Heart of Ellsworth is thrilled to spark local energy for Maine Seaweed Week, April 24 to May 3, 2026. The statewide festival celebrates Maine’s seaweed harvest across food, wellness, retail, and art, and locally we’re partnering with Maine Coast Sea Vegetables and Frenchman Bay Conservancy to host two community events and a guided Jane’s Walk in downtown Ellsworth.
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Jane's Walk on Saturday, May 2nd:
Seven Walking Conversations Happening in Ellsworth
Jane’s Walk 2026 is shaping up to be a full one, with a lineup of walks that invite you to explore Ellsworth through history, design, art, walkability, and community. Whether you want to join one, stack two together, or make a day of it and follow along from morning to afternoon, now’s a great time to add your favorites to the calendar.
9AM: Layers of Time: Exploring almost 200 Years of Change at Woodlawn
Journey through nearly 200 years of Woodlawn history on a guided walk through evolving landscapes, surviving features, and stories written on the land.
10AM: Behind the Scenes
Go behind the scenes at The Grand with Facility Manager Peter Miller for a backstage tour, theater history, and an up close look beyond the stage.
11AM: The Future of Walkability
The walk will showcase the future trail network between Riverwalk North and the Middle School, and the talk will focus on what walkability is, why it’s important, and how this project will implement it.
12:30PM: Main Street Walk to Observe and Sketch
Sketch downtown Ellsworth with Urban Sketchers on a relaxed Main Street walk, then gather at Black Moon Public House to share drawings and reflections.
2PM: The Street the Fire Made: New Deal Choices on Ellsworth’s Main Street
Explore how fire, rebuilding, and New Deal investment shaped Ellsworth’s Main Street and the streetscape we see today.
3PM: A Seaweed-centered Stroll through Ellsworth
Join a guided downtown Ellsworth stroll for Maine Seaweed Week with maker talks, seaweed specials, and family friendly fun.
4PM: Imagining the Riverwalk Sculpture Trail Imagine art, habitat, and an accessible river trail shaping downtown together. Join a guided stroll to explore sculpture ideas and placemaking.
An Evening of Food For Fundraising with Provender Kitchen + Bar on Sunday, May 3
Join us for an exclusive evening at Provender Kitchen + Bar featuring a one night only menu from award winning Chef Daron Goldstein.
Guests will enjoy passed appetizers, a three course dinner, and a rare chance to experience Ellsworth’s oldest continuously operating restaurant building in a intimate community forward way. With limited seating and advanced tickets required, this special fundraiser is designed to sell out. At $125 per person, the evening offers an elevated, one of a kind dining experience at Provender, while directly supporting Heart of Ellsworth’s work in downtown.
Paint, Move & Flow is a beginner friendly 75 minute wellness experience that blends yoga, guided watercolor painting, and a calming sound bath into one restorative class. Led by Lexi Crites and Ashley Defuse, participants are invited to move, create, and unwind in a supportive environment, with no prior experience in yoga or art needed. After the session, guests are welcome to stay, relax, and connect with others in the community.
The Makerspace at 16 State, a program of Heart of Ellsworth, is a downtown Ellsworth hub for artists, makers, and creative entrepreneurs. We are excited to expand the offerings of the space as the program continues to advance.
From now until April 26th there are six Cabin Fever Creatures hiding along Frenchman Bay Conservancy's trails. FBC is challenging you to hike out and find them to be entered into a prize drawing to win a limited edition FBC Sea Bags Tote & Winter Beanie.
To complete the winter hiking challenge, you must find four Cabin Fever Creatures. If you find all six, you’ll be entered into the prize drawing twice!
Visit FBC's website’s event page to learn more and get started today.
Ready? Set? Hike!
The City of Ellsworth is inviting residents, volunteers, and community partners to take part in its annual Citywide Roadside Clean Up from April 18 through April 25, a weeklong effort to help freshen up local roads after winter. Volunteers can sign up for road segments and pick up free yellow trash bags at Ellsworth City Hall beginning April 13 during regular business hours, then place filled bags in safe, visible roadside locations for pickup by Public Works. Participants are encouraged to wear boots, gloves, and bright or reflective clothing, and to report bag locations to the City Clerk’s Office at 207-669-6603 so crews can collect them. Participants are also encouraged to separate redeemable bottles and cans, which may be donated to the SPCA of Hancock County at 141 Bar Harbor Road in Trenton.
Free E-Waste Recycling Week at MacRevival
Returning April 6 through 11, MacRevival is offering the community a free and responsible way to recycle old electronics while protecting personal data. Drop offs will be accepted daily from 11 AM to 3 PM, with laptops, desktop computers, monitors, accessories and cables, tablets, smartphones, and gaming consoles all welcome. CRT monitors will still require a $10 recycling fee, and items such as printers, household appliances, televisions, hazardous waste, and smoke detectors will not be accepted. MacRevival also noted that early drop off arrangements may be available for those with scheduling conflicts, making it even easier to participate in this Earth Day inspired effort to reduce e waste locally.
Applications Open Until April 20 for
Historic Window Restoration Workshop
Applications are now open for Windows Into Our Past: Community Learning Through Historic Preservation, a free hands on workshop focused on the art and value of restoring historic wooden windows. Led by Maine master craftsman Les Fossel, the training will teach participants practical, traditional repair techniques for issues like rotten sash joints, weathered sills, bowed meeting rails, and frame decay, while also building a deeper understanding of how original windows contribute to the character, durability, and sustainability of historic buildings. Organized by the Ellsworth Historical Society in connection with the rehabilitation of the Old Hancock County Sheriff’s Home and Jail, the workshop is open to tradespeople, homeowners, and preservation advocates, with space limited to 15 participants. Applications are open through April 20, and selected participants will be notified by April 27, so those interested are encouraged to register soon.
Celebrate the official reopening with a refreshed space, an updated menu, live music, events, and more. With non-stop events beginning April 1, there will be plenty to check out!
Enjoy folk, rock, punk, jazz and country four nights per week, and also featuring an open community jam every Sunday in April at 3pm. Absolute beginners and players of all ages are encouraged to join in this festival "Junget."
Healthy Acadia invites community members to join the next session of its Monthly Mindfulness Series, “NeuroMuscular Balancing & Somatic Exploration,” on Thursday, April 2, 2026, from 5 to 6 p.m. via Zoom. In this experiential session, Josh Warren and Kalindi Dinoffer will blend somatic awareness and four key gentle stretches to help balance your pelvis and find ease in the body. Participants will explore how muscles, bones, and the nervous system interact, learning to release tension, restore balance, and move with greater comfort.
Explore three exciting printmaking techniques in one dynamic, hands on workshop. Participants will move through three artist led stations focused on relief printmaking, Gelli printing, and trace monotypes, with the opportunity to try each process for themselves. This workshop is a great way to learn new skills, experiment with materials, and enjoy a fun, creative experience with guidance from talented local artists.
To reserve your seat, please email artsworthstudios@gmail.com
The final Winter Market of the season at Woodlawn takes place Saturday, April 11 from 10 AM to 1 PM, offering one last chance to shop a lively mix of local goods, handmade crafts, baked treats, and seasonal favorites. Visitors can enjoy everything from breads, microgreens, jams, jewelry, pottery, and resin art to locally raised pork products, plus complimentary coffee, tea, and hot cocoa while they browse. Guests are also invited to explore Woodlawn’s scenic hiking trails during the event, making it a lovely way to support local vendors and welcome spring.
Karen Baron Watercolors will be featured at the Ellsworth Public Library this April, with an artist reception taking place on Wednesday, April 15 from 4 to 5:30 PM. Community members are invited to stop by, enjoy the exhibit, and celebrate the show during this free public reception. The art show will be on display from April 6 through May 1.
Les Miserables written by Victor Hugo explores themes of redemption, sacrifice, and justice during the revolutionary time in 19th-century France. This particular script adapted by Tim Kelly communicates the depth and dramatic themes of the novel while keeping it appropriate for all ages. While the dramatic play does not include songs, the students will provide a musical pre-show highlighting some of Les Miserables favorite songs from Les Miserables Medley - arranged by Ed Lojeski.
165 Main Street $12 Adults, $8 Students
General Admission Tickets
Free Community Screening of The Librarians
Saturday, Apr. 25th
2PM - 4PM
Ellsworth Public Library and Maine Public present an Indie Lens Pop-Up Screening #2: The Librarians, directed by Kim A. Snyder. This timely documentary explores how librarians across the U.S. are navigating challenges to books and access to information. Stay after for a community conversation led by Kate Cough of The Maine Monitor, featuring local voices including Sarah Lesko (EPL Director) and Katie Hessler (EHS Librarian), with additional participants to be announced.
PROGRAM SPONSORS: Maine Public, The Maine Monitor, WERU 89.9, The Ellsworth American and Downeast Digest. 20 State Street FREE Register here
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.
