Upcoming events in Bangor
Dates and live ticket listings appear here as soon as they are on sale. The guide below covers what to know before you buy.
Bangor's seat question: lawn, reserved or arena
Most Bangor tickets come down to one choice: a reserved seat or a general-admission lawn spot at the Maine Savings Amphitheater, whose 16,500-person capacity lets it book big tours from about July through October. The rest of the year, the Cross Insurance Center handles concerts, comedy, family shows and basketball, with seating that changes from event to event.
Only two Maine cities are larger, and Bangor counted 31,753 residents in 2020, so its calendar is far busier than its size suggests. Fans drive in from across the region for summer shows, and the lack of a major-league team means sports interest centers on the University of Maine and the state high school basketball tournament.
- Outdoors: the Penobscot riverfront amphitheater, promoted by Waterfront Concerts in partnership with Live Nation.
- Indoors: the Main Street arena, which tops out at 8,500 for a concert.
- College sports: UMaine basketball downtown for many games, and Black Bears hockey up the road in Orono.
- Stage and orchestra: a resident professional theater company, and a symphony that plays on the UMaine campus.
Reserved seats vs. the lawn on the waterfront
Opening night at the Railroad Street site in Waterfront Park was July 27, 2010. It has gone by three names: Bangor Waterfront Pavilion until 2013, Darling's Waterfront Pavilion until 2022, and the Maine Savings Amphitheater since. About 6,400 fixed seats rise in tiers toward the stage, and a general-admission lawn behind them brings the top capacity to 16,500.
- Choose a reserved seat if you want a fixed spot and an unobstructed look at the stage. Center sections close to the front draw the most demand, and the side sections trade some angle for a lower cost.
- Choose the lawn if you are happy to arrive early, sit on the ground or stand, and spend less. From the back of the lawn you will be watching the video screens more than the stage.
- Dress for the river. This is an open-air site, and September and October nights can get cold after sunset. Bring layers, and check what the promoter currently allows for bags and how it handles rain.
Indoor options in Bangor and Orono
Cross Insurance Center
The arena at 515 Main Street opened on September 10, 2013, replacing the 5,948-seat Bangor Auditorium. A standard event seats roughly 5,800, a concert can reach 8,500, and the convention wing attached to it hosts about 2,000. More than half of UMaine's basketball games are played here, as is the statewide high school tournament run by the Maine Principals' Association, which moved over from the old auditorium and fills the stands with fans from small towns everywhere. The fall 2026 lineup shows the range: John Mulaney on November 5, a WWE card on November 6, Sugarland on November 11, plus monster trucks and regional MMA. For concerts, check whether the floor is sold as standing room or seats before you choose between the floor and a raised seat.
Alfond Arena
The Harold Alfond Sports Arena has served Black Bears hockey since 1977; its listed hockey capacity for 2022–23 was 5,125, and the state's hockey hall of fame is inside. It is small for a college hockey building, so games against the most popular opponents can sell out fast.
Collins Center for the Arts
The Bangor Symphony Orchestra performs in this campus hall, which has 1,435 seats and dates to 1986. Founded in 1896, the orchestra is the oldest community orchestra in the country still in continuous operation.
Penobscot Theatre Company
Since 1983, this professional company has produced a yearly slate of dramas, comedies and musicals in Bangor.
Bangor through the year
- July to October: the Waterfront Concert Series, busiest in midsummer.
- Summer: the state fair, an annual Bangor event with a run of more than a century and a half.
- October to March: Black Bears hockey in Orono.
- November to March: UMaine basketball downtown.
- Late winter: tournament weeks, when visiting families take most of the hotel rooms.
- All year: indoor tours, stand-up, family events, the symphony and the theater season.
Reaching Bangor and the venues
Five airlines (American, Delta, United, Allegiant and Breeze) fly from Bangor International, about 3 miles west of town, to major hubs and Florida. Driving is still the norm, since Bangor serves as the hub for shopping and services across central and northern Maine. The waterfront venue is on the edge of downtown; the arena is a few minutes south on Main Street, on foot or by car; the university venues in Orono are a short drive north. On big amphitheater nights, the streets and lots near the waterfront fill early, so plan extra time on the way in and out.
Practical notes for a Bangor show night
- Eat downtown. Restaurants and bars a short walk from the waterfront make dinner before a show easy, though they fill fast on concert nights.
- Main Street: the arena corridor, with the city's casino, Hollywood Casino, for food and a late night.
- Reserve a room early. The city has relatively few hotels, and summer shows pull fans from hours away.
- Leave time for the drive home. A long drive after a late show calls for patience in the parking lot, not speed.
- Take a look around. Visitors like to pass by the house Stephen King owns and to photograph the giant Paul Bunyan figure from 1959.
Every Reserved Seat order includes guaranteed entry. Current arena event details are at crossinsurancecenter.com.
Frequently asked questions
Is the lawn or a reserved seat better at the Maine Savings Amphitheater?
Reserved seats give a fixed spot and a clear view of the stage. The general-admission lawn costs less and suits early arrivals, but from the back you will rely on the video screens.
How many permanent seats does the Bangor amphitheater have?
Roughly 6,400 fixed seats. Add the lawn and the venue can reach 16,500.
When do waterfront concerts run in Bangor?
Typically July into October, with midsummer the busiest stretch. The arena on Main Street books indoor shows year-round.
Are UMaine hockey tickets hard to get?
They can be. The Alfond Arena in Orono seats 5,125 for hockey, small for a college hockey building, so games against popular opponents can sell out quickly.
What did the Cross Insurance Center replace?
The old Bangor Auditorium, a local landmark with 5,948 seats. Its 2013 replacement holds about 5,800 at a typical event and 8,500 at a concert.