If you missed the first weekend, there is another chance to make it to the Holiday Marketplace. Open Friday from 3 PM to 7 PM and Saturday from 10 AM to 4 PM.
We’re grateful to have Renewal by Andersen sponsoring this year’s Holiday Marketplace as they continue to grow their presence and connections in downtown Ellsworth.
Stick & Stitch Embroidery Workshop
Learn simple embroidery techniques to refresh a garment, personalize an accessory, or craft a handmade gift. Choose from holiday-themed or everyday patterns, and enjoy a relaxed, creative session. No experience needed! Bring something to stitch and leave with a piece that’s entirely your own.
All supplies to stitch are provided. Bring your own item to embellish!
Saturday, December 6th • 10AM - 1PM | 16 State Street, 2nd Floor Studio
Cost: $20 • Ages 12+
Five Stars for Ellsworth:
A Small Business Saturday Campaign
In honor of Small Business Saturday on November 29th, we celebrated all month long by profiling downtown businesses and their offerings. The campaign encouraged the community to leave Google reviews for downtown businesses, helping to boost their online presence and visibility.
To submit a entry, take a screenshot of your posted Google review and send it via direct message to the Heart of Ellsworth Instagram or Facebook page.
Review submissions will be collected until Wednesday, December 3rd.
The giveaway winner will be announced Saturday, December 6th.
*RESCHEDULED*
Gelatin Printing: Holiday Cards, Tags, Ornaments,
& More
Get hands-on with a fun, beginner-friendly monoprinting technique and create your own holiday cards, tags, and ornaments. Using gelatin plates, acrylic inks, and simple mark-making tools, you’ll explore texture, layering, and stenciling. Head home with a small set of handmade prints!
All materials are provided. Feel free to bring your own textured items to personalize your work.
Thursday, December 11th • 5:30PM - 8:30PM | 16 State Street, 2nd Floor
Cost: $45 • Ages 12+
Kids are invited to dive into a festive, hands-on craft session led by three local National Honor Society students. From simple holiday projects to imaginative make-and-take creations, this youth-led workshop brings big creativity and community spirit to the table.
All materials are provided by the student organizers and their families.
Sunday, December 14th • 10AM - 1PM | 16 State Street, 2nd Floor
FREE • Registration suggested to save a spot
Heart of Ellsworth has its own CLYNK account, and we’re stocked with free bags and stickers! Pick one up at the Holiday Marketplace or any event we table at and turn your returnables into real support for local projects.
Already a CLYNK user? You can log into your account and redirect your balance to Heart of Ellsworth anytime. New to CLYNK? Sign up online to start collecting and donating, or use their quick tutorials to get set up.
Have questions about your account or want more info? Call CLYNK’s customer support team at 1.866.883.4113.
Your recycled containers help fuel community work right here in Ellsworth. Grab a bag and join in!
Main Street America 250 Story Collection
From the days of the bustling Union River mills to the Great Fire of 1933 that reshaped downtown, Ellsworth’s history is built from the stories of the people who’ve called it home. Each memory, every storefront, milestone, and family moment adds to the heartbeat of our community.
If you have a story connected to Ellsworth, whether it is a long-held family tale or a small detail only a few remember, we would love to hear it. Include the date, time, and general location if you can.
Enter to Win a $50 Visa Giftcard by Sharing Your Franklin Street Parklet Ideas
We’re gathering feedback to help guide the potential creation of a permanent green space in downtown Ellsworth, and we want to hear from you!
By completing the survey, you’ll share your thoughts about the space and what you’d like to see in a future permanent park.
When you finish the survey, you’ll be automatically entered to win a $50 Visa Gift Card. The winner will be announced on December 15, and an email is required only so we can contact the giveaway winner. Your input helps shape a space that reflects the community!
Ellsworth’s Holiday Celebration is this weekend, bringing the parade, tree lighting, and an evening full of community traditions to City Hall Plaza.
The City of Ellsworth is also welcoming local organizations, artists, and crafters to take part in the celebration. If you’d like to host a table or activity station in the City Hall parking lot, setup begins at 3 pm and the evening wraps by 8 pm.
The Ellsworth Public Library is stepping into a new era as renovations continue on the historic building. Alongside that work, the library has been thoughtfully refining its identity to better reflect its mission, values, and the community it serves. This rebrand isn’t just a refreshed look. It’s a way to honor the library’s history while creating a clearer, more connected presence for the future.
Design concepts from Portland Design Company are now on display at the library and available to view online. Community feedback is an essential part of this process, and you’re invited to share your thoughts before the survey closes on November 29.
The updated visual identity will support clearer communication, greater accessibility, and a cohesive foundation for the library’s continued growth. As the renovation shapes the library’s physical space, this rebrand shapes how the library presents itself to the world.
Highlight Waldo CAP has opened a satellite office at the Union River Center for Innovation and is offering public transportation services. The service is available to EVERYONE at very reasonable rates in and around Ellsworth and throughout Hancock and Washington Counties.
Artist’s Reception: Wednesday, December 3 from 5pm–7pm.
An exhibition that reveals the early creative foundations of well-known contemporary artists. These rarely seen works show the experiments, risks, and discoveries that shaped each artist’s path, from Tom Curry’s first painting of Chatto Island to Lise Bécu’s expressive wood sculpture “Woman With Lamb.” Together, the pieces invite visitors to revisit the power of early ideas and overlooked beginnings.
The event is part of Healthy Acadia’s Monthly Mindfulness series. David Sholemson, founder of 3Body Healing Arts, returns to the series to lead a beautiful end-of-year meditation, guiding participants through a gentle, reflective meditation to look back on the goals we set for 2025 and create space to set meaningful intentions for the year ahead. To participate fully, please bring a pen, paper, and an envelope, and, if possible, a candle to support a calming, mindful atmosphere. Pre-registration is required to receive the Zoom link for this free event.
Based on the iconic animated film and beloved children’s book, Dr. Seuss's How The Grinch Stole Christmas! features a book and lyrics by Timothy Mason and music by Mel Marvin. This duo expands on the timeless story, adding new songs that are bound to have everyone tapping their feet. With a heart "two sizes too small," the Grinch despises the annual Christmas festivities of Who-ville from a solitary distance. Fed up, he carries out a plan to stop them once and for all, only to learn a lesson about opening his heart to the real meaning of Christmas. Sponsored by Maine Savings Federal Credit Union
This free event is perfect for all ages and offers a delightful way for families to come together and share in the holiday spirit on the afternoon of the Christmas Parade. During the workshop, attendees can create their own Christmas ornaments, cookies and cider will be served, making this a fun and tasty treat for all participants.
A Christmas Craft Fair will be held at the First Congregational Church of Ellsworth. There will be: Crafts, Books, Puzzles, Jewelry, Attic Treasures, and Baked Goods.
Star 97.7's Paul Dupuis and Mike Dow will be the emcees for this year's Ellsworth Christmas Parade AND they'll broadcast live on Star 97.7 on December 6th from 3 to 5pm.
In December, Ellsworth Public Library is proud to host two special community-powered events!
On December 6, at 11 AM, award-winning filmmaker Katherine Blakenay will run a stop-motion workshop. She invites you to channel your creative power into this unique medium (pls. register, best for adults and kids aged 10+).
On December 11, at 6 PM, freelance journalist Levi Bridges will give a presentation about the effects of the Ukraine war on the surrounding countries in Europe and Central Asia since Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.
Santa will be visiting the sweet spot on Saturday, December 13 from 10 to 12. They will be giving away sweet treats and hot cocoa. Feel free to take photos.
Reserved Seating Directed by Vanessa Hawkins, Music Direction by Sky Kust With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone's hearts despite a next-to-nothing start in 1930s New York City. She is determined to find the parents who abandoned her years ago on the doorstep of a New York City Orphanage that is run by the cruel, embittered Miss Hannigan. With the help of the other girls in the Orphanage, Annie escapes to the wondrous world of NYC. In adventure after fun-filled adventure, Annie foils Miss Hannigan's evil machinations... and even befriends President Franklin Delano Roosevelt! She finds a new home and family in billionaire, Oliver Warbucks, his personal secretary, Grace Farrell, and a lovable mutt named Sandy. Sponsored by First National Bank
165 Main Street
$28 Adults, $25 Early Birds & Grand Members,
$15 Student
FMI:Website
News From City Hall
Be in the know about road closures, parking information and more by following updates from City Hall on their website. Attend and/or watch City Council Meetings by following their YouTube channel as well!
Many of you have told us how much downtown Ellsworth means to you, how a vibrant downtown has enriched your life and increased your sense of pride and connection to this place.
