A CULTURE OF
THE ARTS
A lively cultural scene contrasted with well-preserved links to the past offer more ways to enlighten , entertain , and enliven your vacation than you had imagined possible .
Leave the mundane behind and explore our more offbeat performance venues like Hackmatack Playhouse in Berwick , set on an old family farm . Enjoy the cool ocean breezes of Old Orchard Beach ’ s Seaside Pavilion or take a seat inside for the best of current theater at the iconic Ogunquit Playhouse . Enjoy an intimate performance at the Vinegar Hill Music Theatre , or attend an event at the Sanford Performing Arts Center or the year round historic City Theater in Biddeford .
Check local schedules for events like Kennebunk ’ s Launch ! A Maritime Festival or Ogunquit ’ s Capriccio , featuring live musical performances , exhibits , tours , and even kite-flying .
Discover our nation ’ s naval heritage at the Kittery Historical & Naval Museum . Kennebunkport ’ s Seashore Trolley Museum — the oldest and largest of its kind — offers an antique vehicle collection speaking to the nation ’ s epic technological leaps forward in public transportation .
The only museum in Maine devoted exclusively to the exhibition , preservation , and interpretation of American Art , the Ogunquit Museum of Art welcomes visitors May through October . The area ’ s many galleries offer regular art walks , exhibitions , and workshops by artists and craftspeople . Art shows and receptions feature handmade wares in traditional , contemporary , and country styles .
Or simply make time to browse original artwork in myriad media and formats .
Step into the past at the Brick Store Museum in Kennebunk , its locally-kilned exterior unchanged from the 19th century ; Old York with its Old Gaol ; or the Counting House and the Sarah Orne Jewett House located in South Berwick . Catch up on recent American history as you tour the First Families Museum in Kennebunkport .
Look closer , and you will find America ' s past in the churches , factories , and private homes across The Maine Beaches — some date to the mid-17th and early 18th centuries . There are more than a dozen nationally-registered or state-designated historic districts here in York County . These areas include prestigious seaside estates like the Arundel Summer Colony Historic District . Downtowns are filled with reminders of Maine ’ s hard-working industrial past , ranging from the Biddeford Saco Mills Historic District to rural villages such as Alfred Historic District . Each shows the many ways our communities connect the successive generations of our American story . Even today they stand preserved as a welcome reminder of their contributions to our collective history and culture .
Visitors are discovering that The Maine Beaches offers an enriching selection of arts , culture , and entertainment that continues to grow .
For more about arts and cultural activities visit TheMaineBeaches . com .
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