Out with the OLD, in with the NEW

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What to do for New Year’s Eve? If you’re not planning a fancy soiree at home or taking off for warmer climes, fear not – you’ve got options for year-end revelry right in your own backyard. Here’s a rundown of celebrations some towns in eastern Maine have planned for the big night.

BANGOR

Downtown Countdown (www.downtownbangor.com)

. Spaghetti dinner and contradance featuring Ladies of the Lake, 5:30-11:30 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Church, Park Street.

. Music from John Bapst Chamber Chorale, Maximum Blue, Elizabeth Ellis and In Other Words, 6-9:30 p.m., Bangor City Hall.

. The Retro Rockerz, 6:30 and 9:30 p.m., costume party and dance lessons from Robinson Ballet, Bangor Public Library.

. ’40s and ’50s music from Betty Severance, 8-11:30 p.m., Hammond Street Senior Center.

. Blues from Ragged Moon, 7-11:30 p.m., Bagel Central, Central Street.

. Dance featuring DJs from WKIT-FM and funk band Big Time, 7-11:30 p.m. Union Street Brick Church.

. Screening of “The Iron Giant” and Looney Toons cartoons, and folk band Generations, 4-11:30 p.m.

. Board games for ages 8 and over, 6:30-11:30 p.m., The Briar Patch, Central Street.

. Instrument petting zoo, 6:30-11:30 p.m., Bangor Symphony Orchestra office, Main Street.

. Make hats and noisemakers, 4-5:45 p.m., parade through museum 6 p.m., Maine Discovery Museum, Main Street. Free admission after 3 p.m.

. Ball drop, midnight, West Market Square.

BAR HARBOR

. Bonfire, hayrides, games and hot chocolate, Bar Harbor ball field, 5-7 p.m.

. Refreshments, champagne toast and live feed from Times Square, 10 p.m.-midnight, Criterion Theatre.

BELFAST

New Year’s By the Bay ($10 all-admission badges available at www.nybb.com)

. Old Grey Goose, Ferg N’ Sons and David Dodson, 5-11:45 p.m., Abbott Room, Belfast Free Library.

. Conjuring Carroll, Steeling Thunder and the Hep Cats, 3:30-11:45 p.m, the Boathouse.

. Tango by Kristen and Martin, George Lirakis, Full Contact Kitty, 5-9:45 p.m., Belfast Co-op at Beaver and High streets.

. Scot Canon, poetry readings, Helena Melone and Shana Bloomstein, Abba Rabbi Shabba, 5-10:45 p.m., Dreamland at the Colonial Theatre on High Street.

. Castlebay and Blue Hill Brass, 5-10:45 p.m., First Church Sanctuary on Church Street.

. Jennifer Armstrong and Beverly Mann, El Caminos, Laura Campbell, 5-11:45 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Church Sanctuary, Miller Street.

. Caricatures by PJ Carter, Katahdin Valley Boys and Ameranouche, 5:30-11:45 p.m., First Baptist Church Sanctuary, High Street.

. Curling demonstrations, 3:30-5 p.m., Belfast Curling Club on Route 3.

. Horse wagon rides, 2-9 p.m., Church Street.

. Brass, drum and rabble corps parade down Main Street, 11:50 p.m., bonfire on Harbor Pier, midnight-1 a.m.

BLUE HILL

Last Night Celebrations (www.peninsulapan.org)

. Noel Paul Stookey, Becky and Rob McCall and Kevin Campbell and Ngoma, 7-10 p.m., Congregational Church.

. Blue Hill Community Orchestra, Wicked Step Sisters, Archipelago, cheerleading and dancing, Mike and Suzy Fay and Geoff Warner and Katey Branch, 7-10 p.m., Blue Hill Community School.

. Rhythm Rockets, Atlantic Clarion, Flash in the Pan and Planet Pan, George Stevens Academy, 7-10 p.m.

. New Surry Theater comedy, music from Maine Weather and Living Daylights, 7 p.m.-midnight, Blue Hill Town Hall.

. Children’s music, craft making and magic, 7-10 p.m., Marine Environmental Research Institute.

. Cooper and Brushie, Pattycake 600 and George Lirakis, 7-10 p.m., the Fire House.

. Poet Marty Duncan, tarot readings by Madame Xena, music from Whish and Jay and Bjorn Petersen, 7-10 p.m., Blue Hill Public Library.

. Puppetry by Richard Merrill and Joel McGraw, 7-10 p.m., Legion Hall.

. Brooklin Community Band, Bill Schubeck and Bea Blake and Miguel Reinoson, 7-10 p.m., Baptist Church.

EASTPORT (www.tidesinstitute.org/newyearseve2008.html)

. Music from Animal Crackers, Duane Ingalls, Alan Cooke and Craig Chalone, 9 p.m., Rose Garden Cafe, Dana Street.

. Cabaret and sketches, 10 p.m., Eastport Arts Center. $5.

. New Year’s Brass Band and Sardine and Maple Leaf drop, midnight, Tides Institute on Water Street.