Join Bangor in celebrating Stephen King’s 79th birthday with a 3-day party with a old-timey carnival, book signings, parade, activities, scavenger hunt, local-area beer garden, free activities, and more!
Stephen King’s 79th Birthday Carnival and “Pet Sematary” Pet Parade are on Sunday, Sept. 20. This event is free and EVERYONE IS WELCOME!
Come downtown to celebrate the King of Horror’s 79th birthday at 2 Feet Brewing with a spooktacular 3-day street party, sponsored in part by SK Tours of Maine and the In Derry, Maine T-shirt company. This year we’ve added an “Antique Roadshow”-style event for those who own King memorabilia — come find out what it’s really worth — “Photo Booths” and a “Dollar Babies Come Home” Film Festival, all on Saturday.
The Carnival and Pet Parade and many other activities are free for participants, thanks to generous community sponsors, like SK Tours of Maine, local attorney Zachary Smith and Birchbrook.
Sept. 18-20 – all weekend long!
“Long Walk” Scavenger Hunt, business hours (free)
There are 10 locations in downtown Derry (Bangor), Maine that are featured in Stephen King books or movies. Find all 10 and be entered into a drawing for a large prize. Free to enter.
Find “Steve,” business hours (free)
We’ve hidden a picture of Stephen King — actually a “Steve” face — in several downtown locations. Find them all and get entered into a drawing for a big prize! Free to participate.
Themed Dining Specials in THIRTEEN Downtown Locations
Stephen King Birthday Carnival Weekend Dining Specials: Eat your way through the 3-day celebration of Bangor’s beloved horror novelist’s 79th birthday celebration! Learn more and see the dining map…
FRIDAY Sept. 18
“Still Floating: 40 Years of Pennywise” book signing with Tom Deady, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM (free)
“In Still Floating: 40 Years of Pennywise” author Tom Deady (Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Haven) brings together 33 authors, artists, scholars and publishers to examine King’s “IT.” The book includes essays, artwork, and interviews with Glenn Chadbourne, Richard Chizmar, Brian Freeman, Jonathan Janz, Paul Michael Kane, Hans-Ake Lilja, Bev Vincent, Kris Webster and others. LOCATION: THE EMPORIUM SPOOKY GOODS & MORE, 51 MAIN STREET
SATURDAY Sept. 19
Stephen King Roadshow appraisals, 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM (free)
Stephen King roadshow event featuring Jake from Jake’s Rare Books. (Similar to Antiques Roadshow but with Stephen King items). Jake will help determine if items are authentic and if they have a real King signature. He’ll provide market value estimates for your Stephen King items and offer tips to properly preservation and care for books and other itmes. LOCATION: Nocturnum Draft Haus, 56 MAIN STREET.
King-themed “Photo Booths,” 12:00 PM – 3:30 PM (free)
We’re created a few Stephen King-themed “photo booths” and games of fun. Free. LOCATION: Columbia Street parking lot across from 2 Feet Brewing.
Dollar Babies Come Home Film Festival, 12:00 PM – 6:30 PM (free)
Mental Health Warrior Max Blaska from Madison, Wisconsin is returning to Bangor to host the “Dollar Babies Come Home Film Festival.” Stephen King’s “Dollar Baby” program allowed aspiring filmmakers to adapt his short stories for $1. The program ended in 2023, but 100s of short films were made. “I like the idea of all these films coming back to where the author wrote the stories they were based on,” said Blaska, who made a Dollar Baby called “Last Rung on the Ladder.” He added the film fest program will center on mental health and bullying since September is suicide awareness month. NAMI Maine will be on hand to provide resources. LOCATION: The Emporium Spooky Goods and More, 51 Main Street.
Author’s Alley, 1:00 PM – 04:00 PM (free)
Three King-authors make up this killer “Author’s Alley.” Caroline Bicks is the Stephen E. King Chair in Literature at the University of Maine at Orono. She has published a book called “Monsters in the Archives.” King said about this book “the best book about my process that I have read.” Bram Stoker Award-winning author Tom Deady will be on hand signing “Still Floating: 40 Years of Pennywise” along with other contributors to the compilation book. And… Sharon Kitchens will have her popular “Stephen King’s Maine: A History and Guide,” which gives you a look around the state King calls home. LOCATION: Nocturnem Draft Haus, 56 Main St.
Derry, Maine Beer Garden, 4:00 PM – 08:00 PM *tickets required
The Derry, Maine Beer Garden will feature brews from 2 Feet Brewing, Bangor Beer Company and other Derry, Maine-area breweries, and each ticket holder will get a one-of-a-kind souvenir Derry, Maine beer goblet. Stephen King-themed appetizers will be served in the garden, along with birthday cake. LOCATION: parking lot across from 2 Feet Brewing on Columbia Street. TICKETS required. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/stephen-kings-79th-birthday-carnival-tickets-1989221950402
SUNDAY Sept. 20
Stephen King’s 79th Birthday Carnival, 2:00 PM – 05:00 PM (free)
The Stephen King-themed old-time carnival will include a variety of games and crafts, including making paper boats out of newspaper and seeing if they float at the “We All Float” booth or posing for pictures with a life-size cutout of Stephen King at the “Stand By Me” picture booth … and many more. All this takes place for free thanks to a number of local supporters. Plus, vendors like The Emporium Spooky Gifts and More and the Not So Empty Nest will be on hand for those looking for the perfect King-themed item. Sawyer’s Hawaiian Shave Ice & Coffee and Salt & Cedar Kitchen will be back again to provide carnival fare. LOCATION: Cross Street.
“Pet Sematary” Pet Parade, 5:00 PM – 5:30 PM (free)
The “Pet Sematary” Pet Parade is for any pets or anyone dressed as a King Character to show off their outfits and have a blast doing it. This short parade ends with cheesecake provided by 2 Feet Brewing. Expect creepy clowns, gunslingers, and bloody prom dresses, along with some Stephen King-themed amusements. There’s something for every King fan. Don’t miss out on this wonderfully frightening event that will leave you screaming for more!LOCATION: Columbia Street.
