The Bangor Waterfront is a city park on the Penobscot River at the foot of downtown Bangor, off Railroad Street. The city says it has a river walk, seasonal food trucks, picnic tables, benches and open space, and that it is home to the Maine Savings Amphitheater. Because the amphitheater is the best-known thing on it, most search results are about concerts. This guide covers the park itself, plus concert-day parking and where the sources disagree.
Bangor Waterfront at a glance
- What it is: a riverside park run by Bangor Parks & Recreation, per the city’s Waterfront page. The city says it sees hundreds of thousands of visitors every year.
- Address: 55 Railroad Street for the park, per the city’s Parks & Recreation facility page. The amphitheater lists 1 Railroad Street.
- In the park: bathrooms, picnic tables and benches, a parking lot, walking paths, a large open space, a marina, electrical outlets and water hookups, per the same page.
- Trail: Maine Trail Finder lists the Bangor Waterfront Trail at 1.00 mile one way, paved, with pets permitted. It was partly closed when we checked. See the trail section below.
- Concerts: the Maine Savings Amphitheater sits inside the park, with ticketed shows through the warm months.
- Park hours and admission: not listed on the city’s pages. The Parks & Recreation office is open weekdays 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 207-992-4490.
Where the Bangor Waterfront is
maine.com places it on the Penobscot River at the foot of downtown Bangor, a few minutes’ walk from Main Street. The city’s own Waterfront page gives no street address for the park. The Parks & Recreation facility page lists 55 Railroad Street, and the amphitheater and its box office list 1 Railroad Street, so you will see both. The Parks & Recreation office is a different address, 647 Main Street. For the rest of downtown, see our guide to Downtown Bangor.
What is at the waterfront
- Riverwalk: the city lists a river walk, and Maine Trail Finder lists river views, sculptures and a public small craft dock along the trail.
- Food trucks: the city lists seasonal food trucks. A May 2022 Bangor Daily News story said five truck spaces were filled for the first time since 2018, including Pompeii Pizza and Wild Cow Creamery. That is a 2022 lineup, so check what is there now. Most trucks post their own schedules.
- Boating: the city’s Harbor page says Bangor Landing has two public docks with water, power and pump-out, open May 15 through October 15. Maine Trail Finder also marks a hand-carry boat launch. Dock reservations go through the city’s harbor inquiry form, and the harbormaster’s number is 207-992-4490.
- Restrooms: the city says the Harbormaster’s Office on the waterfront has public restrooms during daytime hours and at many evening events, plus a water fountain and bottle filling station. A 2023 comment on Maine Trail Finder says the public restrooms were closed, so do not count on them.
- Cruise ships: the same city page lists a cruise line, and in 2022 the Bangor Daily News reported weekly Monday stops by an American Cruise Lines ship through late September, the line’s first Bangor stop in more than a decade. We could not confirm current schedules.
- Events: Maine Trail Finder says concerts and festivals are held in the park in summer. The city page names only the amphitheater.
The Bangor Waterfront Trail
- Length and surface: Maine Trail Finder lists 1.00 mile one way, paved, rated level 1 for difficulty. It does not give a start and end point.
- Dogs: pets are permitted, per Maine Trail Finder. The city’s pages do not address dogs, so confirm with Parks & Recreation if it matters.
- Connections: Maine Trail Finder lists the Kenduskeag Stream Trail as a connector, and links the River City Trail and the East Coast Greenway.
- Status: Maine Trail Finder marks the trail as partially open, with an alert that the lower half is closed for a long-term construction and water treatment project. The alert gives no end date, so check with Parks & Recreation at 207-992-4490 before you plan a full walk.
Parking and getting there
On a normal day, Maine Trail Finder says there are several municipal lots near Front and Railroad Streets, with restrooms, a water fountain and food trucks. On concert nights it is a different picture. The Bangor Daily News’s concert guide says you can add parking at the Pickering Square garage to a ticket for $30 through Ticketmaster, and that public lots are nearby on Columbia and Harlow streets. It also lists street parking downtown and in nearby neighborhoods, and paid parking at Shaw’s Supermarket and Bangor Savings Bank. maine.com says the paid lots nearest the venue fill first, and suggests parking uphill toward Main or Broad Street and walking down. Vehicles cannot drive up to the venue gates for drop-off or pickup, according to the BDN. Shuttles are available by request, and accessible seating can be arranged at 207-358-9327.
Concerts at the Maine Savings Amphitheater
- What it is: an open-air amphitheater in Waterfront Park, owned by the City of Bangor and run by Waterfront Concerts, which Wikipedia lists as part of Live Nation. Tickets go through the venue’s site, waterfrontconcerts.com.
- Opened: July 27, 2010, with a Celtic Woman concert, per Wikipedia.
- Names: Bangor Waterfront Pavilion from 2010 to 2013, Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion from 2013 to 2022, and Maine Savings Amphitheater now. That is why older tickets and listings carry other names.
- Season: Wikipedia says typically July through October. Visit Maine says each summer, and maine.com says late spring into early fall.
- Bags and chairs: the BDN’s 2025 guide lists clutch bags up to 8 x 5 x 2 inches and clear bags up to 12 x 12 x 6 inches, with no lawn chairs or blankets. maine.com says bag and chair rules are set per show, so read the event page before you go.
- Food: food, drink and alcohol vendors operate inside, per the BDN, and food trucks typically sit on the waterfront just outside. Nearby restaurants named in that guide include Sea Dog Brewing Co., Timber Kitchen + Bar, Carolina Sports & Spirits, Penobscot Pour House and Seasons.
A short history of the waterfront
- Before the park: a 2018 Bangor Daily News story said the waterfront was not much more than a dumping ground about 20 years earlier, and by 2018 had a riverside park, a concert venue, food trucks, a growing marina and Bangor Savings Bank’s new waterfront campus.
- 2002 to 2004: the National Folk Festival came to Bangor for three years, per the same story.
- 2005 to 2019: Wikipedia says the American Folk Festival began in 2005 and was held each August at Waterfront Park. In November 2019 its organizers announced they had dissolved the organization, so it no longer takes place.
- 2010: the amphitheater opened, and Wikipedia says a 2012 proposal to make it permanent went to the City Council, which kept the venue but declined a permanent stage.
- 2013 and 2018: Wikipedia lists a 2013 renovation that expanded capacity, and another expansion in 2018.
Why the sources disagree
- The name. Waterfront Park, the Bangor Waterfront, Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion, Bangor Waterfront Pavilion and Maine Savings Amphitheater all refer to the same place, at different times.
- The address. 55 Railroad Street on the Parks & Recreation page, 1 Railroad Street for the venue, and none at all on the city’s Waterfront page.
- Capacity. Wikipedia’s infobox says up to 16,500 and its text says up to 15,000 depending on configuration. The BDN’s 2018 story said 16,000 seats. maine.com and Visit Maine give no number.
- The season. July through October, each summer, or late spring into early fall, depending on the source.
- The trail. Maine Trail Finder says it is partially open, with the lower half closed for construction. The city’s pages do not mention the closure, so current status needs a call.
- The folk festival’s start. The National Folk Festival began in Bangor in 2002. Wikipedia dates the American Folk Festival to 2005.
Bangor Waterfront: FAQ
Where is the Bangor Waterfront?
On the Penobscot River at the foot of downtown Bangor. The park is listed at 55 Railroad Street, and the amphitheater at 1 Railroad Street.
Is Bangor Waterfront Park free?
We could not find an admission fee for the park. The Parks & Recreation page lists a $25 permit fee for anyone using the waterfront for a function, and concerts are ticketed.
Where do you park at the Bangor Waterfront?
Municipal lots near Front and Railroad Streets on regular days, per Maine Trail Finder. On concert nights the BDN lists Pickering Square garage, lots on Columbia and Harlow streets, street parking, and paid lots at Shaw’s and Bangor Savings Bank.
How long is the Bangor Waterfront Trail?
Maine Trail Finder lists 1.00 mile one way, paved. It was marked partly closed for construction when we checked.
Are dogs allowed on the Bangor Waterfront Trail?
Maine Trail Finder says pets are permitted. The city’s pages do not address dogs, so confirm before you bring one.
Are there food trucks at the Bangor Waterfront?
Yes, the city lists seasonal food trucks. In 2022 the BDN reported five truck spaces, and the trucks post their own schedules.
What was the Maine Savings Amphitheater called before?
Bangor Waterfront Pavilion from 2010 to 2013 and Darling’s Waterfront Pavilion from 2013 to 2022, per Wikipedia.
Can you bring chairs to a Bangor Waterfront concert?
The BDN’s 2025 guide says lawn chairs and blankets are not allowed, and lists the bag sizes. maine.com says rules are set per show, so check the event page.
Does the American Folk Festival still happen in Bangor?
No. Wikipedia says the 2019 festival was the last, and the organization was dissolved in November 2019.
Can you launch a boat at the Bangor Waterfront?
The city says Bangor Landing has two public docks, open May 15 through October 15, and Maine Trail Finder marks a hand-carry boat launch. Dock reservations go through the city’s harbor inquiry form.
Our details come from the City of Bangor Waterfront page, the Parks & Recreation facility page, the city Harbor page, Maine Trail Finder, Wikipedia and its American Folk Festival entry, Visit Maine, maine.com, and Bangor Daily News stories on the 2025 concert season, the folk festival and waterfront, food trucks and the cruise ship. Rules, hours and schedules change, so confirm before you go.