Welcome to Lewiston!

Explore all that Lewiston has to offer!

Lewiston is home to attractions, festivals and events that draw people from thousands of miles away throughout the year. From the Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival to the Bates Dance Festival and beyond, these attractions are a significant economic driver for our local economy, supporting hotels, restaurants, and local businesses.

Lewiston-Auburn Balloon Festival

  • When the longtime organizers of the iconic Balloon Festival were unable to continue, the Cities of Lewiston and Auburn swiftly united with key festival leaders to ensure its 40th anniversary soared to new heights. Despite tight timelines and logistical challenges, the event not only remained a signature attraction but also brought thousands of visitors, who injected approximately $2.1 million into the local economy, supporting hotels, restaurants, and small businesses while benefiting local nonprofits. With an expanded lineup of top-tier artisans, live music, and family-friendly activities, the festival continues to be one of Maine’s premier cultural and economic drivers.

Basilica of Saints Peter & Paul

  • The Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul stands as a breathtaking monument to the resilience and devotion of Lewiston’s French-Canadian immigrants. Established in 1870, this grand structure became more than just a place of worship—it was the heart of a thriving community. For generations, the church guided families through life’s milestones, providing spiritual support alongside social, educational, and recreational services. Today, visitors can admire its stunning Gothic Revival architecture, intricate stained-glass windows, and awe-inspiring twin spires, all of which tell a story of faith and perseverance.

    Beyond its architectural beauty, the Basilica embodies a significant chapter in America’s immigrant history. French Canadians who sought opportunity in Lewiston’s mills brought with them not just a strong work ethic, but also an unshakable sense of faith and culture. Their sacrifices and generosity shaped this sacred space, mirroring the struggles and triumphs of countless immigrant communities across the country. A visit to the Basilica isn’t just a glimpse into Lewiston’s past—it’s an opportunity to reflect on the enduring spirit of those who built it.

Bates College Museum of Art

  • As a teaching museum at Bates College, the Museum of Art and its exhibitions, collections, stewardship, and interpretation bring a world of ideas to campus that enhance the vitality of the intellectual and cultural life of Bates, the surrounding communities, and beyond.

Bates College Olin Arts Center

  • The Olin Arts Center stands as a vital cultural hub for both Bates College and the central Maine community, fostering artistic creation and performance. Home to the Department of Music, the center has provided exceptional facilities for musicians and scholars for decades, celebrating its 25th anniversary season in 2011. Designed to support both academic and creative pursuits, the center offers students and faculty spaces for instruction, rehearsal, and performance, ensuring that music remains an integral part of campus life.

Bates College Museum of Art

  • The Bates Dance Festival brings together an international community of choreographers, performers, educators & students in a cooperative community to study, perform and create new work. In Lewiston, the Festival hosts an international roster of artists in a collaborative and joyful community.

    The Bates Dance Festival rigorously trains established and emerging dance artists through workshops, community-oriented programs, and advances the field by supporting new work. From local youth to global professionals, the Festival convenes to create, perform, and witness vibrant and vital dance works.

Bates College Olin Arts Center

  • The Great Falls Brewfest has been a staple of the Lewiston/Auburn area since 2014 and is one of Maine’s largest and most reputable beer events. Nearly fifty breweries, cider makers, hard seltzer makers, and non-alcoholic breweries come together for this annual event! The Great Falls Brewfest also offers live music by local bands, an array of food trucks and vendors, lawn games, and so much more.

The Colisée

  • The Colisée is a multi-purpose arena with a capacity of 4,000. Constructed between 1956 and 1958, it was originally developed and managed by the Catholic parish of Sts. Peter and Paul as a successor to St. Dominics Regional High School arena. Notably, in 1965, it served as the impromptu venue for the historic heavyweight boxing match between Muhammad Ali and Sonny Liston. It was the iconic “Phantom Punch” fight that remains a defining moment in boxing and sports history.

    Today, the Colisée serves as the home arena for the Maine Nordiques of the North American Hockey League and continues to be a regional hub for entertainment and community events. Beyond hockey, it hosts concerts, conventions, and trade shows, offering 17,000 square feet of exhibit space. For large-scale conventions, the venue can accommodate up to 4,800 attendees, making it one of the most versatile event spaces in central Maine.

    The Bates Dance Festival rigorously trains established and emerging dance artists through workshops, community-oriented programs, and advances the field by supporting new work. From local youth to global professionals, the Festival convenes to create, perform, and witness vibrant and vital dance works.

Dempsey Challenge

  • The Dempsey Challenge is an annual run/walk/ride experience to benefit the Dempsey Center. With two physical centers in Lewiston and South Portland, and a third, virtual Center—Dempsey Connects, which launched in 2020—the specially-trained team of experts provides curated, holistic care to people impacted by cancer in Maine and beyond.

    Founded by actor Patrick Dempsey in 2009, this flagship fundraising event has raised over $18 million for the Dempsey Center since its inception, with 100% of all funds raised going directly to client care.

Lewiston Farmers’ Market

  • The Lewiston Farmers' Market offers visitors a chance to connect with one another and shop for a wide variety of fresh, delicious, local foods and goods while fostering a vibrant downtown and building a strong community and local economy. The summer market runs from May 11th through November 23rd every Sunday, 9:30 am-1 pm. Hours switch to 11 am-1:00 pm at the beginning of November. The market is located at 75 Lincoln Street in Lewiston. 

    FREE PARKING is available in the farmers' market lot, on Lincoln street, in the Lincoln Street Parking Garage.

FEZtival of Trees

  • The Kora Shrine Temple hosts its beloved annual FEZtival of Trees event, bringing together over 60 display trees, a craft fair, a silent auction, and local food. The decoration contest stirs up some friendly competition for locals to vote on. The public is invited in to see the beautiful building and kick off the holiday season, while boosting local organizations and groups.

The Franco Center

  • The Franco Center is Central Maine’s premier performance and event center. Maine’s Francophone history is a legacy handed to us by generations of our brave ancestors who relocated here from France, from Quebec, and from across the globe. The performing arts organization celebrates Franco-American heritage and culture and the cultures of others from places around the world.

Friday Art Walks

  • Art Walk LA fosters community and celebrates the vitality of Lewiston/Auburn by turning downtown into a bustling arts district on the final Friday of each summer month, from May to September. By converting more than thirty businesses and empty storefronts into galleries, creative exhibitions, and special performance spaces, Art Walk LA drives thousands of people downtown, making it a staple of culture, civics, and economic development for the Twin Cities.

The L/A Greek Festival

  • Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church in Lewiston was founded in 1910 as a small church in the downtown area serving more than 3000 Greeks in the area, mostly working at the mills. As the mills began to close in the 1950s, Greek residents migrated south.

    The community built a new church on Hogan Road in 1977 to fulfill the changing needs of the community. Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church has since been known as a pillar of civic leadership in Lewiston and Auburn. As part of their outreach, the Church organizes the annual Greek Festival to bring locals together to celebrate Greek culture and religious traditions.

Holiday at the Plaza

  • Step into a winter wonderland at Holiday At The Plaza, where the magic of the season comes to life in the heart of Lewiston! Held on the first Saturday in December, this beloved festival brings families together for a day filled with cherished holiday traditions. Children can meet Santa Claus, admire a towering Christmas tree, and hop aboard the Holiday Choo Choo for a whimsical ride. The ice rink invites skaters of all ages, while festive horse-drawn wagon rides provide a nostalgic journey through the decorated plaza. Little animal lovers will delight in the petting zoo, while creative spirits can enjoy hands-on arts and crafts for both kids and adults. 

    With free admission and parking, Holiday At The Plaza is the perfect way to kick off the holiday season without worry. Stroll through twinkling lights, sip hot cocoa, and soak in the festive cheer with family and friends.

    Whether you're gliding across the ice, making memories with Santa, or taking in the sights and sounds of the season, this event promises joy, laughter, and timeless holiday magic.

Jude’s Place

  • Marcotte Park is home to "Jude's Place at Marcotte Park," which is the first-in-Maine universally accessible playground where children of all abilities can play alongside each other with no barriers.

LA Arts

  • The mission of LA Arts is to engage and inspire a vibrant community through arts and culture. As the arts agency for the cities of Lewiston and Auburn, LA Arts champions the essential role the arts play in shaping an economically robust, socially integrated, and forward-looking community.

    LA Arts works with governments, businesses, schools, and local arts and cultural organizations to create opportunities for community members across generations to experience, learn, and participate in the arts.

L/A Riverwalk

  • In 2010 the City of Lewiston received funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to support efforts for revitalization of its riverfront. Since the development of the Riverfront Island Master Plan (RIMP), City staff, Planning Board, City Council, and our partners have been working on the plan implementation.

    As various projects were accomplished, it became apparent that there was a need for an update to the plan following the city’s acquisition of the canals. City leaders recognize the enormous opportunity the Riverwalk presents as a community asset, while working to expand access and safety features.

La Rencontre 

  • Diverse cultures, performing arts, and languages come together at the Franco Center during La Rencontre, which translates to The Gathering. Traditionally, in Franco culture, big celebratory meals included live music provided by members of the family and their neighbors. Many families made sure their kids each learned to play an instrument in order to entertain at such gatherings — and so, accordingly, the Franco Center invites local musicians to provide live music for its guests.

Liberty Fest

  • The Liberty Festival is an Independence Day celebration along the banks of the Androscoggin River, and it’s uniquely L/A. With a focus on the Great Falls, the Liberty Festival an example of two communities rich in heritage working and celebrating together.

Maine Nordiques

  • The Maine Nordiques are a team in the North American Hockey league with a dedication to performance on the ice, character off the ice and surrounding community.

Neighborhood Block Party

  • Lewiston comes together each year to organize a successful downtown block party for the neighborhood to enjoy! Lewiston Public Works shuts down the streets from Bartlett to Howe along Pine Street for a stage and street vendors to set up. Community Credit Union and Webb’s Market hosts community partners, food, music and entertainment for all ages in mid-August.

Public Art

  • Lewiston has seen new a lot of – and conversation provoking! – public art in recent years. Sculptures, murals, storefront window wraps, hand-painted traffic signal boxes all bring new life and vibrancy to our streets. Take a look at the self-guided tour (walking, biking, or driving!) that LA Arts pulled together!

Public Theatre

  • Voted Maine’s Best Theatre by Down East Magazine seven years in a row, The Public Theatre brings you the most exciting contemporary plays from Broadway and beyond featuring the finest professional actors from New York to Los Angeles. Whether you’re seeing a rollicking comedy or a searing drama, we promise you a good story, well told.

RiverFest

  • RiverFest is an annual two-day event in Simard Payne Park in Lewiston, bringing families together to celebrate the natural beauty of the Androscoggin River. Featuring a kickball tournament, cornhole tournament, Regatta, food trucks, an artisan fair, beer garden, and a night of family-friendly activities, and a movie with Summer Fun and Films, this festival is free and open to the public.

Sparkle Saturday

  • Sparkle Saturday is an annual event that boosts local makers, crafters and artisans just when the holiday shopping season reaches its peak! Downtown Lisbon Street comes alive with holiday activity for last minute shoppers with more than 25 venues. Venues feature specialty gifts, tastings of beer, wine and food, crafts for kids, gift certificates, music and all ‘round joie de vivre. 50+ vendors showcase their work in shops along the street, from chocolate to clothing, hot cocoa, food, handbags, jewelry, paintings, photography, personal care products, pottery, stuffed animals, yarn and so much more! Many restaurants also open up to re-energize the shopping experience!

Summer Fun & Films

  • Summer Fun and Films, hosted by the L/A Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce and Lewiston Police Department, brings families together for some free fun! All movies are presented by Androscoggin Bank, with fun & activities for all ages provided by Geiger Bros. Free popcorn, water & family fun all summer long!

Taste the Harvest

  • Taste the Harvest is a street festival that highlights and promotes our local food economy, from farm to table. Enjoy tapas-style dishes in a multi-chef collaborative dining experience al fresco, complete with the Baxter Beer and Wine Garden. Ingredients are selected from local farms and food producers to highlight the best tastes of harvest while boosting our local food economy.

    Event attendees use a dinner passport to access each offering, dining at their own pace. Dinner is served at stations located on Lisbon Street, between Ash and Main. 

    This multiple-course collaborative dining experience will showcase locally sourced ingredients from area farms, and will be crafted, prepared and served by the chefs local restaurants!

Thorncrag Nature Sanctuary

  • Lewiston’s Thorncrag Nature Sanctuary is a 450-acre wildlife preserve at the highest point in the city - an elevation of 510 feet.  Since 1986 a dedicated corps of volunteers has been working to restore Thorncrag as a safe and educational resource for the area. A forested oasis surrounded on three sides by urban and suburban development,

    Thorncrag is a working site for local groups like wildlife biologists, college and high school ecology classes, Boy and Girl Scout troops, garden clubs, wetland engineers, soil scientists, professional botanical societies, not to mention local nature lovers.

    Passive recreation – birdwatching, picnicking, hiking, walking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, sledding, skating, nature photography – is actively encouraged.

Maine Music Society

  • The Maine Music Society serves area communities by bringing quality performances to the public through artistic excellence and imaginative programming.

Maine Music Society

  • The Maine MILL is where history and culture spark creativity, inspire ingenuity, and drive connection.

    Discover a unique collection of over 10,000 artifacts, hundreds of recorded oral histories, and engaging exhibits. Explore how life, labor, and culture from our past can shape our present, and influence our future.

    Visit us and discover exhibits, educational programming, and events that preserve and celebrate stories of work and the diverse heritage of Central Maine.