Monthly Roundup: June

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Your go-to blog for tips and stories from our USM campuses and Southern Maine.


@usouthernmaine

June

Monthly Roundup

Welcome to the Monthly Roundup, your go-to guide for what’s happening at the University of Southern Maine and across the Greater Portland area each month! During the summer, we feature community festivals and local events happening across Southern Maine, plus summer stops — walkable spots near campus or along the Busky where you can grab food, meet friends, and explore the region. This series will keep you connected to what’s new, what’s next, and what’s worth checking out across our Portland and Gorham campuses and beyond.

June 2026 in Southern Maine

USM community members marching in Pride Portland parade carrying a banner reading "University of Southern Maine #USMhaspride" with rainbow flags and lei

June 20

Parade at 11:30 a.m.

Downtown Portland

Free!

Celebrate love, community, and inclusion at Portland’s annual Pride festival featuring a parade, live performances, food vendors, and vibrant energy throughout the city. USM’s Office of Student Engagement and Belonging is organizing a group to march in the parade — sign up to join!

June 5 (and the first Friday of every month)

5:00-7:00 p.m.

Downtown Portland

Free!

Explore Portland’s creative side at this free monthly art walk featuring open galleries, artist demos, and downtown culture — walkable from the Portland campus.

June 25-27

4:00-7:00 p.m.

Pineland Farms, New Gloucester

$7

Celebrate the season with live music, local food, strawberry picking, and sunset views at this unique summer event at one of Maine’s most beautiful working farms.

Every Thursday & Friday throughout the summer

5:00-9:00 p.m.

Thompson’s Point, Portland

Free!

Enjoy live music, food trucks, and waterfront views at this weekly summer series — perfect for unwinding after a long week.

Summer Stops: Bites Along the Busky

Assorted jars arranged on a vendor table

Eastern Promenade Food Trucks

Grab dinner — and dessert — from the food trucks and catch sunset views at the Eastern Promenade. Walkable from the Busky stop at Hancock St. and Thames St.

Purple, pink, and white crocus flowers blooming in a park

Tandem Coffee Roasters

Stop by for their famous breakfast sandwiches, pastries, and excellent coffee at this Portland favorite. Walkable from Portland campus, or from the Busky stop at Congress St. and Elm St.

Detailed view of seaweed fronds

Little Pig

Craving Thai food? Grab takeout or snag a seat on Little Pig’s patio for dumplings, banh mi, and Thai-inspired dishes. Walkable from Portland campus or from the Busky stop at Congress St. and Elm St.

Detailed view of seaweed fronds

Blend It

Beat the heat with a smoothie or fresh juice at this Gorham favorite. Walkable from Gorham campus or the Busky stop at Main St. and Water St.

Eastern Promenade gazebo overlooking Casco Bay with sailboats on the water and Portland waterfront in the distance

Did you know…

The Eastern Promenade was designed in 1905 by the Olmsted Brothers — the same landscape architecture firm that created New York’s Central Park and Boston Common. Today, the 68-acre park on Munjoy Hill offers sweeping views of Casco Bay and has been a favorite gathering spot for over a century.

Spotted on campus this month

Students gathered on the Bean Green outside McGoldrick Center, some sitting in Adirondack chairs while others play guitar and relax on the lawn

Spotted on the Bean Green

Soaking up the sunshine: students studying, strumming, and relaxing on the Bean Green outside the McGoldrick Center on the Portland campus.

Follow Vivienne Predock:
Vivienne Predock is a storyteller and content creator with a background in education, media production, and digital communication. A Colby College graduate, she is drawn to stories that are authentic, inclusive, and rooted in place — highlighting the people and ideas shaping Maine's future.