BAR HARBOR

Bar Harbor is the gateway to Acadia National Park and Mount Desert Island's primary center for entertainment and nightlife. The Criterion Theatre, a 1932 Art Deco landmark on Cottage Street, reopened in 2025 under new nonprofit ownership and brings live music, comedy, film, and theater to this seasonal resort town.

The Criterion Theatre is the main performance venue, hosting touring musicians, comedians, and classic film screenings in one of only two Art Deco theaters in Maine. The Bar Harbor Music Festival adds a summer classical and jazz series. Cottage Street and Main Street restaurants and bars offer additional live entertainment during the tourist season.

Bar Harbor is seasonal by nature — summer brings a surge of visitors and programming tied to Acadia tourism, while the off-season quiets considerably. The Village Green, named one of America's great public spaces, anchors the walkable downtown.

Tip: Summer is peak season and shows sell out. Check the Criterion Theatre schedule early if you are visiting between June and October.

Neighborhoods: Downtown • Cottage Street • Village Green • Main Street