The Kennebec Explorer 2020 Visitor's Guide to Maine's Kennebec Valley | Page 30

Get a taste of events
Waterville
A city with some of everything.
The Waterville of today is a diverse
hub of activity for year-round visitors:
education, the arts, outdoor recreation,
and a downtown humming with events,
dining, and nightlife. Add in the city’s
proximity to other recreational stand-
outs like The Forks for white water
rafting, the tranquility of fly-fishing or
hiking, and the Capital Area for history
and cultural offerings, and Waterville
makes an ideal vacation destination.
A cultural extravaganza
As home to Colby and Thomas Colleges,
Waterville gets a big boost in attracting
an audience for its many cultural
offerings and events. The Waterville
Opera House welcomes dozens of
national and traveling musical, dance,
and theatrical acts throughout the year.
Each summer, the Maine International
Film Festival takes over Castonguay
Square, the Opera House, and other
venues around town. Art, sculpture,
and murals adorn the open spaces,
©Heidi Kirn/Waterville Creates
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making the city a feast for the eyes as
well. Here, art overflows from side-
walks and walls, filling galleries with
avant-garde showings, while on the
campus of Colby College, Maine’s largest
gallery and one of the nation’s most
expansive collections of American art
continues to amaze at no cost to visitors.
Looking for the curious? Take time to
head out to the L.C. Bates Museum and
its century and a quarter of mystifying
natural history.
With a full calendar of local events,
there are a few standouts, to be sure.
With a robust food scene, the winner in
this category goes to “The Taste.” Each
August, the city sets the table for the
region’s only dining-focused festival; it’s
great food served up street style. From
iconic Maine lobster rolls to classic
New England entrées and hip comfort
food. “The Taste” alone is worth a
trip to Waterville.
During the holidays, the downtown is
transformed into Kringleville, where,
to the delight of families from all over,
Santa Claus arrives the day after
Thanksgiving and holds court for the
entire holiday season, listening to the
wishes of children young and old.
Food and drink par excellence Step outside
This vibrant city also does a great job
at keeping your belly full and your
thirst quenched. Dozens of excellent
restaurants offer the region’s best
tables. Perfected classics, like Italian,
Mexican, steaks, and chops, line up
next to trendy cuisine to delight.
Brewpubs, bars, coffee shops, and
teahouses round out the picture,
offering something for us all at the
beginning and end of each day. Not to be outdone by in-town doings,
there is more than enough to keep you
busy if you have a yen for the outdoors.
In summer, hike trails at RiverWalk
at Head of Falls, Quarry Road, or the
Kennebec Messalonskee Trails. You
can ski and snowshoe all winter long—
Quarry Road even makes its own snow.
No matter what kind of fun you seek,
Waterville is where great outdoor and
indoor experiences easily converge.
©Heidi Kirn/Waterville Creates
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