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Get Tickets Now for “YOUR Night Out”

Thursday, November 21 – 7 PM- 9 PM @ Baby Booty Portland Studio

Step away from the hustle and stress of your everyday and join us for a relaxing and social night designed for YOU! Decompress, pamper yourself, indulge. We are psyched to partner with Baby Booty to co-host this and we are working with lots of other amazing businesses who will be providing drinks, snacks, raffles, botox, ear piercing, shopping, a champagne wall and SO MUCH more. We are adding new partners everyday BUT we have limited tickets. Grab your ticket now and count the days until you can step out for a few hours for YOU. Welcome to ✨YOUR Night Out✨🎟️

All are welcome (you don’t have to be a Baby Booty client, or a mom!!)… but 21+ only, please. See you there!

Purchase Tickets

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Attend Real Maine Mom’s The Little Gym Pre-Open House

Real Maine Mom is excited to announce an exclusive opportunity for Real Maine Mom followers. You are invited to attend a FREE Open House Event on Saturday, November 9th, 2024 at 10 AM. Pre-register here.

At The Little Gym, your child will grow skills, learn, and most importantly have SERIOUS FUN! From their first steps to confident flips, The Little Gym is here to empower children for life’s adventures. Classes support your child’s physical, social, and emotional growth giving them the confidence to be the best that they can be!

Be one of the first to attend the first FREE public open house at The Little Gym’s brand-new Scarborough location! While the little gym welcomes children ages 4 months to 12 years into their classes, this special, pre-opening event is best-suited for children ages 3 – 8. Your child is invited to explore, play, and meet the instructors as they train for their grand opening. Spots are limited, so sign up today for Real Maine Mom’s special open house right here or simply send an email to lisa@realmainemom.com!

Please don’t hesitate to contact us with any questions.

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Science-Themed Birthday Fun in Portland!

Webb Photo
Webb Photo
Webb Photo

Ironically, being someone who is also a resource for local birthday party options, I was feeling a bit unmotivated about planning another big birthday party this year. I thought it might be better to keep things very small and simple. Then, my daughter, full of so much innocence and wonder, asked if she could have a science-themed birthday party with her closest friends & family members. I quickly put practicality and simplicity aside and got to planning that party! I mean, how cool was it that she wanted a science-theme?! How could I not embrace and celebrate this theme choice? I quickly got to peeling through my own BIG Birthday Party List to come up with some options. While I am not a party-planner, per-se, I am obsessed with coming up with out of the box birthday party ideas, and I absolutely love showcasing the amazing local businesses that service Greater Portland.

The Venue

Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine

Webb Photo
Webb Photo
Webb Photo

The backdrop for this party was at the beautiful, Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine, located on Thompsons Point in Portland. We booked their Friday Fun Celebration slot, from 5 to 7 PM. With the Friday Fun Celebration, we had the Museum to ourselves, with access to the 1st & 2nd floor.

The party was set up in the lobby, where we hosted our entertainment, and had cake and pizza for the 1st hour, while the kids poked in and out of the climber and the little dress-up theatre. They were pretty satisfied with all of this but then in the 2nd hour we announced that the kids could play and access the exhibits on the 2nd floor! There was something truly special about being at CMTM at night with the littles!

Webb Photo
Webb Photo
Webb Photo
Webb Photo

Here’s a fun little backstory about what made CMTM a great fit for us… we actually had my daughter’s 2nd birthday party at the old location of the Children’s Museum the weekend before COVID restrictions hit. It was our last family outing prior to COVID. We had a really fun time and hoped to have another party with the Museum in the future, and fast forward 4 years and here we are! The Children’s Museum and Theatre of Maine has remained one of my, now 6-year old’s, most requested places to visit locally.

The Entertainment

High Touch High Tech of Maine

Webb Photo
Webb Photo
Webb Photo
Webb Photo
Webb Photo

I clearly knew my daughter was going to get a huge kick out of hosting her birthday party at the Children’s Museum, but she had asked for a science-themed party and I really wanted to deliver on that. I decided to reach out to High Touch High Tech of Maine, being somewhat familiar with their programming. I asked the director, Genia, if she could host a 30 minute or less, interactive science presentation and she more than delivered on this. To make things feel extra special, I ordered some lab coats, glasses and lanyards for the kids to help them feel like official scientists. For Genia to keep the interest and attention of these kids at the end of a long school day/week, that is certainly saying something. Read more about High Touch High Tech of Maine in the Business Spotlight section.

The Favors

SugarME

Webb Photo
Webb Photo

Meredith, owner of SugarME, is an extremely talented cookie baker and decorator located in Yarmouth. Customizing cookies for our party with Meredith was super easy. I just sent her some pics of our decor and theme and she took it from there, designing the cutest, science-themed, cookie set. These cookies really tied everything together and they were one of the aspects I was most excited about. She even provided a special cookie for the Museum in our order!

Heavenly Dough Creations

Angel, owner of Heavenly Dough Creations, out of Lewiston, created some science-themed playdough favors to match our theme. I just gave her some pics of other decor we were incorporating as inspiration, and she ran with the order entirely. As a mom and a former Preschool/Pre-K teacher, Angel is both passionate about this new creative offering and qualified. I really loved how she included custom labels for the jars (she’s also a graphic designer). While we decided to go with the jars, she also had a popular “push-up pop” container option that makes a fun favor display. With our order she included an ingredient list and I thought that transparency was a really smart choice for safety purposes.

Photo by: Webb Photo

The Cake

MEPowered Pastries

This cake was a special selection. Laura, owner of MEPowered Pastries, had made an amazing 1st birthday cake for my other daughter they year prior with fresh strawberry frosting, and my 6 year old had mentioned throughout the year she wanted a cake by Laura with her fresh strawberry frosting, too. Of course you can hand any task over to Laura and her team and they will always knock it out of the park!

We purchased some custom cake toppers on Etsy and rock candy from Len Libby Candies and the cake made the most perfect centerpiece for our party!

Photo by: Webb Photo

The Photography

Webb Photo

When you put your heart and soul into a party, I have learned (the hard way) that you should always try to designate someone else to capture the photos. While it is not always possible to hire a photographer for this purpose, we were so glad for the opportunity to work with Jessica, owner of Webb Photo in Portland to cover our party. Jess and I connected over social media several months ago and we seem to stay connected over “mom-life”. She is amazingly real as a mom, warm as a person, and easy to work with as a photographer. What I loved was that she didn’t really require any direction from me (notice this theme?) and simply covered the best aspects of our party for us, just as we would have hoped! The thing is, while it may seem a bit over-the-top to hire a photographer for a kids’ birthday party, you can’t get these moments back. Moms will forever be scrambling at these parties and missing some adorable moments unless they delegate.

Other Local Party Aspects

For party food, we went with Ottos Pizza. We have used Ottos several times for parties because they have easy online ordering (even in advance of the party) and delivery. It is also my daughter’s favorite pizza and they have a gluten free pizza option as well which is great for our party guests.

In addition to our centerpiece cake, I decided to order multiple flavors of cupcakes from Cakes Extraordinaire in Yarmouth. Not only are the cupcakes delicious, but I like to find a way to support this business every time I can. This is because for a previous birthday party of ours, when another baker canceled last minute due to a snowstorm, the owner, Steve, offered to deliver us a cake with just a days notice. It was an unbelievable act of kindness and customer service that stuck with me.

We also picked up a couple of gluten free cupcakes at Bam Bam Bakery in Falmouth for our gluten-free guests as a way to celebrate their new opening. Everything in there store is gluten free!

Other Themed Items

Our decor was pretty simple with our focus on all the beautiful space & all the science fun The Children’s Museum provides the table coverings of your choice, which we did utilize, but I also bought some science-themed table coverings, a science backdrop and a fun set of party supplies from Amazon. For the favors, we picked up some science-themed bags, and pop rocks to go along with the other special local favors. We also grabbed enough rock candy sticks locally from Len Libby Candies in Scarborough to add to the favors.

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Business Spotlight: High Touch High Tech of Maine

All photos provided by: Webb Photo

I reached out to the Program Director of High Touch High Tech of Maine, Genia Sklute, in January about enlisting her services to help bring my 6-year-old daughter’s science-themed birthday party to life. While being somewhat familiar with the business beforehand, it was in that conversation that I became really intrigued with this business and their extensive offerings. 

An Impressive Background

What was most intriguing to me about this business? Genia’s level of education and background that she is able to apply to this role. Genia is actually a scientist with a PhD in Chemistry! With the opportunity to conduct significant chemical research, I couldn’t help but wonder and ask what led Genia from all of this to a role that focuses on educating children?  

Genia came into this role with a background in being an educator as well, teaching chemistry at universities for many years and serving as the founder and director of a university honors program.  Genia explained,

“Those roles provided me a unique opportunity to observe what works in education as a whole and in science education in particular. I always believed that kids (and adults) have better appreciation for and excitement about science if they are introduced to it in a way that is intuitive and relatable and as I observed young adults, I realized that it will be more effective if this introduction happens early in the child’s life. As I was considering it, I came across High Touch High Tech and the more I learned about it, the more I realized that it is a great fit to put my ideas and experience into practice. I feel fortunate that my experiences in life led me to my greatest passion – inspiring children to get excited about science.” 

More Than Birthday Parties…

While I can attest to the fact that Genia can put on a great birthday party “performance”, her offerings for kids extend well beyond this. When asked for more details about her offerings, Genia explained,

“We are offering a wide-variety of programming for kids ages 3-12. Those include, curriculum-aligned in-school field trips, afterschool programs, camps, parties and special events. In other words, we believe that we can meet kids wherever they are and engage them with hands-on science! Our philosophy is based on the idea that we all learn better and remember what we’ve learned when we are actively engaged in the process; what we refer to as guided inquiry. Our instructors-scientists are there to facilitate the process, while the kids inquire about how small and big things work and perform different experiments that answer those questions. The results are excitingly engaging and memorable. We often meet kids who participated in our programs in early age and reflect on their experience years later.” 

In the Classroom

If your kids were recently raving about a scientist visiting their school, there’s a good chance it was Genia or a member of her team! She has been traveling around and visiting schools across New England, helping to take the science curriculum to the next level and make it FUN! Genia explained,

“High Touch High Tech’s motto is “Science Made FUN!”. Our instructors are passionate about science, and we are excited to share our immersive science activities with you. We hope to reach as many kids in Maine as possible!”

Many Science Topics

If you’re like me and really only picturing chemistry-related programming, there is actually so much more that High Touch High Tech is offering in their curriculum. When I asked Genia what she wished more people knew about her business, Genia explained,

“We have a wide range of programming about (almost) every topic associated with science, from ocean ecosystems to indigenous engineering. All our programs are designed to align with the developmental stage of the respective age group and be FUN.” 

In summary, whether you’re like me and have a young child becoming interested in science and you want to have an awesome birthday party, or if you want to bring some great and FUN science programming to a classroom, you should definitely reach out to High Touch High Tech of Maine.  

Learn more and find all contact information on the High Touch High Tech of Maine website: https://sciencemadefunme.net/

All photos in this article were provided by: Webb Photo of Portland, Maine

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Kids’ Pick Awards 2024

Lisa & Lindsay at 2024 Kids’ Pick Awards Event, photo by Amanda Huebner Photography

In February 2024, we kicked-off our first annual Kids’ Pick Awards competition for Greater Portland. The month-long voting period was preceded by a public nomination process. In fact, most aspects of the awards were molded by a public process! Individuals were asked to vote only once per business/organization, per category. Over 13,000 votes were verified.

The local business community and parents, alike, showed such strong support for this new awards program, in it’s inaugural year, that we decided to offer our first annual Kids’ Pick Awards event on May 18th, 2024 at Ketcha Outdoors in Scarborough. The event was offered in partnership with Ketcha Outdoors and the support of a long list of local sponsors (see list below).

At the event, we recognized and celebrated the top 3 businesses and/or organizations in each category. The event also served as an opportunity to support the Locker Project. We offered a raffle with contributions from 18 local businesses an 100% proceeds went directly to the Locker Project. This organization has a very special mission of helping to feed food-insecure children and their families in the Greater Portland area. For more information, or to donate, visit mainelockerproject.org.

Sponsors

Thank you to our sponsors for helping to make this event possible. This was truly a community effort and what an amazing community it is!

Event Partner:

Lead Sponsors:

Silver Sponsors:

Bronze Sponsors:

2024 Results

Outdoor Playground

1.           Eastern Promenade

2.           Deering Oaks Park

3.           Payson Park

Beaches

1.           Ferry Beach, Scarborough

2.           Pine Point Beach, Scarborough

3.           Crescent Beach, Cape Elizabeth

Nature Trail

1.              Mackworth Island

2.           Wolfes Neck, Freeport

3.           Bradbury Mountain

Summer Camp (Ages 3 – 7)

1.           Wolfe’s Neck Center

2.           Ketcha Outdoors

3.              Fiddlehead Center for the Arts

Summer Camp (Ages 8 – 12)

1.           Ketcha Outdoors

2.           Animal Refuge League

3.           Wolfe’s Neck Farm

Swim Lessons

1.           Goldfish Swim School

2.           YMCA of Southern Maine

3.           Swimming B ISR

Dance Studio

1.           Studio for the Living Arts Dance Complex

2.           Drouin Dance Center

3.           Collective Motion Arts Center

Martial Arts Dojo

1.           Fournier’s Leadership Karate

2.           Dragonfire Martial Arts

3.            Centerpoint Martial Arts

Music Lessons

1.           317 Main

2.              Fiddlehead Center for the Arts

3.           Jacquis Music Studio

Team Sports Programming

1.           XL Sports Saco

2.           Gorham

3.           YMCA Southern Maine

Art Studio

1.           Color Me Mine

2.           Portland Pottery

3.           Love Lab Studio

Toddler Enrichment Class

1.           Little Music Maker with Miss Ellie

2.           Learning with Yaya- Spanish for Kids

3.           Growing Littles

Parent & Baby Class

1.           Baby Booty

2.           Birth Roots

3.           Playful Development

Hands-On Activity

1.             MEPowered Pastries

2.           Mad Science of Maine

3.           Mr. Drew & His Animals Too

Daycare

1.           Seedlings to Sunflowers

2.           Children’s Odyssey

3.           Heidi’s House

Preschool

1.           Childrens Odyssey

2.           Lil Folk Farm in Scarborough

3.           Kidz Go Eco

Indoor Play Place (0-5)

1.           The Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine

2.           Raise Playspace

3.           The PlayLOT

Indoor Play Place (6-12)

1.           Urban Air

2.           The Point

3.           Salt Pump Climbing

Birthday Party Venue (Ages 1-5)

1.           Mr. Drew & His Animals Too

2.           Raise Playspace

3.           The PlayLOT

Birthday Party Venue (Ages 6 – 12)

1.           Spare Time Portland

2.           Salt Pump Climbing

3.           Mad Science Portland

Birthday Cake

1.           The Cookie Jar

2.           Reilly’s Bakery

3.             MEPowered Pastries Tied With:

      Scratch Baking Co.

Party Entertainment & Experiences

1.           Mr. Drew & His Animals Too

2.           Castles in the Sky Events

3.           Maine Happy Glampers

Party Extras (Decor, Rentals)

1.           207 Bounce

2.           Castles in the Sky Events

3.           Maine Party Pop Tied with:

      Balloon Decor by Laur

Sweet Treats

1.           Holy Donut

2.           Wild Oats Bakery

3.           SugarME Maine

Kid Fitness Gym

1.           Maine Academy of Gymnastics

2.           Tumble Tikes

3.           Maine Warrior Gym

Animal Visits

1.           Smiling Hill Farm

2.           Maine Wildlife Park

3.           Mr. Drew & His Animals Too

Kids Musician

1.           Miss Ellie

2.           KindKids Music Duo

3.           Tunes with Tucker

Family Photographer

1.           Webb Photo of Portland

2.           Taylor Jan Photography

3.           Megan Gormley Photography

Ice Cream

1.           Toots Ice Cream, N. Yarmouth

2.           Smiling Hill Farm

3.           The Saco Scoop

Candy Store

1.           Wilbur’s of Maine

2.           Len Libby Candies

3.           Havens

Toy Store

1.           Treehouse Toys

2.           Island Treasure Toys

3.           Rainbow Toys

Clothing Store

1.           Lots for Tots

2.           Boutique Little

3.           The Hive

Haircuts

1.           Trimmings Falmouth

2.           The Borough Barbershop

3.           Salon Mimosa

Pediatric Practices – Tie for 1st Place

1.           Intermed Pediatrics

     Maine Medical Partners

2.          Personalized Pediatrics of Maine

Dental Office

1.           Just for Kids Pediatric Dentistry

2.           Southern Maine Pediatric Dentistry

3.           207 Pediatric Dentistry

Pizza

1.           OTTO Portland

2.           Flatbread Company

3.           Gorham House of Pizza

Best Kids Menu

1.           The Friendly Toast

2.           The Great Lost Bear

3.           Dunstan Tap & Table

Best Restaurant Atmosphere

1.           The Friendly Toast

2.           Maine Beer Company

3.           Gritty McDuff’s, Freeport

Indoor Family Activity

1.           Children’s Museum & Theatre of Maine

2.           Spare Time Portland

3.           Maine Mariner’s Hockey

Outdoor Family Activity

1.           Smiling Hill Farm

2.           Pineland Farms

3.           Portland Sea Dogs

Photos from 2024 Event

  • Cupcakes: Reilly’s Bakery
  • Great Room at Ketcha Outdoors
  • Cake from Hannaford Supermarket
  • Charcuterie by Charcutemarie
  • Charcuterie by Charcutemarie
  • Charcuterie by Charcutemarie
  • Vendor: MEPowered Pastries
  • Raffle Table & 24/25 Kid-Friendly Guide by Real Maine Mom
  • 24/25 Kid-Friendly Guide by Real Maine Mom
  • Bar by Roaming Speakeasy
  • Cookies by SugarME
  • Great Room Setup at Ketcha
  • Specialty Drinks
  • Seedlings to Sunflowers
  • Castles in the Sky Vendor
  • Great Room Setup at Ketcha
  • Flowers by Lindsay
  • Complimentary Champagne
  • SugarME Vendor Setup
  • Pizza by Brickyard Hollow
  • The Real Maine Mom Team
  • Vendor: SugarME
  • Balloons by Balloon Decor by Laur
  • Swag Bags for Attendees
  • Bubble Dome by Castles in the Sky Events with Balloons by Maine Squeaky Bee
  • Town Pride Vendor
  • Bubble Dome by Castles in the Sky Events with Balloons by Maine Squeaky Bee
  • SugarME Vendor Setup
  • SugarME Custom Cookie Printing
  • Vendor: Town Pride
  • Awards
  • Event Program
  • Cupcakes by Reilly’s Bakery
  • Lisa & Lindsay at 2024 Kids’ Pick Awards Event, photo by Amanda Huebner Photography

Kids’ Pick Awards: Background Info (Prior to the event)

Stemming from a simple idea of how we could bring more positivity and support to the Greater Portland kid-friendly community, it really all started coming together in early January 2024, when we began asking the public to weigh-in and help shape the program. With some input from local parents (and their kids) and local business owners, by mid- January, we had ironed out 40 different categories for voting. For a week preceding the voting, we allowed the Greater Portland community to submit their nominations across all of these categories, which would help streamline the voting process in February.

February 1st: Voting was opened with a simple voting page containing 40 (optional) categories to vote on, with dropdowns to all nominees and write-in capability. The new competition was promoted through Instagram, Facebook and by shared within our collaborative network of local businesses and engaged local parents. After a week, we took any businesses and organizations that received multiple write-in votes and added them to the voting page dropdowns as nominations as well. Voting concluded on February 29th. We allowed one vote per business/organization, per category, per email address. This means that any one person was allowed to vote only one time for their favorite business or organization in any given category, but they could technically vote for 2 businesses in any given category if they wanted to.

In March we verified over 13,000 votes! Every single category was competitive and received strong numbers for at least the top 3 businesses or organizations. Voting in a lot of categories was very close, and in some cases numbers were exactly the same! While we originally planned to release the results to the public by April, the the enthusiasm surrounding the contest gave us the confidence to move forward with an event and to let that serve as the first official announcement of the top 3 results for each category.

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Things to Do with Kids in Greater Portland Maine

If you’re looking for things to do with kids in or near Greater Portland, this list is for you! Bookmark and share this one because it will (hopefully) come in handy for you rain or shine and make your job a little less difficult. Whether you need to be indoors or out, check out this list (bookmark it) to find something.

Indoor Attractions

Play:

Bowling:

Swimming:

Creative & Hands-on Kid’s Activities:

Explore Science/ History/ Arts & More:

Outdoor Attractions

View/Visit Animals:

Amusement Parks:

Walk/Hike:

Sporting Events:

Drive-In Movies:

Mini Golf:

Tour & Explore:

Ski/Snowboard:

Didn’t see your business on the list? Reach out by direct message on Instagram or Facebook. I’d be happy to add any kid-friendly things to do to this list provided they offer drop-in style play or single class options regularly within a short drive from Greater Portland.

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The Family-Friendly Fourth Guide for Greater Portland!

Updated for 2024!

If you are looking for family-friendly events happening for Independence Day in Greater Portland, Maine and surrounding towns and communities, you are in the right place! This list is provided for your convenience, but information is subject to change at any point. The first section is dedicated to Fireworks and Parades, but we also list other famil-friendly happenings during the week of the 4th in the bottom section so dont miss it! As always, please verify all events with the event host website or social media accounts before making your arrangements.

low angle photo of fireworks

2024 Fireworks Shows & Celebrations

Portland

Where: Portland, Maine. Eastern Promenade.

When: July 4th, 2024

What:  7:00 PM Live music by the Casco Bay Wind Symphony

9:15 PM Fireworks- City of Portland fireworks will be held on the Eastern Promenade. According to City of Portland, you can view the fireworks from the following locations: East End Beach, Fort Allen Park, Amethyst Park, Baxter Boulevard, Payson Park, Martin’s Point on Veranda Street and Bug Light in SoPo. Food trucks will be set up on the road near Easter Promenade.

Where: Portland Seadogs, Portland Maine

When: July 3rd, 2024

What: Baseball and postgame fireworks to start the Independence Day celebrations.

South Portland

Where: Bug Light Park, South Portland, Maine

When: July 4th, 2024

What: 5:00 PM-7 PM: Arrival, kids activities, yard games, food trucks.

6-8 PM: Live music by the Downeast Brass Band

9:15 pm: Bug Light offers a view of the City of Portland Fireworks over Eastern Promenade.

Saco

Where: Funtown/Splashtown U.S.A. Saco, Maine.

When: July 3rd, 2024

What: 9:30 PM Fireworks Show.

Old Orchard Beach

Where: Old Orchard Beach

When:  July 3rd, 4th & 5th, 2024

What: 9:45 PM: Fireworks Show at the OOB Pier

Where: Ocean Park, Old Orchard Beach

When:  July 4th, 2024

What:  10 AM: Ocean Park Independence Day Parade. Kids can bring decorated bikes to ride in the parade! Band concert to follow the parade at the Bandstand.

Kennebunk/Kennebunkport

Where: Kennebunk Beach

When:  July 4th, 2024

What: Fireworks at dusk.

York

Where: York, Maine. Short Sands Beach

When: July 4th, 2024

What: 9:30 PM Fireworks show.

Where: York, Maine Near York Harbor Reading Room

When: July 6th

What: 9:30 PM/After Dark Fireworks show.

Ogunquit

Where: Ogunquit, Maine by the Ogunquit Chamber of Commerce

When: July 4th, 2024

What: 9:15 PM Fireworks show. Great views from the entire beach, from Main Beach all the way up to Footbridge Beach, North Beach and beyond!

Freeport

Where: Freeport, Maine

When: July 4th, 2024

What: 9:10 AM- 1 Mile Fun Run

10 AM- Freeport Main Street Parade

7:30 PM- L.L. Bean Summer in the Park, Concert at Discovery Park, L.L. Bean featuring country band 12/OC

9:15 PM- Fireworks extravaganza at Discovery Park

Sanford

Where: Sanford, Maine. Number One Pond.

When: July 3rd, 2024 Block Party & Firewords, July 4th Parade

What: Annual Independence Day Block Party

4:00pm – Vendors Open

6:00pm – Water Ski Show Warmups

6:30pm – Water Ski Show Starts

9:00pm(ish) – Fireworks Launch

10 AM (July 4th): Parade down Main Street.

Naples

Where: Naples Causeway, Maine

When: July 4th, 2024

What:

2:00 PM- Parade

Dusk- Fireworks show above Long Lake.

Lewiston/Auburn

Where: Lewiston / Auburn, Maine

When: Fireworks July 4th, 2024

What: The Lewiston/Auburn Liberty Festival. On Tuesday, July 4th, festivities will begin at 5 PM in Lewiston at Veterans Park and 6 PM in Auburn at Great Falls Plaza. Live music will be held on both sides of the river along with various vendors. Fireworks finale will be at 9:30 PM. 

Bath

Where: Bath, Maine, Waterfront (See more on the multi-day Heritage Days Festival at the bottom of this page)

When: July 4th, 2024

What: 10 AM- Parade

9:15 PM- Fireworks show

Limington

Where: Limington, Maine

When: July 3rd Fireworks, July 4th Parade

What: The Limington Fireworks show will be held on July 3rd at dusk over Webster’s Mill Pond, behind Sleeper’s Supermarket. There will be food vendors in the field. Then on July 4th the parafe will start at 10 AM and run from the Old Town Hall to the Municipal Complex.

More 4th Week Kid-Friendly Activities

  • Bath Heritage Days 50th Anniversary Festival: July 4th through 7th. Smokey’s Greater Shows, Live concerts and performances, Kids Day (July 5th) and much more. More Info Here.
  • Kids Fourth of July Cake Making Classes: Have your 5+ year old attend the Summer Bake Break cake making class on July 2nd at 2:30 at MEPowered Pastries. Additionally, as part of their regular Friday morning toddler series, MEPowered Pastries will be offering a American Flag cake baking class on July 5th for kids ages 18 mos to 4 years. Close out your 4th of July celebrations the right way with a delicious and patriotic cake!
  • LL Bean 4th of July Family Fun Run/Walk: July 4th at 9 AM- Sign Up at LL Bean.com.
  • Summer Sunset Series: Free concerts with food trucks at the Thompson’s Point. July 4th & July 5th from 4 PM to 8:30 PM
  • A Salute to the American Flag and Retirement Ceremony: July 6th, 6 PM at Veterans Park in Lewiston as part of the Liberty Festival. Featuring the 195th Maine Army National Guard Band. Please bring any flags that may need to be retired.

Know of more events you’d like to see here? DM me on Instagram or Facebook!

This list is provided for your convenience to give you an idea of what is going on in Greater Portland and it’s surrounding towns for Independence Day 2024. Please verify all information via the website of the city, town or organization that is hosting the event before making arrangements to attend. Information is subject to change and changes may not be reflected on this page.

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Turning 1 is a World of Fun!

If there is one thing I have learned in the last few years, it is the importance of celebrations. How ironic is it that the time in my life that I have less energy and hands I also have the most to celebrate?! Some people say why go through the trouble of planning big birthday parties and for me I guess it is my way to hold onto these moments for dear life, the moments that I live for when my kids are still kids. I will be wishing soon enough that I have this time back and I don’t want to regret having taken anything for granted. Does this have to mean throwing a big party and spending all kinds of money? Absolutely not. It can… but there is so much you can do with so little. My most recent celebrations have been a good mix of utilizing the best local services available to me, shopping for a few custom, yet affordable, touches and some DIY. When it all comes together it fills my heart to be able to make something unique and special happen for my kids. Kid related content is generally all I cover here on the Real Maine Mom Guide because that is what my blog and this stage of my life is all about.

1 Year Old

Birthday outfit linked here

My latest celebration to obsess over was my daughter’s 1st birthday. This past year was equal parts rewarding and challenging, but worth it times a million. I soak in every single second that I can with this child because I’ve been through this before and them my little baby woke up one day as a 5-year-old. These times really do fly by, but of course, we already know this so, yada-yada, let’s get onto the details of the party this party.

The Theme

Graphic provided by Printmorri – printed on a 3′ by 5′ banner for $12 here

The theme for this party was 100% selected by my 5-year-old. She knew, without a doubt, that the theme had to be “It’s a Small World”. It all started when we took my then 3-year-old to Disney World when I was pregnant with my youngest, and we took 2 or 3 spins on the It’s a Small World ride. The catchy song got caught in her head and she would sing and hum it often. We bought her a book and helped her learn the lyrics. She would sing this song to her baby sister (both in and out of the womb) and her sister would kick her leg just like the dancing ladies on the ride. We all would giggle, and the rest is history. My now 1 year old will still stop what she is doing to kick her leg if she hears this song. When I tell you I had to dig for themed party décor, I really mean it. Aside from the local Maine businesses who clearly brought the wow factor to this party, Etsy was my best resource for decor. If ever you are looking for something random or custom, you’ve got to check out Etsy. More on the shops that helped me to really pull this theme through a little later on this post. If you found your way to this page because you are planning or contemplating to plan an “It’s a Small World” themed birthday party, but you are not local to Maine, you’ll likely want to just skip to the bottom. My first priority on this site remains to be supporting local, so I will cover that aspect next in all of it’s glory.

The Local Businesses

If you have been following along with me in any capacity, you know that I am an avid supporter of local businesses. Full disclosure here is that I am also a reasonable human being with some budgetary limitations, so I am not claiming to be anti-establishment. I.E.- Don’t come for me if you see me making my life a little easier with a Walmart Grocery pickup. You can expect that I will rarely pass by a relevant local business post without liking or sharing it though, because it takes 2 seconds to do so and is free.  

I had the pleasure of working with 4 local businesses on this party, and in each case, I would recommend their services. I do weed through lists, photos and reviews and make many contacts before settling on the fine businesses that I choose to work with. I can say with great confidence that I would use any of these businesses again in a heartbeat.

Inflate Maine

Maine Bounce House Rental Inflate Maine Kennebunk

We are lucky to have a few options for inflatable bounce house rentals in Greater Portland. For this party I was searching for a certain look and size, so I had to be choosy. I was so pleased to discover that Inflate Maine has a brand-new Kennebunk location that services our area with shiny & new rental options that met my needs. The original location, based out of Lisbon Falls, opened in 2022 and after a successful first year they expanded to our area. I went with the pink castle. Everything from booking to set-up to pick-up of the rental went super smoothly and professionally. The bounce house was brand new and super clean and worked out that we were able to keep the rental all weekend long. I’d definitely recommend using either location of Inflate Maine for your bouncy house needs!

Follow @inflatemaine on Instagram

I ordered the custom 5′ x 3′ birthday banner (hanging from inflatable) for $12 and received it in 10 days.

Balloon Décor By Laur

When my memories paint a picture of this party, I know it will include the beautiful balloon garland backdrop created by Lauren of Balloon Décor by Laur. Based out of Gorham, Lauren started her business when she was looking for balloon décor for her own son’s 1st birthday party. She discovered a hidden talent and added this business onto her already more than full time schedule because she just loves doing it! If you asked me before my party, I would have considered Lauren’s balloon garlands to be more of a luxury add-on item. While that is still true, of course, they added so much to the look and feel our party that I honestly cannot picture this party being all that it was without it. Balloon garland a necessity?! Maybe. I know I’ll definitely be using Lauren again. It really just was that special!

Follow @balloondecorbylaur on Instagram

Luxury Balloon Garland by Balloon Decor by Laur Maine

The multi colored bunting flags are made of fabric and can be used again. I really loved the quality and the look of the flags. We purchased the #1 balloon from our local Party City, as well as the high-chair skirt. I only learned after-the-fact that there are so many high chair banner options available and they make all the difference IMO for photos!

MePowered Pastries

It is no secret if you’ve been following along at all that my oldest daughter has been taking baking classes consistently with Laura of KidPowered/ MePowered Pastries. We used Laura’s kids baking biz as the entertainment for my 5 year old’s party in March. I don’t spend enough time sharing about the pastries of Laura’s that I have tried. It’s the perfect balance of deliciousness and responsible ingredient sourcing. When I heard that Laura also made 1st birthday smash cakes I just had to inquire. My second daughter has been a bit pickier of an eater than my first, and with little interest in food we were slower at introducing new foods. Instead of just choosing a cake with who knows what in it elsewhere, I jumped on the opportunity to send our good friend Laura a list of the things that my baby had tried and loved the most so she could incorporate them into the cake. Did the baby love the cake? Yes. Did it go to waste after the party? No way! My family dug right into it that evening after the party and the whole thing was delicious. If you ever in your life have the opportunity to try MePowered Pastries fresh strawberry frosting, take that opportunity and run! It was life changing. Ok, enough about me and my husband devouring my baby’s smash cake. The point here is if you want a super special cake for your baby that is uniquely made for their dietary needs or preferences by a mom who gets it, you should check in with MePowered Pastries.

Follow @mepoweredpastries on Instagram

Cakes Extraordinaire

Who orders cakes from 2 places? Guilty. Sure, Laura could have rocked our entire order but, I wanted her to focus on my special little lady. Additionally, my husband has been waiting since March for the next opportunity to order cupcakes from Cakes Extraordinaire in Yarmouth. They became one of our go-to bakeries when a different bakery cancelled our order the day before our 5 year old’s party and Cakes Extraordinaire stepped up to the plate for us in a big way. We ordered 3 dozen cupcakes in strawberry, vanilla and chocolate and they did not disappoint. They were light, fluffy and had perfect frosting. Our guests raved about them and we didn’t have to worry about too much leftover cake (not that that is ever a concern of mine). The owner Steve is very busy this time of year slinging wedding cakes, graduation cakes and more basically non-stop but still often is willing to entertain shorter-term orders than a lot of other local bakers- but still, don’t chance it!

Etsy Businesses

I would have been lost without the Etsy businesses that I worked with that really helped me to pull the theme together. I feel like this information would be especially useful to anyone who may want to plan an “It’s a Small World” themed party, but each of these businesses have so much more to offer, so I’ll try to mention a few of the other things they do as well.

My Magical Moments Co.

My Magical Moments co Its a small world clock

I was so happy to have found My Magical Moments Co. on Etsy when I was researching our theme. With a focus on magical home decorations these items would be perfect for anyone looking to add some special touches to a Mickey, Minnie or Princess-themed party or likely more popularly just as décor. I really love picking out party décor that is functional and can be used again, so I was over the top excited to add our It’s a Small World- themed clock to our party and to display it on our outdoor fireplace temporarily for the party, replicating the clock-tower look as best as I could… and after the party I moved it to our playroom. If you have a Disney loving friend or family member, I highly recommend checking out this shop for some great gift ideas including serving trays, coasters, signs, clocks and more!

Follow @mymagicalmomentsco on Instagram

Matice’s Designs

In my research for unique party favors to match our theme, I also found Matice’s Designs on Etsy. This shop handcrafts beautiful paper pinwheels to match all sorts of themes, including “It’s a Small World”. These were such a special added touch to our party. I have seen lots of unique themes offered by this shop, including Dr. Suess, Time Flies, John Deere, First Trip Around the Sun and super popular themes like Blippi and Frozen too!

Follow @matices.designs on Instagram

Paper Pinwheel It's a small world theme

More Party Images

matices designs paper pinwheel its a small world
Pinwheels by Matice’s Designs. Also these Passport sticker books & beach ball globes were great as favors.
5 strands of the bunting flags came in our order. Also the beach ball globes doubled as decor and were fun to play with in the bouncy castle. We also picked up some fun Kids From Around the World Cardboard cutouts (shown on pergola legs).
1-12 Month Photo Banner, Babies Around the World Book, It’s a Small World Hello World Book, and a couple DIY projects (suitcase & #1 cheeseboard)
The MePowered Pastries smash cake for size reference!

Real Maine Mom is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn a small percentage from qualifying purchases but this plays no part in the products I have tried and choose to recommend… and never costs you any more.

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Business Spotlight: Meg Hatch Photography

Meg Hatch Photography

I fall into the category of moms who like to get professional photos taken of my kids once or twice a year. I rarely select the same photographer and I don’t always plan too far in advance. I have always had a hard time imagining myself sticking with the same photographer like others often do… but then I had a couple of studio sessions with Meg Hatch Photography and I think I get it. Let me explain…

I had been following along with Meg Hatch Photography for the past couple of years and had no doubt she was a talented and well-loved local photographer. I am a sucker for a well-stylized studio set and I was recently scouring my list of local photographers to see who was doing anything fun and different in the studio. I wanted something special to capture this time with my girls. This was when I found some of the latest studio work that Meg had been doing. I loved the simple sophistication of her classic stylized sets, and I quickly grabbed a spot on her schedule. 

Setting Clients at Ease

To my surprise, on that first day in her studio, I found that Meg had more than just a great eye for photography. She was so easy to work with; our session was fun, casual and unrushed. It honestly felt like I was with a friend I had known for years. When you consider that I personally don’t love getting my picture taken (I get pretty awkward) it helps to have someone easy like Meg. I later learned that her ability to make us all comfortable is what truly sets her apart. This was also a common theme in her reviews on her “About” page. I asked Meg about this special trait, and here is what she had to say:

“One of my greatest strengths as a photographer is setting my clients at ease. Not everyone loves having their pictures taken. When I am walking back to the car with a senior who was very skeptical about the senior portrait experience and they say, “That wasn’t nearly as bad as I expected.” I do a little happy dance. When a parent says “There are so many gorgeous pictures, I don’t know how we will ever choose! I do a little happy dance.”

Parents: Get In Those Photos!

I have been known to opt-out of being in the photos with my kids in the past for a number of reasons (especially since I am not nearly as cute) but Meg encouraged me to get in our photos this time. She didn’t expect everything to be perfect. She didn’t really have me pose for too many photos in that first session either. Instead she paid no mind to my hot-mess-express arrival and captured real, raw moments in time of me with my kids, working around any quirks and imperfections I may see in myself. After all, getting clean, well-rested kids to the studio with clean clothing to wear is enough work as it is for a parent and often we simply don’t have the time to perfect what we look like. I guess what I am trying to say here is that a good photographer will still make it work. This is what Meg has to say about all of this:

“I scream from my soapbox about how important I believe it is for parents to exist in pictures. That comes from 3 places. First, the sad stuff… My parents are both gone and I wish I had more pictures of us together. I wish I had more pictures with my brother-in-law who passed away very suddenly last year… and don’t even get me started on my grandparents.  As cliché as it is, there comes a time when we cherish the photographs as a reminder of the love we had.  Second, the stupid stuff… I spent too long being prohibitively self-conscious about my belly rolls and fat face. When my babies were young it was all I could see in pictures. Now when I look back at the few pictures I am in, I see my youth, my wrinkle free face, and the GREAT BIG LOVE I have for my family.  Third, the empowering stuff… I want our youth to see us shedding our self-doubt and insecurities and embracing who we are and how we look, RIGHT NOW. It’s all just a passing phase and if we can love ourselves wherever we are on our journey, it says a lot to the little people who look up to us.”

Posed & Playful

I also have to say that Meg hit the nail right on the head when she said that she thinks people ultimately choose Meg Hatch Photography because “when your session is over, your time with me will have been fun and relaxed and sometimes silly and crazy, and occasionally subdued and meaningful. I think it’s because you trust that I will deliver some really pretty posed pictures, and plenty of playful ones, too.” I know from experience that you simply wont get this with every photographer. With Meg, we got the poses and the playful ones too, both times! We had fun! Of course my daughter is happiest upside-down, so we captured that too! If those are things you think you might appreciate, Meg is that total package.

Mother's Day Jean Jacket Photo by Meg Hatch Photography
Mother’s Day Jean Jacket Photo by Meg Hatch Photography

At the end of our Mother’s Day session, Meg asked if there were any other photos I wanted before I left. It is not my experience that photographers will ask this. Usually they just let me know that we are all set. If she hadn’t already made me feel so comfortable throughout my session, and proved that she could capture playful, un-posed moments in a previous session with us, I likely would have said, “I think we are good!” and hustled out the door. I felt comfortable enough to ask her if she could capture me with my girls wearing our matching jean jackets. I explained how special they were to me because it was our first matching outfits and the baby would soon be grown out of hers. Without hesitation, Meg agreed and set us up for these photos and just look at this special memory she captured for us (pictured above).

More About Meg

The Hatch Fam

I think Meg’s “About” section of her site is the best introduction to her authenticity and candor. You probably can’t get a better feel for who Meg is than reading that page. As I mentioned previously, the reviews that she features there were so in line with my experience as well. When gathering some information for this feature, Meg felt it was most important to cover what drives her as a photographer:

“I haven’t always valued photography. As a matter of fact, my only wedding day regret was having a friend take our pictures. While I love that he was willing to do so, 27 years later those pictures aren’t decorating my home. That fact is what motivates me most of all. I want my clients to walk by the pictures on their walls (NOT on their hard drives) and feel all of the love and joy that we captured on their picture day… whether it was a family session in the studio or on location, a senior session, or a milestone session. We shouldn’t wait for a wedding or graduation to make beautiful pictures. The littlest moments matter… like when your little one loses their front teeth or your teenager decides to experiment with their version of high fashion.“

Shortly after meeting Meg at her studio I heard a knock on her studio door. It was her husband delivering her morning coffee. I remember thinking that was nice of him, but later I read on her “About” page that he makes her coffee every single morning. How sweet is that?! Also, seeing this fun little tidbit come to life also spoke to her authenticity for me.

What’s Next?

What should you watch for with Meg? Even with summer being one of her busiest seasons, Meg has lots of summer photo-ops in the works that are geared towards young families. Keep your eye out on her Facebook Page for themed minis that may include preschool graduation sets, lemonade stands, ice cream, camping and more! She’s also an excellent option for family photos, baby’s first year and individual milestone sessions like cake smash photos! Schools, preschools and child care centers looking for something a little less cookie cutter for their school photos should check out Meg’s “NOT School Photos“!

Senior Photos

Expect to see lots of continued focus from Meg on high school seniors, an aspect of her business that she is known quite well for. Last year she worked with high school seniors from 26 different schools!

  • Senior Photo
  • Senior Photo
  • Senior Photo
  • Senior Photo
  • Senior Photo
  • Senior Photo
  • Senior Photo
  • Senior Photo
  • Senior Photo
  • Senior Photo
  • Senior Photo

“I LOVE my seniors and we work to make every session unique and to capture pictures that they LOVE. I include specialty portraits that capture what matters most to them. Sometimes it’s a bassoon, sometimes it’s a sport or activity, sometimes it’s acting or singing or reading or hiking. I love a challenge (like highlighting alpine skiing on one of the hottest August days) and I love collaborating in the planning process. The weirder the better (like when mom and sibling threw a bunch of colored pencils at a client last summer).”

About the Real Maine Mom (RMM) Local Business Spotlight- Real Maine Mom collaborates with local businesses in many different ways and sometimes it may involve exchanging services for services, sponsored advertisements or simply may reflect a business RMM highly recommends. In all cases the posts are offered based on content relevance and resonance. I will always do my best to qualify local businesses in good faith before recommending them. While I hope you love this local business as much as I do, I cannot express any warranty on behalf of any local businesses that I feature.

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Business Spotlight: Half-Full Organizing

After some little previews of warmer weather here in Maine, I can’t help but feeling like summer is truly on the horizon. I am already planning out my summer weekends and activities to get the most out of living in this beautiful state… but first, I am finding myself in spring cleaning mode with the urge to purge unnecessary items to lessen the clutter. I have the fleeing feeling that if the cleaning burden can be lessened that it will free me up for more summer fun. The question is, where to start? I recently spoke with local organizing expert Stacy of Half Full Organizing.  I asked Stacy to tell me a little bit about the why and how for her Greater Portland area home organizing business and her message really struck a chord with this mom:

“We’re Moms– which means we are busy and often overwhelmed with a never-ending to-do list.  As a mom of two young girls (age 8 and 5), I know what it’s like to run from one activity to the next, while remembering to grab more shampoo and Pirate’s Booty on the way home, only to cook dinner when we arrive.  Often our home falls to the bottom of the list.  Our home is a reflection of our mindset.  When our mind is cluttered, so is our space. Clutter can make it difficult to relax and makes us feel like there’s always more to do. I chose to name my company Half Full Organizing, because I believe decluttering your space is one of the best ways to declutter your mind and foster positivity– to help you see the glass half full.”

So I decided to take this opportunity to tap a little further into Stacy’s organized mind and see if she could give us busy parents some spring cleaning tips. I don’t know about you all, but part of my issue is I don’t even know how or where to get started with my overflowing to-do list. I’d really like to make some headway but there’s just so much on my plate. Stacy was so kind to put together this list of spring cleaning tips for us, which might be exactly what I need to get motivated. Check it out and feel free save/share this helpful infographic for some spring cleaning inspiration!

Still have the spring cleaning woes? Don’t fret, we don’t all have the time, energy or mindset to devote to this task and that’s ok! That is why Stacy started this business and she knows that decluttering is hard work:

“Organizing takes time, requires quick decision-making, and patience.  Creating systems and organizing takes time.  It requires being able to see the “big picture” of your family’s routines and needs, as well as the smaller details, it also requires patience.” Stacy explains.

If you need some extra help, make yourself a priority by investing in your space with Half Full Organizing.  Stacy can help you dwell less on where you have been and focus on where you are headed. She is ready to listen and help you navigate what can be an overwhelming and stressful task.  Half Full Organizing will save you both the time and the headache of tackling yet another thing on your to-do list.  In addition to decluttering, Stacy can also help families unpack after moving into a new home.

If you think you may benefit from some help from the Half Full Organizer, Stacy offers a free consultation. Simply reach out via phone (781) 307-1598 or email thehalffullorganizer@gmail.com to get started. Stacy will work with you to make a plan to achieve your organizing goals– in a way that works specifically for your family and budget.  Projects may include your kitchen, pantry, playroom, bedroom, closets, craft room, laundry room, garage, or basement. 

About the Real Maine Mom (RMM) Local Business Spotlight- Real Maine Mom collaborates with local businesses in many different ways and sometimes it may involve exchanging services for services, sponsored advertisements or simply may reflect a business RMM highly recommends. In all cases the posts are offered based on content relevance and resonance. I will always do my best to qualify local businesses in good faith before reccomending them. While I hope you love this local business as much as I do, I cannot express any warranty on behalf of any local businesses that I feature.

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