We spent the evening at the penultimate Belfast Summer Nights of 2024.

For those unfamiliar, Belfast Summer Nights is a free concert series held once a week over the summer at the Steamboat Landing Park in Belfast, Maine. Not only do they have great music, but you’re just a few footfalls from the historic downtown district full of restaurants, eclectic shopping opportunities, art, culture, the harbor walk, and the rail trail.

Belfast Summer Nights are often sponsored by local businesses. Tonight was no different with Little River Veterinary Hospital and GO LOGIC putting on the show.

Belfast is the center of arts and culture in Waldo County. This is plainly evident by the over 1,000 people in attendance tonight! It’s a truly happening place.

The Atmosphere

The sky was an immaculate blue punctuated by the rich amber sun on the horizon. Its golden rays lending a prismatic haze over the crowd. The grass was thick and well-kempt, inviting the patrons to take off their shoes and dance. But people weren’t the only thing dancing; the ocean rippled and gleamed, excited by the energy of the event.

Such a venue truly can’t be beaten. As you can tell from the video, Steamboat Landing Park is an absolutely gorgeous venue flanked on one side by the Penobscot bay harbor walk and, on the other side, the rising edifice of Belfast.

The Music

We arrived around 5 PM as the show was just starting. First up was Anni & The Rainmakers. Their performance was enjoyable. They played a few classic hits like “Wild Night” by Van Morrison and “Call Me” by Blondie.

There’s nothing like live music. Plus, seeing so many folks dancing and all the children playing just made for one of those trademark summer Maine evenings.

Then, it was The Hot Suppers, another local favorite. The music they played was a bit more in my wheelhouse, with the standout–at least in my opinion–being a cover of Bruce Springsteen’s “Dancing in the Dark.”

All in all, the music was wonderful.

Sitting amongst the crowd, I brought my favorite folding camp chair so I could enjoy maximum comfort.

The Food

Emily and I had cheeseburgers and fries from JC’s On-A-Roll, a staple of the Belfast waterfront. JC’s came highly recommended by not only The Vacationlanders writers @Emily and @Sarah, but also by the universally positive reviews on their Facebook page.

So to say I was "bracing for a culinary event" would not be an understatement. And I’m happy to report that I was not disappointed! Their burgers are a singular experience. Truthfully, I’ve never had another quite like it.

In many ways my sandwich was favorably comparable to that of Five Guys, but on a whole other level. The bun was lightly toasted (the way one might toast a grilled cheese). The burger was thin, almost reminiscent of a smash-style patty. And smash burgers are my favorite style! They came topped with lettuce, red onions, tomatoes, and mayonnaise.

I cannot say enough good things about my burger. I’d have no choice but to concur with the unanimous praise: JC's On-A-Roll gets top marks.

Now, don’t think I’ve forgotten about the fries. I’m not usually a fan of the hand cut style. However, I was very happy with these chips. They were exactly the right size, they were precisely seasoned, and had a pleasurable crunch while also not being too dry. Again, high praise to JC’s On-A-Roll.

Sarah had one of their classic lobster rolls.

Sarah says her lobster roll was amazing. The roll was buttery and perfectly toasted. The lobster was fresh and there was plenty of it. It was also dressed with just the right amount of mayo.

Then there was the fried Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwich that Sarah’s husband Matt had for dinner. A delicious sando with home made jelly, grittle-fried and topped with confectionary sugar.

Dessert

As the show wrapped up, we made our way back towards town and stopped at Wild Cow Creamery! If you’ve never been, you owe yourself a stop. Their ice cream is all natural, small batch, made from scratch, and their flavors are unique!

Emily and I each got a scoop of the Flying Cookie Nutter–peanut butter ice cream with chunks of nutter butter cookies).

Meanwhile Sarah had Lemon Heaven–lemon ice cream made with zest and freshly squeezed juice!

Conclusion

Tonight was an all-around amazing day out in Belfast, Maine. We got to spend time with good friends, listen to live music, and enjoy the sweet and savory treats of the waterfront!

As I mentioned at the top of this adventure, Belfast Summer Nights is a gratis concert series set in a jaw-droppingly beautiful park. Seeing as it was free, it was definitely worth it. In fact I'd pay admission next time, if they charged.

The food – hand-crafted and sourced from local vendors – was worth the price, too.

Will we be going back to the final concert of the series? Absolutely.

Thank you to the City of Belfast for putting on such a spectacular event and thank you to the sponsors for helping realize it!