Plan your trip today!
You’ll find the Festival in the heart of downtown Brunswick, with ample restaurants, parks, coffee shops, food carts, hotels, and shopping nearby. We encourage you to make our community part of your travel experience here in Midcoast Maine.
All attractions below are in Brunswick, unless otherwise noted, and are just a few select favorites of Festival patrons. Visit Brunswick Downtown to view more restaurant and business options, and check out VisitMaine.com to explore everything to do in Maine.
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Walking distance from the Festival’s home at Studzinski Recital Hall |
FESTIVAL MUSIC SERIES
Subscription Series | Ticketed
20 concerts featuring the Festival’s outstanding faculty and guests artists. You’ll be delighted by the world-renowned ensembles and the programming of new chamber works alongside established classical favorites.
Young Artists Series | Free
Concerts featuring the Festival’s incredibly talented students performing a diverse range of solo and chamber works.
Community Concert Series | Free
Performances in non-traditional venues such as arts centers, coastal resorts, community centers, libraries, museums, retirement communities, and breweries throughout the Midcoast region.
Gamper Festival of Contemporary Music | Free
The Festival promotes the vibrancy and bright future of chamber music through the Gamper Festival, a three-day festival devoted to the music of living composers.
Music at the Museum | Free
Featuring exciting musical performances, compositions, and inspiring collaborations in the Bowdoin College Museum of Art.
Masterclasses | Free
A firsthand look into the teaching and learning process. Honing technical craft, understanding the nuances of musical language, and finding personal meaning in music are all part of a great masterclass.
LODGING
The Brunswick Hotel
Historic and picturesque, this conveniently located hotel is within walking distance of the vibrant downtown. This hotel offers well-appointed rooms with modern amenities. Enjoy drinks and a delicious dinner at their in-house restaurant, Noble Kitchen & Bar.
Historic and picturesque, this conveniently located hotel is within walking distance of the vibrant downtown. This hotel offers well-appointed rooms with modern amenities. Enjoy drinks and a delicious dinner at their in-house restaurant, Noble Kitchen & Bar.
OneSixtyFive
Quintessential New England Inn with modern amenities, this charming and well-outfitted inn is in the center of town. Bring friends to relax and enjoy classic cocktails, wine or beer at the inviting bar located within, at Pub 165.
The Federal
Enjoy your stay in this reimagined 19th Century historic home and inn turned boutique hotel & restaurant. Just a mile from the Festival, this hotel offers guests contemporary elegance in the heart of Midcoast Maine. The Federal’s restaurant, 555 North, is among the region’s best.
Enjoy your stay in this reimagined 19th Century historic home and inn turned boutique hotel & restaurant. Just a mile from the Festival, this hotel offers guests contemporary elegance in the heart of Midcoast Maine. The Federal’s restaurant, 555 North, is among the region’s best.
FOOD & DRINK
555 North
Upscale restaurant inside the Federal Hotel. Lovely ambiance with a menu that showcases locally sourced food and a bar to enjoy lively cocktails, craft brews, and curated wines.
Upscale restaurant inside the Federal Hotel. Lovely ambiance with a menu that showcases locally sourced food and a bar to enjoy lively cocktails, craft brews, and curated wines.
Enoteca Athena
High-quality rustic Mediterranean restaurant showcasing cuisines of Italy and Greece. Many of the ingredients are sourced locally, here in Midcoast Maine. A bar featuring thoughtfully crafted cocktails and wines from Italy and Greece.
Flight Deck Brewing
Casual atmosphere with indoor and outdoor seating. Enjoy wood-fired pizza with local and seasonal ingredients either indoors or outside under their large, covered pavilion. Wide selection of beer, wine, cider and local soda.
Noble Kitchen & Bar
Enjoy drinks and modern coastal cuisine. Located in the heart of downtown Brunswick at the historic Brunswick Hotel. Indoor formal dining and lovely outdoor patio for casual dining experience.
Nomad Pizza
Delicious wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, made with simple ingredients. Enjoy beer and cocktails in a lively atmosphere in the historic Fort Andross Mill.
Delicious wood-fired Neapolitan pizza, made with simple ingredients. Enjoy beer and cocktails in a lively atmosphere in the historic Fort Andross Mill.
Taco the Town
A food truck favorite that locals frequent for lunch. Fresh Mexican fare offered at an affordable price. This colorful food truck is generally parked on the Brunswick Mall downtown, not far from the gazebo. Take your lunch to-go or enjoy it on one of the available park benches along the Mall.
The Dolphin, Harpswell
Specializing in Maine coastal fare, including Maine lobster dinners, fresh, local seafood, and hand-cut steaks, this waterfront location in South Harpswell offers views of Halfway Rock Lighthouse, Casco Bay, and its many islands.
COFFEE & TREATS
Dog Bar Jim
Enjoy coffee and pastries in this eclectic, warm, inviting atmosphere. Featuring delicious coffee, bagels with off-beat cream cheese choices, and pastries crafted from local, organic, or non-GMO ingredients.
Gelato Fiasco
The best gelato & sorbetto in town, made using old-world techniques and offering a near-endless assortment of delicious flavors.
Ritual Bakehouse
Sweet and savory bakery treats, coffee, tea, and a handful of delicious croissant-style sandwiches at this clean and contemporary downtown locale.
Union Street Bakery
Cozy atmosphere in this neighborhood staple that offers a variety of sweet treats, like cookies, cupcakes, brownies, muffins, full pies and pie slices. Also check out their assortment of lunch options (sandwiches, wraps, quiche, panini and salads).
Wild Oats Bakery & Café
A from-scratch bakery, deli, and cafe just minutes from downtown Brunswick. Plenty of outdoor seating and a light, airy and spacious building that offers indoor seating too.
GALLERIES & ATTRACTIONS
Bowdoin College Museum of Art
Great art in a lively environment on the campus of Bowdoin College. Admission is always free. Be sure to check out the museum’s extensive permanent collection and special exhibitions while in town!
Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, Boothbay
A memorable day trip exploring more than 300 acres of gardens and natural spaces, from the Butterfly House, Meditation and Perennial Gardens to the network of footpaths among indigenous trees, shrubs, wildflowers, ferns, mosses, and beautiful overlooks. Be sure to get photos with the giant trolls! Check their website for hours and admission fees.
L.L. Bean Flagship Store and Outlets, Freeport
Check out the L.L. Bean flagship store (open 24 hours/day), headquartered where L.L. Bean was founded in 1912. The picturesque downtown of Freeport also hosts dozens of outlet shops including Ralph Lauren, Banana Republic, J Crew, North Face, Patagonia, Abacus Jewelry and more!
Maine Maritime Museum, Bath
Experience Maine’s seafaring history on the banks of the Kennebec River. Open year round, this 20-acre waterfront campus includes indoor galleries with rotating and permanent exhibits, the country’s only surviving historic wooden shipyard, a working boat shop, a restored 1906 schooner, and more!
Maine State Music Theatre
Enjoy professional musical theatre during your stay! Several productions are held every summer at the stunning gothic-style Pickard Theatre on the campus of Bowdoin College. Visit their website for current shows and theater information.
Peary-MacMillan Arctic Museum
Dedicated entirely to all things Arctic! The museum opens in a new building on the campus of Bowdoin College in the Spring of 2023. Browse an extensive collection of objects and photographs relating to exploration and research in the Arctic, the environmental and cultural history of Arctic regions, and contemporary Inuit art.
Portland Museum of Art, Portland
An impressive collection of art consisting of over 18,000 artworks, ranging from Andy Warhol and Winslow Homer to Louise Nevelson and Claude Monet. Along with some of the greats, the museum features an extensive collection of American, European and contemporary works, as well as pieces from Maine artists.
TRAILS & OUTDOOR RECREATION
Androscoggin Swinging Pedestrian Bridge
Walk across this historic pedestrian suspension bridge, connecting Brunswick and Topsham. This is a picture worthy site suspended above the Androscoggin River. Parking can be sparce on the Brunswick side, so travel over to Topsham, taking Maine St across the Frank J Wood bridge, turn left on Summer, left on Bridge St & park in the lot on Bridge St near Union St.
Bradbury Mountain State Park, Pownal
A wonderful place to spend an afternoon exploring trails, take in the magnificent view from the summit, or enjoy a picnic under a canopy of trees. With 800 acres of trails to explore, there’s something for everyone! Visit the website for admission fees and more information.
Brunswick–Topsham Land Trust Trails
Brunswick has a lot of recreational activities to offer. Get out and explore the many recreational areas of town whether walking, hiking, birding, picnicking, or boating.
Harpswell Heritage Land Trust Trails, Harpswell
Explore this beautiful coastal town with numerous places to walk, hike, picnic, play, and enjoy the scenery.
Popham Beach, Phippsburg
Enjoy the coastline with this short getaway from Brunswick. Visit this popular 605-acre state park to walk along the sandy beach or enjoy one of many popular activities here such as swimming, sea kayaking, picnicking, and stand-up paddle boarding.
