Friends of Congress Square Park

Hip Hop in the Park
2021-09-27 17:00 - 19:00 (America/New_York) | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Hip Hop in the Park is back! Presented by Monday of the Minds. Free and open to the public.

T'ai Chi
2021-09-29 09:30 - 10:30 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Free Tai Chi Chih/Qigong classes will be taught in Congress Square Park May through September. All classes will occur twice weekly — on Mondays from 9:30 until 10:30 am and Wednesdays from 10 until 11 am, led by
Sara Leonard.

Old pros and those who have just started practice, as well as curious bystanders of all ages welcome!
Always FREE to the public.

*What’s Tai Chi?*
Tai chi is an ancient Chinese tradition that, today, is practiced as a graceful form of exercise. It involves a series of movements performed in a slow, focused manner and accompanied by deep breathing.
A noncompetitive, self-paced system of gentle physical exercise and stretching, each posture flows into the next without pause, ensuring that your body is in constant motion.
Tai chi is low impact and puts minimal stress on muscles and joints, making it generally safe for all ages and fitness levels. In fact, because tai chi is a low-impact exercise, it may be especially suitable if you’re an older adult who otherwise may not exercise.

National Silent Movie Day: City Lights
2021-09-29 18:30 - 20:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Celebrating National Silent Movie Day, a free 16mm screening of Charlie Chaplin’s CITY LIGHTS, presented in Congress Square Park with Portland Museum of Art, projecting a 16mm print of the film. Wednesday, September 29th at 6:30pm.

Charles Chaplin was deep into production of his silent CITY LIGHTS when Hollywood was overwhelmed by the talkie revolution. After months of anguished contemplation, Chaplin decided to finish the film as it began–in silence, save for a musical score and an occasional sound effect. Once again cast as the Little Tramp, Chaplin makes the acquaintance of a blind flower girl, who through a series of coincidences has gotten the impression that the shabby tramp is a millionaire. A second storyline begins when the tramp rescues a genuine millionaire from committing suicide. When drunk, the millionaire expansively treats the tramp as a friend and equal; when sober, he doesn’t even recognize him. The two plots come together when the tramp attempts to raise enough money for the blind girl to have an eye operation. Highlights include an extended boxing sequence pitting scrawny Chaplin against muscle-bound Hank Mann, and the poignant final scene in which the now-sighted flower girl sees her impoverished benefactor for the first time. Chaplin’s decision to release the silent CITY LIGHTS three years into the talkie era was partially vindicated when more than one critic singled out this “comedy in pantomime” as the best picture of 1931.

Blurb Club
2021-09-30 12:00 - 13:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Come hear some great book recommendations and share your own! Plus, The Pink Waffle food truck will be on-site. No obligation to share; the shy are welcome here. Rain location: Mechanics’ Hall.

Nexus PortL
2021-10-01 16:00 - 20:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
The Immersives of Maine and ProjectEmmersive are coming together to give an incredible out of this world experience in Congress Square Park for First Friday!

Play around with interactive exhibits, and let your curious mind wander.
Can you imagine, a 40′ inflatable inside the park?

Freedom & Captivity: Art on Abolition Short Films
2021-10-03 18:30 - 20:30 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States

Freedom & Captivity: a Reading
2021-10-05 18:00 - 19:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States

MECA Film Screening: MONITOR
2021-10-08 19:00 - 20:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States

Queer Makers' Market
2021-10-09 11:00 - 15:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Come one, come all to a one-day market event featuring all queer artists, makers, doers, and shakers. Organized by R Nicole Studios.

Blurb Club
2021-10-14 12:00 - 13:00, 2021-10-28 12:00 - 13:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Book recommendation sharing! (Sharing not required.)
Rain location: Mechanics’ Hall.

All Hallows' Market
2021-10-24 11:00 - 15:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Get ready for Halloween with Congress Square Park’s first-ever All Hallows’ Market! Enjoy Halloween-specific crafts, cards, accessories, and more, as well as hot cider and apples for purchase from Sweetsers Farm!
Current vendor lineup:
timblebee
Sweetsers Farm
Two Fat Cats Bakery
James Sylvester
Even Keel Card Co
Cece & the Seams
RG Ceramics
grungy tree
Mollie Gunn

A Long Breath: Amplified
2021-11-05 15:00 - 18:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
On the breezier days of the last month, you may have heard the soft singing of wind harps that are currently installed on the lampposts in Congress Square Park. On Friday November 5th, between 3-6pm, artist Asha Tamirisa will amplify the harps as part of a long-form sound-based performance. Stop by to hear the wind sing!

Congress Square Redesign Public Forum
2021-11-06 13:00 - 14:30 | Westin Portland Harborview Hotel, 157 High Street, Portland, ME, United States
The City of Portland will host a public forum for the Congress Square Redesign on Saturday, November 6, 2021, from 1:00 to 2:30 PM, at the Westin Portland Harborview Hotel, Longfellow Room (157 High Street). The forum will include a welcome introduction from City officials followed by presentations from WRT, the Congress Square Redesign consultant, as well as nationally renowned artist Sarah Sze, who was selected to commission a new public art installation for the park as part of the project.

Cozy Winter Market
2021-12-12 10:00 - 15:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Warm up with us in Congress Square Park!
We’ll have all sorts of tasty treats, hot beverages, and locally made gifts for sale — plus fire pits to sit down and snuggle up around.

Vendors to date:
Crepe Elizabeth
The Pink Waffle
Bread & Friends Bakery
The Cultivated Thread
Even Keel Card Co.
Craft Candle Company
Sydney Berkeley
Tenderly Bound Books
Celly Francis
Made by Abigael
Josie Colt
tinypants
Dendraforms
Friends & Family

FoCSP’s winter programming is made possible thanks to the support from The Hiawatha, PK Realty Management, The Westin, Friends & Family, and cPort Credit Union.

S'mores Night
2021-12-16 16:00 - 18:00, 2021-12-23 16:00 - 18:00, 2021-12-30 16:00 - 18:00, 2022-01-06 16:00 - 18:00, 2022-01-13 16:00 - 18:00, 2022-01-20 16:00 - 18:00, 2022-01-27 16:00 - 18:00, 2022-02-03 16:00 - 18:00 and 3 more dates | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Gather around a cozy fire with friends and neighbors and make your own s’more! S’more fix’ns are free of charge with a suggested donation of $5 to Friends of Congress Square Park: http://congresssquarepark.org/donation
The Pink Waffle will also be on-site selling hot beverages and waffles to supplement your marshmallows!

Plus, we’ll have a limited supply of special S’mores Night-themed fleece blankets for a suggested donation of $10.

S’mores Nights are every (tentatively) Thursday from 4-6pm.

FoCSP’s winter programming is generously sponsored by The Hiawatha, PK Realty Management, The Westin Harborview Hotel, Friends & Family, and cPort Credit Union.

Drawing Circle
2022-04-14 16:00 - 18:00, 2022-04-28 16:00 - 18:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
A non-instructional drawing group with a live model. Free to all, though donations to the model are greatly appreciated.
All skill levels welcome. BYO easel and supplies, though some drawing pads and charcoal pencils are available.

Drumming Circle
2022-04-16 13:00 - 15:00 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Non-instructional, free, open to all levels and a safe space for all.
BYO drums, although some will be available to share.

Movie Night: Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing America
2022-04-26 19:30 - 20:30 | Congress Square Park, Portland, ME, 04101, United States
Join us as we kickoff a celebration of Frederick Law Olmsted, famous landscape architect, on what would be his 200th birthday!
We’ll be showing the documentary “Frederick Law Olmsted: Designing America,” and Fred’s Fried Dough food cart will be on-site with treats for purchase.
Rain date is May 1.
Click here for the trailer.
