Bond
October 4, 12:30-2pm; hybrid event at Maine MILL and via Zoom
Shane Charles, E. Saffronia Downing, Sam Finkelstein, Alexis Iammarino, Luis Vasquez La Roche, Reniel del Rosario, and Jennifer Schmidt
The exhibit focuses on the thematic exploration of bricks as blocks in their most recognizable form and clay as a natural resource. But they are also used as a point of departure for works of abstraction, critique, and the basis for narrative storytelling. Join us for this hybrid event to hear directly from contributing artists in a live dialogue that invites you to learn about the meaning and possibilities thatbrick holds for each of these artists. RSVP Here.
Made possible by The Onion Foundation.
Educator Night at the Museum
October 13, 6-7pm
Declaration of Independence at Maine MILL
October 15-17
Be part of history October 15-17 at Maine MILL as we welcome a rare original Dunlap Broadside printing of the Declaration of Independence as part of the Maine Historical Society’s statewide commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary. This extraordinary exhibition offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to view one of our nation’s most significant founding documents while exploring its enduring impact on our communities and our country. Throughout this special three-day event, visitors of all ages are invited to engage with history through a variety of educational and interactive experiences that inspire reflection, conversation, and discovery. Whether you’re a lifelong history enthusiast or visiting with family and friends, this is an event you won’t want to miss.
Thursday, October 15 – 5:00-6:30pm – Reading the Republic: A Special Book Club Event
Join Maine MILL and Lewiston Public Library for this special book club experience. Enjoy a private viewing of a rare Dunlap Broadside copy of the Declaration of Independence, followed by an engaging discussion of The Hamilton Affair by Elizabeth Cobbs. Copies of the book available to borrow through the Lewiston Public Library.
Space is very limited. Advance registration required.
Register by emailing info@mainemill.org or call 207-333-3881
Friday, October 16 – 11:00-11:30 – Student Presentation of the National Anthem and Declaration of Independence
Experience the Declaration of Independence through the voices of Lewiston students. Join us for a special student presentation featuring a performance of the National Anthem by the Lewiston High School Chamber Singers, followed by a read-aloud of the Declaration of Independence by sixth-grade students from Montello Elementary School.
Free and open to the public.
Friday, October 16 – 5:00-6:30 – The Declaration of Independence: An Inspiring Riddle” Historian Panel Discussion
What makes the Declaration of Independence so powerful—and why does its meaning continue to inspire us more than 250 years later? Join us for an engaging evening of conversation as Elliot Epstein moderates a panel of historians and scholars from Bates College, Bowdoin College, and the University of Maine. Together, they’ll explore the Declaration’s language, history, enduring ideas, and the questions it continues to raise for us today. Come listen, question, and discover new perspectives on one of America’s most influential documents.
Space is limited. Register by clicking below.
Saturday, October 17 – 1:00-2:00 – A Revolutionary Storytime! Read aloud and Design Challenge
Join the Lewiston Public Library and Maine MILL for a special storytime featuring John, Paul, George and Ben, a playful tale inspired by the American Revolution. After the story, young historians can try their hand at writing like they did in 1776—with feather quills and ink! 30 copies of the book will be available for free to attendees. Come read, imagine, and make a little history of your own.
Free and open to the public.
