The Kennebec Explorer 2014 Visitor's Guide to Maine's Kennebec Valley | Page 43
Welcome to Waterville — the cultural heart of central Maine.
There is so much that it has to offer. Colleges. Art and Theater. Dining. Festivals. A world-
class downtown. No visit to Maine’s Kennebec Valley would be complete without spending
time in what is arguably the cultural center of Central Maine. The arts are alive
in Waterville.
Any visit to the area requires a trip to the Colby Museum of Art. In celebration of the
college’s bicentennial in 2013, the museum opened its new expanded wing which houses
its vast collection of American art. Maine’s largest art museum, this is a must see. Waterville Opera House
The collegiate spirit spills over into the downtown, where visitors should stop by Common
Street Arts, a wonderful food scene and myriad diversions when the stars come out. Lovers
of the performing arts should check out the Waterville Opera House. Since reopening in 2012,
acts of all kinds have been entertaining audiences from throughout the region.
Each summer, the Maine International Film Festival — entering its 17th year — presents
nearly 100 films over a 10-day time period. Works represent the best of American and
international independent cinema.
Visitors with a love for music should keep an ear open for the Atlantic Music Festival —
this highly respected organization fosters innovation in American musical performance. Each
summer hundreds of emerging artists gather here to celebrate the work of musical masters.
The hungry will not be turned away with a tasty array of food styles to choose from.
Diners can enjoy something new every night or perhaps enjoy it all at once at the annual
Taste of Waterville, which brings together all things tasty from the region into one
yummy day and night.
Outdoor enthusiasts have nothing to worry about either; Waterville is at the heart of a
burgeoning in-town outdoor center, with miles of hiking trails spread throughout the city.
Interested? Check out the Quarry Road Trails and the Messalonskee Trails, which double
in the colder months as some of the finest in-town cross-country ski and snowshoe trails.
1 Common St., Waterville
Maine International
Film Festival
July 11 to 20, 2014
Atlantic Music Festival
July 7 to August 3, 2014
Common Street Arts
16 Common St., Waterville
The Taste of Waterville
August 6, 2014
Lebanese Heritage Mural
51 Main St., Waterville
Colby Museum of Art
5600 Mayflower Hill Dr., Waterville
To learn more about Waterville, visit KennebecValley.org.
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