Stephen King is turning 78 on Sept. 21, 2025, and his hometown of Bangor, Maine is having a party!
In Derry, Maine LLC, in partnership with 2 Feet Brewing, SK Tours of Maine, several Bangor businesses, groups, and Constant Readers are hosting a birthday block party for Maine’s favorite author.
We are closing down Cross Street in order to host a Stephen King-themed old tyme carnival under the Umbrella Sky Project, and later in the day, a “Derry, Maine Beer Garden,” in the parking lot across from 2 Feet Brewing on Columbia Street.
Expect creepy clowns, gunslingers, and bloody prom dresses, along with some Stephen King-themed amusements. There’s something for every King fan.
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
Stephen King Carnival
The Stephen King-themed old tyme 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 under the Umbrella Sky Project on Cross Street.
3:30 PM – 4:00 PM
“Pet Sematary” Pet Parade
Pet owners are invited to dress up their pets as Stephen King characters for this short parade down Columbia Street.
4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Derry, Maine Beer Garden
The Derry, Maine Beer Garden will be held in the parking lot across from 2 Feet Brewing on Columbia Street.
Brews from 2 Feet Brewing, Blaze, Geaghan’s, Naiad, Sea Dog and other Derry, Maine-area breweries will be on tap, 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.
Tickets for the beer garden are $44.52 and are available on Eventbrite.
Folks can dress up as their favorite Stephen King character and expect a variety of family-friendly games and crafts at the carnival, including making paper boats out of newspaper and seeing if they float at the “We All Float” booth, posing for pictures with a life-size cutout of Stephen King at the “Stand By Me” picture booth, or taking a 10-minute “The Long Walk” walking tour of downtown Derry … and many more. Penobscot Theatre and 10 Bucks Theatre are scheduled to participate and are working on ideas to bring Stephen King’s books to life. A “Pet Sematary” Pet Parade is scheduled to take place on Columbia Street at around 3:30 p.m.
Then, the “Derry, Maine Beer Garden” that features Bangor-area-made brews will open up, running from 4-8 p.m. 2 Feet Brewing, Geaghans, Naiad, Sea Dog, Blaze, along with other Derry-local beers will be on tap and everyone in the garden gets a one-of-a-kind souvenir Derry, Maine goblet. Stephen King-themed appetizers will be served at the brewfest, along with birthday cake for the city’s most famous resident.
Tickets for the beer garden are $44.52 and are available on Eventbrite.
Those with questions can contact Nit-Noi Ricker at 207-299-8276, or email: Inderrymaine@gmail.com; or SK Tours of Maine at 207-947-7193.