Good morning, Portland.

Casco is finishing upgrades at Pleasant Lake Beach that include a restructured retaining wall and a new wheelchair-accessible 57-foot ramp—work that started in October and will let residents use the beach next spring.

On Thanksgiving Day, Portland will host a four miler at 9 a.m. and a kids 1k at 8:30 a.m. from 284 Cumberland Avenue + a Turkey Trot in Norway will start at 9 a.m. to benefit the Cancer Resource Center, while Sanford will serve free meals from 12 to 3 p.m. and Portland and Deering High will face off in their 113th Thanksgiving football game at 10 a.m. with a $1 ticket and food donation.

PopUp Bagels, a chain from Connecticut, will open its 19th shop on Dec.

12 at 210 Middle St. in Old Port Square. The shop in the former home of Nosh Taco will serve five kinds of whole, hot bagels with cream cheese or butter along with Illy drip coffee—while the chain plans to launch 12 more New England shops soon.

Lisa Marie's Made in Maine offers unique, locally sourced gifts for holiday shopping and will showcase its items on Small Business Saturday—supporting shoppers in Portland and the midcoast area.

The store aims to help customers find one-of-a-kind products while boosting local business.

Maine Outdoor Brands opened its new web shop that brings together over 25 member brands and nearly 200 products for holiday shoppers+ the site is live and ready for local customers, according to executive director Jenny Kordick and operations manager Liz Duffy.

Starting January 1st, 2026, Maine will add a 5.5% tax to streaming services like Netflix and Hulu—raising costs for households with multiple subscriptions.

State officials said the measure will generate about $5 million in its first year and bring streaming in line with taxed cable and satellite services.

At a board meeting Tuesday, more than a dozen current and former Portland Public Schools staff voiced concerns that recent restructuring hurt staff of color—issues raised by a petition from parents—and called for more transparency.

Board Chair Sarah Lentz and Superintendent Ryan Scallon pledged to address these concerns while a board member announced plans for an external investigation.

The Portland Water District Board of Trustees voted Monday night for a roughly 7% rate increase that will add about $1.92 to the typical $30 monthly bill to fund upgrades to the water treatment facility—officials also said commercial and industrial customers will pay higher rates as they plan to replace 55,000 meters over the next three years.

Thanksgiving Celebration at Westin Portland Harborview

11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. — The Westin Portland Harborview — No refunds — Celebrate Thanksgiving with a festive buffet of holiday favorites and desserts.

Disney On Ice: Road Trip Adventures

12:00 – 1:30 PM — Cross Insurance Arena — Ticket prices vary — Embark on a magical journey with beloved Disney characters in an ice show extravaganza.

2025 The Polar Express Train Ride

2:45 p.m. — Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad — Non-refundable tickets available — Experience a magical ride to the North Pole with hot chocolate, cookies, and holiday cheer.

Tom Rush Concert

8-11 p.m. — One Longfellow Square — Ticket prices vary — Experience the legendary sounds of Tom Rush, a pioneer of American folk music.

Jim Gaffigan - Everything is Wonderful Tour

7-9 p.m. — Cross Insurance Arena — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy a night of laughter with Grammy-nominated comedian Jim Gaffigan as he brings his unique observations on life to Portland.

2025 The Polar Express Train Ride Experience

6:30 p.m. — Maine Narrow Gauge Railroad — Premium pricing available — Experience a magical journey to the North Pole with hot chocolate and holiday cheer.

Brad Terry Jazz Performance

4:00–5:30 p.m. — Cadenza — Refunds up to 7 days before event — Experience Maine jazz legend Brad Terry alongside talented musicians in an unforgettable live performance.

DIY Holiday Cork Ornaments & Mod Podge Votives

6-8 p.m. — Hardshore Distilling Company — Ages 21+ — Craft your own festive cork ornaments and decorative votives for the holiday season.

Joe DeRosa Live

7-8:30 p.m. — Empire Comedy Club — General Admission available — Catch a night of laughs with acclaimed comedian Joe DeRosa as he performs live in Portland.

Maine Mariners vs Worcester Railers

6:00 – 7:30 PM — Cross Insurance Arena — Check event page for ticket pricing — Celebrate Portland Pirates night with specialty jerseys and alumni appearances.