11 Maine Towns With Unforgettable Main Streets

Main Street living is experiencing a history-focused renaissance in Maine. The state is home to a growing number of communities accredited by or affiliated with Main Street America, celebrating community development and improved quality of life for residents, as well as places to see and things to do that bring visitors in all year long. No matter the season, these downtowns offer coastal vibes, vintage finds, and a reason to come back next year. Whether you're catching a live performance at the Art Deco Grand Theater in Ellsworth or strolling the Kennebec River waterfront after a show at Gardiner’s historic Johnson Hall, these towns blend heritage and hospitality in unforgettable ways.

Ellsworth

A true Main Street community, Ellsworth is home to festivals and events that bring residents and visitors together in celebration of a thriving downtown. The Grand, an art deco theater, anchors Main Street and offers live theater and movies. Maine Craft Weekend is celebrated in October with The Art of Ellsworth, featuring studio tours, demos, workshops, and more. Plan your visit by snagging a dinner reservation at Provender Kitchen & Bar before venturing out to stroll downtown. To burn off the calories and gain some local learning, be sure to check out the Museum in the Streets program. This self-guided walking tour includes various panels at historic locations throughout the town, such as the Tisdale House and Peters Block.

Gardiner

Gardiner’s revitalized Main Street district on the banks of the Kennebec River offers a postcard-perfect backdrop for a weekend of exploring. To get oriented and learn about local history, spend an hour on the self-guided Gardiner Historic Downtown Walking Tour or visit the historic Johnson Hall Performing Arts Center, the oldest opera house in Maine, for a show or a tour. To go home with a new skill, sign up for a unique creative workshop at Circling The Square Fine Art Press Print Studio and Gallery. For a holiday season visit, don’t miss the Gardiner Parade of Lights from Water Street to Waterfront Park.

Skowhegan

A former mill town that is restoring and preserving historic buildings, Skowhegan has a walkable, inviting downtown with unique shops under beautiful facades. Shop and eat in the Main Street district, including stops for one-of-a-kind finds at the Thrifty Chic Boutique or the seasonally operated member cooperative, River Roads Artisans Gallery. For even more art, walk Skowhegan’s portion of the Langlais Art Trail, which features an extensive collection of sculptures by folk artist Bernard "Blackie" Langlais. Before or after your adventures, stop by Joe's Flat Iron Café for breakfast, lunch, or cocktails, or time your visit for the annual Skowhegan Craft Brew Festival.

Rockland

Rockland is located on Penobscot Bay, so it is only fitting that this waterfront town is home to the Maine Lobster Festival, a popular five-day event, and the Maine Lighthouse Museum, for anyone who has ever longed to keep the coast. Downtown Rockland is home to local shops like Arctic Tern Books, which features a curated selection of books in a cozy space, and Puffin’s Nest, where there is a souvenir to suit almost any visitor. Rockland’s Main Street is a step back in time with all the amenities of modern life and a memorable backdrop to a coastal getaway.

Augusta

Maine’s capital boasts history and creativity in one waterfront package. Augusta's Water Street is its Main Street, and it is parallel to the Kennebec River. Here, visitors will find the popular The Oak Table & Bar, with farm-to-table fare and seasonal cocktails, and award-winning State Lunch, serving lunch, dinner, and cocktails, including a menu of margaritas. Stop by the Maine State House-Capitol Building for a tour (self-guided, audio, or reserve a guided tour in advance). Nearby, Augusta is home to the Fort Western National Historic Landmark & Living History Museum, the oldest surviving wooden French & Indian War era garrison in North America. It is open seasonally.

Belfast

With stunning architecture along the way, Belfast’s Main Street is a visual treat even before visitors enter the shops and restaurants that dot its path. Located in the city’s historic “Gothic Building,” Satori Craft Cocktail and Sushi Bar offers diners a view of Main Street, along with creative dishes and hand-rolled sushi. Nearby, independent bookseller Left Bank Books is located in Belfast’s historic Opera House, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. Throughout the year, the city’s celebrations continue, like February’s Belfast Ice Festival and the State of Maine Ice Carving Championship and September’s Maine Weinerfest, a day devoted to dachshunds.

Bath

Bath’s Front Street combines history and nostalgia with natural beauty and a community focus on growing and preserving the town’s historic downtown. Stop in at the Bath Regional Information Center for a welcome and to get oriented, and then head to The Fountain Ice Cream and Deli, an old-fashioned soda fountain with a classic menu in a spot locals love and visitors will not forget. For decades, the nonprofit Chocolate Church Arts Center, preserving the historic former Central Church, has offered Bath a variety of visual and performing arts in an unmatched setting. The center also offers a Community Art Laboratory where creativity abounds. You can’t head home without a stop at Lisa-Marie’s Made in Maine. The shop offers hundreds of items from Maine makers at every price point, including Maine sea salt, handmade mugs featuring lobster or puffins, and sea glass jewelry.

Westbrook

Water is at the heart of Westbrook, as seen from the city’s River Walk, a mile-long bike and pedestrian trail that runs along the Presumpscot River into Riverbank Park and Westbrook’s historic downtown. A public library is rarely at the top of travelers’ must-do lists, but a stop by the Walker Memorial Library is a delight for architecture lovers. The iconic French Chateauesque style building was constructed in 1894. Main Street adventures continue with Mast Landing Brewing Company, which features a tasting room and patio with local beer. The city comes together despite the cold for Winter Fest, with a pie baking contest, food trucks, artists, and more.

Saco

Saco is part riverfront and part oceanside, with the best of both worlds in a historic downtown. The Run of the Mill Public House & Brewery, located in the former York Manufacturing Mill, offers pub food heavy on the local angle like fish and chips, crab cakes, and mussels, with an option for patio seating in season. A Main Street fixture, visitors can’t miss a stop at Rapid Ray’s, which has been serving classic fare and Maine specialties like lobster rolls and clam cakes since 1953. Nearby, Fika, a small-batch, Scandinavian-style microbakery whose name derives from the Swedish version of “coffee break,” delights residents and visitors with pastries that are almost too pretty to eat. Stop by the Saco Museum, founded in 1866, for a look at Saco's history, along with the work of Maine artists.

Biddeford

Also on the Saco River, Biddeford has its own identity as a young city, at least when looking at residents of its historic downtown, whose median age is 29, according to Heart of Biddeford, the city's Main Street Community program. The community boasts dozens of restaurants and plenty to see and do. On Main Street, start with the Biddeford Mills Museum for a look at the city’s history, then buy a piece to take home at the Biddeford Vintage Market. Take a break at Elements: Books Coffee Beer, where used books and local drinks combine with live music, events, and sidewalk seating. The historic City Theater brings modern-day performances to an iconic location downtown. On the corner of Main and Water Streets, Mechanics Park is home to the city’s free Music in the Park summer concert series held each Wednesday in July.

Brunswick

In Brunswick, “Main Street” is actually Maine Street, with shops and restaurants lining the downtown. Grab a slice at Portland Pie Company, and shop for Maine-centric, relaxed hats and T-shirts at Cool as a Moose. Spend some time perusing the stacks at independent bookseller Gulf of Maine Books. Brunswick hosts an impressive calendar of visual and performing arts events throughout the year. Here for the music? Catch a main stage performance, family show, or concert at nearby Maine State Music Theatre, and for a summer visit, enjoy the Bowdoin International Music Festival.

Final Thoughts

Merge the coastal adventures of a Maine vacation with the local curiosity, artisan souvenirs, and culinary adventures of thriving Main Street communities. It’s a recipe for a unique, unforgettable visit and an investment in small businesses that helps historic revitalization continue. Picturesque seaside villages await guests for summer evenings by the water or winter festivals that make visitors feel like a true part of the community experience and create memories that can last a lifetime.