Portland Library

Summer Reading Evening Shows

Portland Library's family-friendly Summer Reading Evening Shows are held on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. on the Town Green by the gazebo. All shows areFREE and attendance is not limited. In case of inclement weather, however, the shows will move indoors to the Mary Flood Room at the Portland Library and only the first 90 people on the registration list will be admitted. For that reason, registration is recommended.

June 22: Marvelous Marvin’s Circus Arts Workshop

During this interactive program that focuses on health and fitness, Marvelous Marvin will teach kids how to juggle scarves, balls, clubs and spin plates. Patrons can also walk on stilts, tame the rhythm sticks, twirl rings, and discover your own balancing skills in Marvelous Marvin’s Circus Arts workshop.

June 29: SteveSongs

Known as a “modern day Pied Piper,” Steve Roslonek of SteveSongs blends participatory songs, clever stories and great melodies to create what the Boston Globe called "not just a musical journey but an entertaining, interactive and educational one." With fifteen years and eight albums under his belt, Steve has performed at over 3000 shows across the country. He’s won numerous prestigious awards, including 2 Parents’ Choice Gold Awards, a Nappa Honor, 2 iParenting Media Awards, and 2 Children’s Music Web Awards, and can be seen on PBS Kids performing original interactive songs that reinforce the day’s curriculum them. Combining his two passions, music and kids, has yielded what Steve calls “the coolest job ever.”

July 13: Sunny Train

Anastasia LaLa and Christopher Jankowski are musicians, composers, actors, playwrights and educators who have been performing, teaching and creating for 20 years. This husband and wife duo, both Music Together and Child Light Yoga trained, are the co-creators and artistic directors of Sunny Train. Combining happy harmonies with the arts, Sunny Train brings fun interactive shows and workshops for all ages. Original music, yoga, dance, drums, games, improv, creative drama, circus arts and the world's biggest bubbles; Sunny Train inspires friends and families to sing, smile and play together.

July 20: Gem Hoops

Meg Geyser of Gem Hoops picked up her first hoop in 2008, and has been obsessed with hooping ever since. She has performed at fairs, yoga retreats, drum circles and festivals throughout New England. A Yale-trained nurse psychotherapist with many years of experience working with patients suffering from all types of mental illness, Meg’s classes are designed to encourage and facilitate playfulness, confidence, and joy while generating a sense of self-acceptance and peace. She begins each show with a performance and quick introduction about the basics of hooping, then she leads the participants through a basic hooping “playshop” where they learn how to waist hoop, play hooping games, and learn a few easy dance moves and/or routines.

July 27: Jester Jim

This is not your ordinary juggling show! With a trunk full of props and a looping machine, Jester Jim takes the stage and starts his show. Young and old will be glued to his every sound as he performs his amazing beatbox intro. Kids and adults alike will be talking about Jester Jim's wild antics for weeks! We have had Jim at Portland Library before and he was a wild success; we’re looking forward to having him back this summer.